MnGCA

[Dances With Beehives]

In light of Paklid's Excellent Adventure, and 15Tango's idea of collecting a few cachers phone numbers to call in case of an emerency when caching alone, I thought I'd start this thread, as a place to post, if you want some willing cacher's numbers PM'd to you.

I'm also interested in collecting a few numbers, as I cache alone on occasion.

When PMing a number, I think it would be a good idea to include your first name, and area, as well. I'm not sure if this is the best way to deal with numbers. Maybe events would be a better place to swap numbers.

Comments?
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...formerly 'dachebo'.

[spinowner]

I would recommend 911 if it's a true emergency.
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Sig line? I don't need no stinking sig line!

[Dances With Beehives]

spinowner wrote:

[Rouster]

I have shared my # with exactly one other cacher. I have two daughters and tell them to be aware. Personal preference, but security is in my foresight.

[Moe the Sleaze]

I'm not crazy about this idea for liability reasons. I don't have any problem with a friend, one who already has my phone number, calling me for help if they're hurt in the woods. But putting my name and number on a list as some sort of quasi-paramedic service just seems like asking for trouble.
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"Hi, I'm Moe, or as the women know me - Hey! You in the bushes."
-Moe, The Simpsons

[Dances With Beehives]

I see the implications involved in having this being too wide spread. Just a few numbers between close friends would be better.
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...formerly 'dachebo'.

[drat19]

I agree with Moe and Dachebo's posts above in principle, and of course Spinowner's 911 recommendation.

However, I would add that Paklid's point in having his wife call fellow cachers was that while it might have taken a lot more effort to describe his location to a third-party such as 911, he was sure that fellow Geocachers would be able to find him using our usual "techniques". In effect, he became a Geocache (and heck, by engaging Arcticabn in particular, he was sure to get a quick response...after all, it was not only a "do the right thing" opportunity, but it was also a stat opportunity!) (just messin' with ya, Dave!)

I suppose a compromise could be to provide 911 with your coordinates, ya think? Surely LEOs and/or paramedics might have a GPS among them, or as part of their vehicle setups?

[sir_zman]

I've listened to the stories about how people got turned around and couldn't find their way out of the woods (like in some of those areas where GPS's stop working in the woods) and they call (or message in the case of those who have sidekicks) other cachers for help...then I heard about the grand aventure that took place, and again some other cachers were called, I thought, man, I wonder who I could call if something like that happened to me.

I like the idea of an exchange, but also, I don't like the security issues it creates, and I don't want the MNGCA to administer something like that, because while they could, I don't think they should have to...

I have gone caching with a few other cachers, who I feel comfortable giving my cell number to, and I think that perhaps it's time to do that. I'd suggest that anyone who would like to give/receive a phone number should go caching a few times with some ohter cachers, get to know them and build up some trust, then when you are comfortable, see if they want to exchange numbers...if nothing else, you can use it to try to meet up for dinner or caching some time if you are out and about in their neck of the woods.

[Marsha and Silent Bob]

[fidian]

I wonder if a mailing list or something would be better, especially with people afraid of security. I can sign my phone's SMS address up and on the rare occasion that someone needs help, they call friend A and friend A hops on the web and fills out a form with coordinates and stranded person's phone number. The list gets it, forwards it on to everyone's SMS email address. Phones go off all over the state, and those in the area call the stranded individual and let them know that help is on the way.

It could be behind the MnGCA's page, so Stranded Person will have to trust Friend A with their password, or something.

Personally, I don't go caching with people as much as I want to. Usually, I am not near any available friends. I'd probably call 911, but I wonder if anyone has ever heard of calling 911 with GPS coordinates and getting the EMTs even remotely close to your location.

[drat19]

[spinowner]

I'd still call 911 first. I'm pretty sure I'd get medical care sooner that way. Keep in mind that if I'm with it enough to make a phone call and read my coordinates I'd also be able to tell the 911 operator which park I'm in and so forth. Even without that I would certainly think that in this day and age a dispatcher would be able to radio the correct location to a driver.
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Sig line? I don't need no stinking sig line!

[Pear Head]

I belong to the email list for the Oklahoma Geocachers as well. There are two major groups in that state (OKC and Tulsa).

The group there has a phone list that they have spread around among themselves. To get the list you have to be ON the list. The purpose of their list is more than just emergencies - if you need assistance at a cache (hint, etc), you can call someone on the list if you like.

If you don't want to be on the list then you don't provide your info.

IMHO there are a number of arm-chair quarterbacks here. If you don't want to be on the list then you don't provide your info. Often times calling emergency services is the correct decision. Often times you'd just rather not do that, but "phone a friend" instead.

Take paklid's case. He didn't need emergency personnel running around the woods looking for him to help him out - all he needed was a couple of friends to drag him out. If he couldn't have gotten ahold of any friends then 911 would have been a good place to try next. There are other cases where 911 would be a very appropriate first response. It's still nice to have a list so that it's there if you need it.

Personally, my wife knows to contact EskoClimber if I'm out caching and don't return. I'm confident that he can figure out where I could be in the area and/or do what he can to locate me. He would at least have a few likely places to start looking as I've done most of the caches in the area and don't have that many left on the to-do list.

I'm all for having such a list for those that want it. Not related to MnGCA at all - something to pass among ourselves. Personally I would hope that it's uses would be expanded to those who need help - not just those who need emergency help.

[CamoCacher]

Been watching this one abit as well as the story about Paklid. As someone who caches regularly on my own and someone who is likely to take stupid risks while doing it (crossing lakes at night alone, climbing in slippery and potentially dangerous places, being a single woman alone at night while cacheing (sometimes without Oneied Cookies nemesis Geosniffer, Robbie) it be nice to know there are some cachers I could call if I need help, especially if it was bad but not bad enough for 911. Also would be nice cuz 'm lot more likely to call friends then I would be 911 in any event.

On the other hand I also understand the concerns of the other individuals and the possible security risks.

I will say that right now I have 4 cachers (who I happen to know outside of geocaching). I also know that as of now there isn't a cacher I have meet that I wouldn't trust with my phone number. (I also know one day I'll probably meet one.)

[Posen]

I like the idea of phone lists among established friends, such as Paklid calling in a few board members with whom he had served...but can you imagine the young person who gets lost or in trouble, calls for help, and finds themselves in the woods as a Yeti bears down on them at high speed (no offense meant, SB). Plus it would put a bit of a burden on the people on the list, to have to go bail out people at a moment's notice...not to mention being set up for a mugging by someone taking advantage of the "come and get me" system...


I'm happy to share my phone with someone if they want it (if you are going to rely on ME for help..you really are in trouble!). But this may be a better thing for 911 to cover, in general...I'm sure Paklid simply broke his leg to get attention, and then called in an audience!