Search and Rescue men and women are heroes. They are selfless and ready to put their lives on the line every day. No one could ever question their willingness to immediately head out as soon as they get a call for help. No matter the predicament help is at once dispatched to search for the lost.
Not wanting the worry of "payment for rescue" to be an issue, the philosophy of the S&R teams seems to be that if the one requiring help knows there will be a charge for the rescue, that one will not call - or delay the call-for help. But is it true that someone who is lost, cold, hungry, frightened and possibly hurt would really stop to consider the monetary cost of the rescue?
I believe the thought would more likely be to call for help first and worry about payment later.
If folk recklessly and foolishly and against all signage and warning about boundaries and roped-off areas, willfully make a choice to trespass outside those boundaries, then yes, they should have to pay for rescue.
Now we are hearing on the news that S&R are desperately short of funds and are asking the public for more funding to help run their operations. We must support them. How can we refuse? But I say in this instance we must use a form of tough love.
If you and I donate to the Search and Rescue, we are then paying for the folk who have complete disregard for the rules, yet want us to pay for their rescue.
If you flout the posted signs, crawl under ropes designating "No Trespassing", and you ignore all advice regarding out-of-bounds areas, then you pay. Simple as that.
Joan McKay
Prince George
