CRAWFORD COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — The deployment of the Crawford County Search and Rescue (CCSAR) team to find a missing 38-year-old man in the woods on Aug. 17 prompted emergency management to share a tip in case any residents find themselves in a similar situation.
Around 9 p.m. on Saturday, CCSAR was dispatched to find a man who had gone missing while four-wheeling on the Buckhorn Trail System in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest.
According to the Crawford County Department of Emergency Management, the man's four-wheeler was located, but he was not near it. Responders continued to search until around 2 a.m. They decided to suspend the search until daylight, starting at 8 a.m. on Sunday.
Before additional search and rescue teams from Washington County, Sebastian County, and Van Buren arrived on Sunday, the man reportedly safely walked out on his own.
"The individual was unharmed and had sustained himself with a bottle of water during the night," the department said.
If you ever find yourself lost in the woods, CCSAR said the best thing you can do is stay in the same spot.
"Moving around can make it harder for search teams to locate you and can increase the risk of getting more lost or injured," CCSAR said.
That one simple tip can help:
- Rescue teams find you quicker
- Preserve your energy
- Keep you safe from hazards
- Redirect your energy to focus on signaling for help using your voice, whistle, etc.
"Remember, staying calm and staying put could be the key to a faster and safer rescue," CCSAR said. "Your safety is our top priority!"
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