IR Emergencies and what to do
Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2021 7:37 am
Island Inquiries…What do you do when things go wrong?
Let’s face it. Things in life do go wrong, even on beautiful Isle Royale. The best way you can be ready for these curveballs is to plan ahead and prepare for whatever your chosen park experience may throw at you. Many services available on the mainland are not available on Isle Royale.
☑Cell phone service is unreliable; do not depend on it.
When things go wrong nowadays, many of us reach for our cell phone. On Isle Royale, chances are it isn’t going to work. So how do you get a message out for help if you have an EMERGENCY? If you or someone in your party is mobile on foot, make contact with a boat at a dock that has a marine radio. Or, if you or someone in your party is mobile, travel to a staffed ranger station (these locations can change annually - check when you arrive in the park). If you are not mobile, waiting for a fellow visitor to come by to assist in getting help is a last resort. In the case that your cell phone does have a connection, or if you have an emergency assist device like a personal locator beacon, dial (440) 546-5945 to contact the park’s dispatch. This number is the most direct way to contact park staff in an emergency.
☑Emergency response and evacuation take time, requiring you to rely upon your own skills and equipment.
Every emergency response the park performs looks different because the circumstances behind the incident, where the incident occurs, and what current weather conditions are all influence how the response is implemented. Come prepared with a first aid kit, warm clothing/rain gear for varying conditions, extra parts and tools (for boats), a map and compass (and know how to use them), safety assist devices (a whistle or a personal location beacon), and plenty of food and water (with a water filter).
Find out safety information specific to the type of Isle Royale experience you are planning: https://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/safety.htm
Let’s face it. Things in life do go wrong, even on beautiful Isle Royale. The best way you can be ready for these curveballs is to plan ahead and prepare for whatever your chosen park experience may throw at you. Many services available on the mainland are not available on Isle Royale.
☑Cell phone service is unreliable; do not depend on it.
When things go wrong nowadays, many of us reach for our cell phone. On Isle Royale, chances are it isn’t going to work. So how do you get a message out for help if you have an EMERGENCY? If you or someone in your party is mobile on foot, make contact with a boat at a dock that has a marine radio. Or, if you or someone in your party is mobile, travel to a staffed ranger station (these locations can change annually - check when you arrive in the park). If you are not mobile, waiting for a fellow visitor to come by to assist in getting help is a last resort. In the case that your cell phone does have a connection, or if you have an emergency assist device like a personal locator beacon, dial (440) 546-5945 to contact the park’s dispatch. This number is the most direct way to contact park staff in an emergency.
☑Emergency response and evacuation take time, requiring you to rely upon your own skills and equipment.
Every emergency response the park performs looks different because the circumstances behind the incident, where the incident occurs, and what current weather conditions are all influence how the response is implemented. Come prepared with a first aid kit, warm clothing/rain gear for varying conditions, extra parts and tools (for boats), a map and compass (and know how to use them), safety assist devices (a whistle or a personal location beacon), and plenty of food and water (with a water filter).
Find out safety information specific to the type of Isle Royale experience you are planning: https://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/safety.htm
