BOTETOURT, Va. (WFXR) — Botetourt Fire & EMS officials say this is a popular time for outdoor activities, but they want to remind people to practice safety first. Especially when hiking, climbing, or caving.
As the leaves change, it can be more tempting to head outdoors to the mountains or the woods. Professional climbers and emergency crews say it could take a while for help to come depending on where you are, so taking the right safety measures is essential.
Marian McConnell with the Blue Ridge Grotto caving club, owns land that includes a wild cave. She says every area belongs to someone, and you need landowner permission to enter it. She explains that many landowners will ask visitors to sign a waiver before climbing. Once you get permission, McConnell says you need the right equipment for caving or rock climbing.
“You have to wear boots, you have to wear coveralls, you have to wear a helmet, always wear a brain bucket whether you’re caving or climbing,” said McConnell. She says you should always go with three other people, “That way if someone gets hurt, there’s someone to stay with the injured party and two to go out and get help.”
According to Botetourt Fire & EMS, depending on where you are, it could take a while.
“These types of incidents require a lot of specialized manpower to get to, and depending on exactly where they’re at, sometimes it can take a long time to locate the subject. When we locate that patient then we have to make a plan to get them out of whatever environment they’re in,” Emergency Manager for Botetourt Fire & EMS, Daniel Murray tells WFXR.
Murray says cell service in Botetourt is spotty in many of the wooded areas, but you should still be able to get a hold of 9-1-1.
Fire officials say rescues are not rare, and they have been responding to several each month.
“Some ranging from folks having a medical emergency on the trail to people that find themselves lost or other times they become injured so it’s not an infrequent occurrence for us,” Deputy Chief for Botetourt Fire & EMS, Jeff Powell said.
Powell advises to always have water, a flashlight, and proper clothing for cooler weather.
Fire crews say before heading out on a hike or climb, plan where you and your group are headed and when you’ll be back. They say it’s important to know where you’re starting and ending, as well as to share the information with someone else who isn’t going with you so if you don’t return, they can call for help.
