Kitimat Search and Rescue

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🛑 S.T.O.P.: Four Letters That Can Change the Outcome 🛑

You’re outside. Something has gone wrong.

Maybe you’ve lost the trail. The weather has moved in. Everything looks unfamiliar. You’re injured. It’s getting dark. Or you’ve called 911 and now Search and Rescue is on the way.

What you do next matters.

And sometimes, the best thing you can do is S.T.O.P. 🛑

The recent search for Stanislav Volo (Lions Bay Search and Rescue posted task details) in the Coast Mountains gave us an extraordinary real-world example of just how difficult it can be to locate one person in vast, complex terrain.

Searchers were on the ground. Helicopters were overhead. Drones and sophisticated search technology were being used. Areas were searched repeatedly.

And still, one person could be incredibly difficult to see.

There’s an important lesson here for every outdoor enthusiast:

Once you realize you’re lost or in trouble, continuing to move without a clear plan can make the situation worse — and can make you much harder to find.

That’s why BC AdventureSmart teaches S.T.O.P.

🛑 S — STOP

Stop moving.

That can be harder than it sounds.

When we’re scared, lost or uncertain, there can be a powerful urge to do something. Keep walking. Find the trail. Head downhill. Follow a sound. Push a little farther because surely the road, trail or parking lot is just ahead. There's insightful info re: “LOST” Physiology and Psychology linked here: https://www.adventuresmart.ca/the-three-ts/

But movement without good information can turn a manageable situation into a much bigger one.

You may move farther from your last known location, enter more difficult terrain, become injured or significantly expand the area Search and Rescue needs to consider.

Unless there is an immediate danger where you are, STOP AND STAY PUT.

For SAR, a stationary person is generally a much easier target to find than someone who continues moving.

The farther you move, the bigger the search area can become:

📍 1 km away → 3 km² search area
📍 3 km away → 28 km² search area
📍 10 km away → 314 km² search area

💭 T — THINK

Give yourself a moment to settle down and think clearly.

What do you know?

When were you last certain of your location?

What was the last trail marker, junction or recognizable feature you saw?

Does someone know your trip plan?

Do you have cell service or a satellite communication device?

If you need help and have cell service, call 911.

Think before making your next move. Fear and urgency can push us toward quick decisions that feel right in the moment but may take us farther into trouble.

👀 O — OBSERVE

Now look around.

What can you learn from your surroundings? (is it a safe spot?)

Check your map, GPS or offline navigation.

Look at the terrain and weather.

Take inventory of what you have: clothing, food, water, headlamp, whistle, emergency shelter, fire starter, communication device and remaining battery power.

Think about visibility too.

Could searchers see you from the ground or from the air?

Is there a nearby opening you can safely move to? Do you have something bright you can display? A headlamp? Whistle? Emergency signalling device?

Once SAR is looking for you, help us help you.

📝 P — PLAN

Only after you’ve stopped, thought and observed should you decide what comes next.

Your plan may simply be:

Stay where you are.

Find or create shelter. Stay warm and dry. Conserve your phone battery and other resources. Make yourself visible. Use your whistle. Follow instructions from 911 or Search and Rescue.

If you have communicated your location or SAR knows where to begin looking for you, moving again can make the search more difficult.

Your plan should be deliberate — not driven by panic.

WHY STAYING PUT MATTERS

Search and Rescue is essentially trying to solve a constantly changing puzzle.

Search Managers use your trip plan, last known location, cellphone information, witness reports, terrain, clues and many other pieces of information to determine where teams should look.

Now imagine the person they’re searching for continues travelling.

Every kilometre can create new possibilities.

Did they go up? Down? Follow a drainage? Take another trail? Cross a ridge? Hear something and move toward it?

The search area can grow very quickly.

Staying put gives searchers a stationary target.

And in dense BC terrain, that matters.

You might be surprisingly close to a search team and still be difficult to see or hear. Thick vegetation, gullies, cliffs, rushing water, darkness and weather can all make detection challenging.

That’s why staying put and signalling are such important parts of the equation.

MAKE YOURSELF FINDABLE

Once you’ve called for help, think about how SAR might detect you.

📣 Use a whistle — three deliberate blasts can signal distress.

🔦 Use your headlamp, especially at night.

🟠 Display bright, contrasting clothing or equipment (Robin Blue 🔵 is a helpful colour to spot, especially in the fall).

🏕️ Use your emergency shelter to stay protected and potentially increase your visibility.

📱 Conserve your phone (secondary means of comms) or communication-device (primary means of comms) battery and follow instructions from emergency responders.

And if you hear or see searchers or an aircraft, signal immediately.

You may be able to see them long before they can see you.

TEACH S.T.O.P. BEFORE SOMEONE NEEDS IT

S.T.O.P. isn’t just something for experienced hikers or backcountry travellers.

It’s something we want everyone to know.

Teach it to your kids. This is a part of our Hug a Tree & Survive Program - https://www.adventuresmart.ca/programs/hug-a-tree-and-survive/

Adult learning available 'Survive Outside Program' - https://www.adventuresmart.ca/programs/survive-outside/

Talk about it with your hiking partners.

Share it with the people you ski, snowshoe, bike, paddle, hunt and explore with.

Make it part of your family’s outdoor conversations.

