Recently, nine students got stranded in the Pingxi mountain area while hiking. Fortunately, thanks to a weak mobile phone signal and active rescue efforts by police and firefighters, they were successfully rescued without any injuries or fatalities. However, local police reminded hikers not to underestimate trails just because they appear simple. Essential gear should never be overlooked, and if lost, it’s important to stay calm, determine direction, seek help, and conserve resources. Change your phone to turn on for only five minutes every full hour to save battery, and ration food, water, and phone power. Never act rashly or panic, as this can make it harder for rescuers to find you.
Recently, nine vocational school students from New Taipei City went hiking in Pingxi but got lost in the mountains. They used a weak mobile signal to call for help, prompting a large-scale search and rescue operation by Pingxi police and firefighters. After four hours, all nine were found safe and sound. The students later recalled the incident with lingering fear. As Ruifang District has many hiking routes, Wang Shunyi, head of the Ruifang Precinct, stated that although these trails are not highly challenging, essential safety precautions remain necessary. First, ensure your gear is complete and bring sufficient supplies, including a compass, headlamp or flashlight, spare batteries, a whistle, a map, and a raincoat. Especially useful in emergencies are energy-efficient LED headlamps or hand-cranked flashlights—new items he recommends hikers purchase.
He also advised that if you enter mountainous areas and notice thickening clouds or approaching darkness, it’s better to turn back and descend to ensure safety. If you do get lost, stay calm, observe surrounding terrain features or identifiable landmarks such as caves, the sound of streams, or the direction of the moon. Avoid wandering aimlessly. Conserve your energy, reorient yourself, return to a known point to reassess your route, or wait for rescue. In case of an accident, find a spot with better signal reception and use your phone to dial 110, 112, or 119, or ask an experienced friend or family member to report the incident.
Police also noted that when calling for help, clearly state your route, approximate location, altitude, terrain, and any distinctive landmarks. Set your phone to turn on for five minutes at the top of every hour to conserve power. If you need to move to avoid bad weather, break small branches along the way, tie grass, or stack rocks as markers to help rescuers track your path.
(China Broadcasting Corporation)