Emergency Planning: What Would You Do If You Had Two Flat Tires in the Middle of Nowhere?

Last week, I learned the sad news that a Tucson, Arizona couple had found themselves stranded with two flat tires in the middle of Death Valley. According to friends, they were "experienced campers", but regardless of their experience, the sad story is that one of them passed away and the other is still recovering from a serious injury. It turns out they tried to hike their way to a nearby road for help, but didn't realize they were hiking through an impassable canyon with steep cliffs at one end. The rescue team found them high up on a ledge, where the boyfriend had passed away from injuries I'm assuming he suffered while trying to climb, and the girlfriend had a serious foot injury requiring surgery. My heart goes out to the survivor and to the grieving friends and families of the one who did not make it. A GoFundMe page has been set up by the brother of the survivor in case you're interested: https://gofund.me/dc8ad3f7

Don't let this be you. There are basic emergency items that we should all consider having with us when venturing out, whether it is a remote destination or a national park.

The following list highlights at a minimum, six things you can do to prepare yourself prior to any trip:

1. Check your spare tire and make sure you have the necessary hardware to change that tire and to remove the lug nuts.
2. Carry a tire repair kit for fixing punctures and plugging flats.
3. Carry an air pump for inflating tires (a hand-powered bike pump also works).
4. Have an emergency satellite-based messenger device with you at all times (i.e., Garmin inReach or SPOT). Cell service isn't always available even when you may only be a few miles from a town. The small monthly fee far outweighs the value of your life or that of another in an emergency situation. In addition to assisting in an emergency, should you have vehicle-related troubles, you can easily text someone for help.
5. Carry emergency supplies such as jumper cables, an emergency blanket, a "call for help" sign, a container for water (which should be full upon leaving on your trip especially in arid areas), and some food that keeps well.
6. Consider adding long-distance towing coverage if you have an emergency assistance plan such as AAA.

I know this topic contains content that is a bit sobering, but bad things do happen despite our best intent and being as prepared as possible can make all the difference in being able to venture out another day.