Hiking and Caving Safety

In the wake of a family's tragic loss of their son in an , the San Diego County Sheriff's Department has issued safety guidelines for cave hiking.

People can become disoriented once inside caves, according to Sgt. Don Parker of the Sheriff's Search and Rescue Unit in a news release.

Search and rescue and mining teams from all over Southern California recently worked to bring out the body of a young man who disappeared in an unstable area of Arroyo Tapiado in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Parker suggests the following tips:

• before entering a cave, tell someone that you are going, give them the location of the cave, plus the time you will enter and return;
• never go alone and know your limits;
• take ample food, water, sunscreen, a flashlight, a map, GPS, first aid kit, whistle and multi-purpose tool, such as a knife;
• cell phone service may be limited but it's good to take a cell phone anyway;
• wear proper clothing, boots, sunglasses, helmet, gloves, etc.

Sheriff's Search and Rescue and the ASTREA helicopter did more than 80 rescues in San Diego County in 2011, according to Parker.

For more information, contact Sgt. Parker at 619-956-4990