Don’t Rely on Folklore for Lightning Safety
By Jack Williams June 26, 2013 Two cloud-to-ground lightning bolts strike west of Washington, D.C. September 27, 2012 (Kevin Ambrose) Folklore isn’t a good guide to lightning safety, but it remains a big source of advice. Probably the most common lightning folklore is that metal “attracts” lighting. One variation is that if you’re going out to play…
Lost? A Personal Locator Beacon Could Save Your Life
DAN MITCHELLJULY 5, 2007 Correction Appended AS much as Paul Hardin wants you to buy his products, he hopes you never have to use them. That’s because more than half of the people who do turn on his outdoor rescue devices “are at the point of death,” he said, and are otherwise out of options….
Lost? A Personal Locator Beacon Could Save Your Life
More Rescues Credited to the Use of Satellite Detectable Locater Beacons uring a three-day span last month, two separate outdoors enthusiasts ran into life-threatening situations in the wilderness and used Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) in order to survive. Even though the circumstances of each rescue were different, one involved a hiker and the other an…
Stay Safe At the Beach
13 Tips for Preventing Injury and Illness AUGUST 30, 2013 |BY KATE MORIN Few things scream “summer” more than soaking up some rays with the scent of salt water in the air and sand between your toes. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans take about two billion trips to the beach each year. But it’s not all about…
Best Satellite Messengers and Locator Beacons
How the heck do you communicate, effectively, from the wild? If you’re looking to solve this mystifying problem, there are a variety of solutions, personal locator beacons and satellite messengers among them. We called around and read up on the most innovative options before buying the best and testing them for months. We’ve enlisted the…
Outdoor Electrical Safety
If there is a downed power line nearby, leave the area immediately and notify your cooperative or call 911. If others are around, let them know that they need to stay away. Teach children to stay away from power lines and substations and make sure they can recognize “Danger-High Voltage” signs. Never use electrical equipment…