Abstract
Increasing search and rescue (SAR) incidents in the Adirondack Park, without a commensurate increase in staffing and response resources, have led to concerns voiced by emergency response professionals and citizens. The purpose of this study was to determine where SAR incidents occur most frequently and to provide descriptive information of them. This study used the New York State Freedom of Information Law to obtain data regarding SAR incidents within the Park from 2015 to 2016. Spatial analysis revealed regions with the highest rates of incidents. These included the High Peaks south of Lake Placid, the Lake George region, and the corridor between Indian Lake and Long Lake. Of 528 SAR incidents examined, 350 were categorized as searches (55%), 268 were rescues (42%), and 18 were recoveries (3%). The majority of SAR victims were male (368 incidents; 58%) and the most common age of victims was 45-65 years old (197; 31%). Hiking was the most common activity leading to SAR (498; 78%), becoming lost was the most common cause for SAR (270; 42%), and slips/falls was the most common cause of injury (116; 43%). A brief discussion towards the end of the article considers how communication of our results may help inform park policy and administration.
Recommended Citation
Collins, Ethan G.
(2019)
"Analysis of Search and Rescue Incidents in the Adirondack State Park from 2015-2016,"
Adirondack Journal of Environmental Studies: Vol. 23:
No.
1, Article 6.
Available at:
https://digitalworks.union.edu/ajes/vol23/iss1/6
