Las Animas County Search and Rescue

09/05/2022

16/02/2022

At this time we do not have any updates. Please continue to look for David and share information/post.

No tip is to small. If you believe you have seen David or know where he might be PLEASE CALL! We will not give up our search until David is located!

26/11/2021

Just stoppin' by to wish our friends and neighbors a Happy Thanksgiving.

23/10/2021

Today we had the opportunity to tour Fisher's Peak State Park and become familiar with many of the trails and access points. Big thanks go to Charlie and Crystal of CPW for keeping us on the right path.

19/10/2021

The nights are getting cooler and the leaves are changing color. That means winter weather is on its way. Last week there was a Winter Weather Advisory and a Tornado Warning in the same day. For those new to Colorado ... Welcome!

With the holidays fast approaching many of us will be traveling over roads that can quickly become treacherous. So let's talk about negotiating the highways and byways during a Colorado winter.

If you've been here for the past couple of years you will know that Colorado has laws that will be implemented when conditions call for them. For those of you who may be spending your first winter here (and as a refresher for the rest of us) here is a quick primer.

If the Traction Law is implemented ALL motorists are required to have either:
1. 4WD or AWD vehicle and 3/16" tread depth on their tires.
2. Tires with a mud and snow designation (M+S icon) and 3/16" tread depth.
3. Winter tires (Snowflake icon) and 3/16" tread depth.
4. Tires with an all-weather rating from the manufacturer and 3/16" tread depth.
or
5. Chains or approved alternative traction device.

During severe storms, CDOT may implement the Passenger Vehicle Chain Law. When this law is in effect, every vehicle must have chains or an approved alternative traction device. Alternative traction devices will be things like tire chains for most pickups or cables for smaller cars. A list of approved ATDs can be found at CDOT's website.

Every year there have been occasions that motorists are stranded on the roads for one reason or another. This is where an emergency car kit can come in handy. This kit will be built using the Ten Essentials as its foundation, but we will add a few things. First of all, ensure that you have a properly inflated spare tire, lug wrench, jack, basic tool kit and jumper cables. Then throw your Ten Essentials in a bin small enough to keep in your vehicle and add a fire extinguisher, reflective vest, reflective triangles, cell phone charger, small snow shovel, blanket and/or warm clothing, and sand or kitty litter.

As always, check the conditions and know before you go.

08/10/2021

Are you reading this post on your cell phone? More than likely, you are. The invention and availability of cell phones has changed the world and human psychology. We may forget our kids at the store, but we never go anywhere without our cell phones. The effect that cell phones have had on our psychology has even been seen in the world of SAR. Before we carried super computers in our pockets, people tended to travel downhill when they were lost because it was the path of least resistance. Now that everyone depends on their phone so much the trend has changed, and lost subjects tend to travel uphill to look for a cell signal.

But, as we know all too well in our modern world with all of our electronic gadgets, batteries always die when we need them the most ... such as when we're lost in the woods and need to call for help. So here's a tip if you find yourself lost and with a quickly dying cell phone battery: Change your voicemail message to include as much information about your situation as possible. Coordinates (if possible), description of the area, medical issues, a point of contact ... anything you can think of that will help rescuers locate you. Of course, you will have to have service to make the change, but if someone calls your number after your battery is dead, that important information will still be available.

It's also a good idea to make sure that a trusted point of contact has access to your "Find My Phone" function. If they do, we may be able to find you before you even know you're lost.

21/09/2021