Help Edit a New Guide to Prevent Hiking Emergencies and Save Lives

Mission and Principles The Preventive Search and Rescue Initiative Inc. (PSAR Initiative) exists to stop emergencies before they happen, protect the environment that sustains us, and keep public lands open for everyone. We believe prevention is the most effective form of search and rescue. Our Three Pillars of Prevention Preventing rescues and injuries in the backcountry We meet people where they are: on the trail, at summits, or at trailheads. We share food or electrolytes, help them rethink their timing, or convince them to turn back before dark. A simple conversation can prevent an emergency, and every incident avoided is a life not put at risk. Preventing environmental damage We build conservation into everything we do. Trash left behind attracts wildlife and often leads to animals being relocated or euthanized. Off-trail shortcuts erode fragile ground. Accidents in sensitive areas push regulators to close entire sections of land. Closures hurt local communities and small businesses as well as outdoor users. Picking up trash, staying on trail, and teaching Leave No Trace are all part of prevention. Preventing unpreparedness We help people before they even start. That means teaching seasonal risks, showing what to pack, and making digital resources people can keep on their phones. Many rescues never happen because someone learned what to do before stepping into the woods. Together, these pillars form a prevention triangle. Each side strengthens the others: safe people protect the land, a healthy environment reduces rescues, and preparation reinforces both.

Safety