Las Vegas police offer lifesaving tips on outdoor recreation
The Metropolitan Police Department provided tips Thursday for outdoor recreation safety as the weather heats up.
Steve Morris, director of air support search and rescue operations spoke at the agency’s North Las Vegas hangar, reminding residents of five tips to stay alive when venturing into the outdoors, including:
■ Tell someone where you intend to hike or climb, and it’s recommend not to go alone.
■ Check the weather forecast for the area before you go.
■ Take food, water and a first-aid kit.
■ Take the appropriate gear and minimal overnight protections.
■ Have a light source and a phone and consider a personal locator beacon for complex or remote locations.
In 2020, Morris said, his crews logged 4,316 incident-free flight hours, responded to 110 search and rescue calls, recovered eight bodies, performed 236 tactical medical responses for SWAT calls and assisted in 994 arrests via helicopter.
The team has all-terrain vehicles, helicopters and a boat to assist with any kind of rescue needed around the valley.
Search and rescue Sgt. Chris LeBlanc said it’s important to note that Metro’s team is focused only on extraction. It retrieves people who are lost, stuck or injured and brings them to a safer spot, where it transfers the person to a medevac helicopter team or to an ambulance.
Anyone who’s lost, stuck or injured while on an outdoor excursion can call 911 for 24/7 help from Metro’s search and rescue team.
Contact Alexis Ford at aford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0335. Follow