Because an emergency isn’t the ideal time to learn what to do.

Stop. Think. Observe. Plan.

Four simple words can interrupt panic, help prevent a bad situation from becoming worse and help Search and Rescue find you faster.

And as we head toward winter, this becomes especially important. Snow, cold, shorter daylight hours and changing mountain conditions can quickly increase the consequences of a wrong turn or poor decision.

Before every adventure, remember the 3Ts:

🥾 Trip Planning
🎓 Training
🎒 Taking the Essentials

And when the plan falls apart:

🛑 S.T.O.P.

Heading outdoors? Start with BC AdventureSmart for reliable outdoor safety advice, education and resources.

British Columbia Search and Rescue Association

https://northernsentinel.com/2026/09/04/hunter-rescued-after-serious-leg-injury-northeast-of-kitimat/?utm_campaign=Kitimat%20Northern%20Sentinel&utm_content=morning-news-alert&utm_term=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Adestra

Hunter rescued after serious leg injury northeast of Kitimat - Northern Sentinel A hunter suffering from a serious leg injury in the mountains northeast of Kitimat was airlifted to safety after a joint response involving Kitimat Ground Search and Rescue, Kitimat Fire […]

https://northernsentinel.com/2026/09/04/hunter-rescued-after-serious-leg-injury-northeast-of-kitimat/

Hunter rescued after serious leg injury northeast of Kitimat - Northern Sentinel A hunter suffering from a serious leg injury in the mountains northeast of Kitimat was airlifted to safety after a joint response involving Kitimat Ground Search and Rescue, Kitimat Fire […]

https://northernsentinel.com/2026/09/04/hunter-rescued-after-serious-leg-injury-northeast-of-kitimat/

🚨 KSAR RESPONDS TO SERIOUS MOUNTAIN INJURY 🚨

At 2:01 p.m., Kitimat Ground Search and Rescue (KSAR) was tasked by BC Ambulance Service to respond to a local hunter who had suffered a serious leg injury in the mountains northeast of Kitimat.

Eight KSAR members, along with two BC Ambulance Service/Kitimat Fire Department paramedics, responded to the call. Three KSAR members and the paramedics were airlifted to the scene, where they worked together to access, treat, package and transport the injured subject to the awaiting helicopter.

The subject was returned to the Kitimat Airpark command centre at 4:53 p.m. and was then transported to Kitimat General Hospital for further treatment. The task was officially stood down by 7:00 p.m.

A huge thank you to the Kitimat Ground Search and Rescue members who dropped what they were doing to respond and support this emergency. Your time, training and commitment to our community make these rescues possible.

KSAR would also like to thank the Kitimat Fire Department and BC Ambulance Service paramedics for their planning, coordination and assistance throughout the call.

And a special thank you to Lars with Quantum Helicopters for his quick, professional and safe service in getting our responders to and from the scene.

We are proud of the teamwork between our local emergency services and grateful to everyone who contributed to bringing this call to a successful conclusion.

Kitimat Ground Search and Rescue — ready to respond when our community needs us.

BC AdventureSmart

Please see the post on Kitimat River Updates page. Complete blockage of the Kitimat River above the Wedeene River.

🎬🏔️ BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL IS COMING TO KITIMAT! 🏔️🎬

Get ready for an evening of incredible adventure, inspiring stories, and big-screen mountain action!

📍 Mount Elizabeth Theatre – Kitimat
📅 Friday, October 2, 2026
🚪 Doors open at 6:30 PM
🎥 Show starts at 7:00 PM

Presented by Kitimat Ground Search & Rescue, the BANFF Mountain Film Festival brings a collection of the best adventure, exploration, and mountain films to Kitimat for one night only.

⚠️ Please note: This film program is not recommended for younger audiences.

🎟️ Tickets: $20 cash only

Tickets are available at:
📍 All West Glass – Kitimat

Or call 250-639-0124 to arrange tickets.

Come out, support Kitimat Ground Search & Rescue, and enjoy an unforgettable night of adventure on the big screen! 🏔️🎬

Bring your friends. Bring your sense of adventure. See you at the theatre!

A Big Thank You to the Kitimat Flying Club! 🚁✈️

Kitimat Ground Search and Rescue would like to extend a huge thank you to all of the Kitimat Flying Club volunteers for the time, effort, and dedication they put into maintaining and caring for the Kitimat Airpark (CBW2).

The Airpark is more than a place for recreational aviation—it is an important facility for our community and provides valuable access for emergency services, including helicopter operations for search and rescue.

The work that goes into keeping an airpark safe, accessible, and operational often happens behind the scenes. We appreciate the volunteers who give their time to maintain the grounds and facility and help ensure that this resource remains available when our community needs it.

We were grateful to join the Fly-In & Airpark Appreciation Day on Sunday and to see the community come together to celebrate aviation and the people who make the Airpark possible.

Thank you, Kitimat Flying Club, for helping keep this important community resource flying—and available for those who may need it most. ❤️

BC AdventureSmart

A huge thank you to the Haisla Volunteer Fire Department for having KGSAR out! It’s always a pleasure getting together for training, sharing skills and knowledge, and learning from each other. We’re grateful for the invitation and the opportunity to work alongside such a great group. Looking forward to more days like this! 🤝