In an unusual sequence of events, three search operations were underway simultaneously last week to find and rescue people who were lost or hurt in the Big Horn Mountains.

A 12-year-old Powell boy lost his way when he walked ahead of his Boy Scout troop on the morning of Saturday, Aug. 20; a 20-year-old Chicago man got lost when he lagged behind his group and took the wrong turn later that day; and a hang-glider from Gillette was injured the next morning when a sudden gust of wind picked him up off the ground and dragged him across some rocks.

All of them were found and rescued in successful search-and-rescue operations, thanks to hundreds of volunteers and the agencies and groups that organize and oversee them.

When an emergency situation arises outdoors, we take it for granted that someone will be available to help in a short amount of time. But we often fail to consider why: Because agencies and volunteers take the time out of their busy schedules to hone their skills, to train for and perform emergency search-and-rescue operations.

Often, those operations involve organizations and volunteers from more than one county or agency. Last week’s searches involved Big Horn County and Sheridan County sheriff’s offices; search and rescue organizations for both counties; the U.S. Forest Service; the Wyoming Forestry Division; the Civil Air Patrol; the Wyoming National Guard; horse and dog teams, and hundreds of volunteers from four counties.

We thank all of them for their diligence and for going the extra mile — in this case, many extra miles — to help those in need. They made a very big difference for these three individuals and their families.

We encourage people to continue to enjoy the many beautiful places where we are able to enjoy our natural surroundings — places where we can walk, hike, fish, camp, hunt, go boating, or just get away to explore and take photos. We are fortunate to live in an area where those opportunities abound.

While we are experiencing the outdoors, we should do what we can to keep ourselves safe.

Safety precautions include:

By being prepared and following these guidelines, we can help ensure our own safety. But we’re thankful that, if an unexpected problem does arise, dedicated and trained people are ready to come to the rescue.