It only costs two dollars, and it could help save a life, according to first responders. Starting Sunday, Powell County Search and Rescue will start a new safety campaign for hikers in the Red River Gorge.
It all goes back to one rescue Lisa Johnson remembers quite well form a year ago.
“It was three women, they went out on a walk, it got darker than they thought, they got turned around which happens a lot up here,” Johnson said.
She said, on this call, something small and simple changed everyone’s fortunes.
“We’re halfway and thinking, what are we going to do?” Johnson said. “We didn’t have any phone contact with them. about then we heard a whistle and everybody stopped and said, listen! She was blowing a whistle.”
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Johnson said that woman’s whistle during the rescue caused an epiphany. Now, the rescue team is urging everyone to carry one with the new “whistle while you walk” safety campaign.
“I’ll help us a lot, and it will help the victims,” She said.
Starting this Sunday at the Natural Bridge Sky Lift, Powell County Search and Rescue will sell whistles for $2. The whistles were donated to the volunteers by the owner of the sky lift.
Team members plan to talk to people about why a whistle is always a better option than yelling for help.
“In your mind, when you’re screaming, you hear it loud, but it also saves the subject from getting thirsty, hurting their throat, and wearing themselves out because you’re scared, your energy leaves, and the more you scream, the weaker you get,” Johnson said.
On top of safer hikes, rescuers say each dollar spent will go a long way.
“All the money goes to our team for equipment and uniforms,” Johnson said.
The piece of mind for hikers and rescue crews will hopefully go a lot further.
