Video on hiking safety could save lives
Video on hiking safety could save lives
Your editorial on safe hiking (TGI, Jan. 7) was spot on. Thank you.
Here is a suggestion. The fine video on ocean safety that plays at the Lihue Airport has been known to have saved at least one life. A boy watched it and learned how to use a rescue buoy, which he deployed correctly to help someone. Why not create and play a similar production on hiking safety?
Since many of those hikers who get into trail-trouble, like the recent rescuees at Makaleha, are visitors, perhaps the Kauai Visitors Bureau could be prevailed upon to bankroll such a video. This would probably be a better use of that organization’s funds than advertising to entice ever-more tourists usward.
If the tourism establishment balks at this idea, it might do well to consider how much negative publicity the injury and/or death of a hiker can generate.
Alternatively, if Kauai County enacts laws that require people who get into trouble through their own foolishness, e.g., by ignoring trail closures and entering unsafe areas like Queen’s Bath, to pay the costs of their rescues, some of the revenue gained thereby could pay production costs.
Finally, if a hiking-safety video saves the life of even one visitor or first responder, is it not worth whatever it costs to produce?
H.M. Wyeth, Anahola
On SPOT! By promoting ways and means to emphasize SAFETY factors to enjoy the scenic wonders of Beautiful Kaua’i, that approach promotes the “essence of aloha”! Everyone benefits! As a place where thousands of people unfamiliar with the our island’s dazzling features, promoting ways in which the island can be enjoyed should be provided to prevent any mis-haps. It’s better to be “safe”, rather than “sorry”!
Great suggestion! As an example I have been at Wailua Falls several times and see people asking if there is a way down even though there are signs all over not to climb down due to hazardous cliffs. I’ve seen people many times jumping the first directly in front of the signs! They need to be aware their actions have consequences!
Im at Wailua Falls all the time and there are always people jumping fence directly in front of warning signs. A video and warning should put people on notice not to mention the parking is out of control and needs a bigger parking lot
Let’s expand visitor education even further, Iceland does. Suggestions about not walking on the reef, leave honu and monk seals alone. Recycle while you are here. Pick up if you see discarded plastic.