The Bacchus Marsh State Emergency Service (SES) unit is urging people to be more careful when hiking, after performing two search and rescues in the same weekend.
An incident at Werribee Gorge on July 2 required four SES volunteers to to find an injured woman in the dark
Once found, the patient was lifted out by a Victoria Police helicopter via winch about 7pm.
Unit controller Mick Schembri said this assistance was not uncommon.
“We work very closely with Victoria Police and Ambulance Victoria, successfully conducting around half a dozen ‘winch rescues’ a year,” he said.
Mr Schembri said there had been “at least four” helicopter rescues this year.
The next day, the unit was called back to Werribee Gorge to find a person who had fallen down a one metre cliff face.
They were walked out safely with the help of the Bacchus Marsh crew.
The CFA, Victoria Police, and Ambulance Victoria all attended the scene.
Mr Schembri said keeping track of your location is the best way to assist rescue teams to find you when lost.
“It’s very helpful if people know the last emergency marker they passed and note terrain features to help us narrow down where they are,” he said.
Preparation was key to avoiding anything bad happening when on hiking, Mr Schembri said.
“If you are going out, go early in the morning so you have the full day to complete the walk,” he said.
“Look at the weather, take plenty of water and food, and make sure you have the right clothing.”
Mobile phones are a useful tool when out in the bush but are not trustworthy, Mr Schembri said.
“Don’t rely on mobile mapping to be your primary map – the GPS on your phone is great but if you break it you have nothing. Take a paper based map that is less than two years old,” he said.
Mr Schembri said the SES is anticipating more rescues in the future as the weather warms up heading into spring and summer.
“It ebbs and flows – we get a lot [of calls] in September.”
