washingtonpost.com— Early last month my son, James Kim, died of hypothermia in a snowy wilderness in Oregon after setting out on foot to seek help for his family, who were stranded in a car.
Jan 6, 2007View in Crawl 4
Its sad to read the majority comments posted hear. I look at this a completely different way. This was rescue operation. It tested the abilities of local and federal authorities, volunteers to save this family. Most importantly it tested the family that went through the this sad ordeal. Regardless of the lack of survial training, the decission to leave the car or the wrong turn this was still was a rescue that fail for one person. Blaming a dead man is easy but looking for lessons improve search and rescue is harder.I think most that posted here want think that Kim would been have been alive if stayed in the car and that may be so. But as father of small children I don't know how many days I could wait before the instict to save my family would over-ride my rational thought. I believe I would dismiss my own safety for the slightest chance to protect my family just as Kim did. Had he been a soldier this would be considered heroic dispite the quality of his decission. Now there seems to be movement to discredit him.If the account is accurate, then there are some things to be fixed in rescue protocol operated for this event. Reaching out of his Grief I think thats the point the father if trying to convey. I see all of his recommendations as very positive with some hesitation on the 4th one.
to all assh**es with the "he should have stayed in the car " comment, please tell me how many days you would have sat on your ass while you watch your two young daughters and wife go without food and proper shelter??if you have never experienced what this man went through, shut the f**k up!
miskaoneJan 7, 2007
Its sad to read the majority comments posted hear. I look at this a completely different way. This was rescue operation. It tested the abilities of local and federal authorities, volunteers to save this family. Most importantly it tested the family that went through the this sad ordeal. Regardless of the lack of survial training, the decission to leave the car or the wrong turn this was still was a rescue that fail for one person. Blaming a dead man is easy but looking for lessons improve search and rescue is harder.I think most that posted here want think that Kim would been have been alive if stayed in the car and that may be so. But as father of small children I don't know how many days I could wait before the instict to save my family would over-ride my rational thought. I believe I would dismiss my own safety for the slightest chance to protect my family just as Kim did. Had he been a soldier this would be considered heroic dispite the quality of his decission. Now there seems to be movement to discredit him.If the account is accurate, then there are some things to be fixed in rescue protocol operated for this event. Reaching out of his Grief I think thats the point the father if trying to convey. I see all of his recommendations as very positive with some hesitation on the 4th one.
tomaroccoJan 7, 2007
How about this lesson: Don't let the asian do the driving.
tomaroccoJan 7, 2007
Civil War II
bluesugaJan 8, 2007
to all assh**es with the "he should have stayed in the car " comment, please tell me how many days you would have sat on your ass while you watch your two young daughters and wife go without food and proper shelter??if you have never experienced what this man went through, shut the f**k up!
doghumpsmonkeyJan 8, 2007
There are plenty of pre-made kits you can buy, but off the top on my head I would suggest the following items:A box or two of Cliff Bars -> <a class="user" href="http://www.clifbar.com/">http://www.clifbar.com/</a>A couple of bags of unsalted nuts -> <a class="user" href="http://www.nutsonline.com/nuts/almonds/roasted-no-salt.html">http://www.nutsonline.com/nuts/almonds/roasted-no-salt.html</a>Chocolate -> <a class="user" href="http://www.amazon.com/Cadburys-Fruit-Chocolate-Raisins-Almonds/dp/B0004M0JRI">http://www.amazon.com/Cadburys-Fruit-Chocolate-Raisins-Almonds/dp/B0004M0JRI</a>Water storage bags (and a couple of bottles of water as well) -> <a class="user" href="http://www.quakekare.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=27">http://www.quakekare.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=27</a>Water Purification tablets -> <a class="user" href="http://www.quakekare.com/browseproducts/Water-Purification-Tablets.HTML">http://www.quakekare.com/browseproducts/Water-Purification-Tablets.HTML</a>Swedish Firesteel* -> <a class="user" href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/tools/754d/">http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/tools/754d/</a>Compass* -> <a class="user" href="http://www.amazon.com/Brunton-9020G-Classic-Compass/dp/B000093ILT">http://www.amazon.com/Brunton-9020G-Classic-Compass/dp/B000093ILT</a>Emergency Blankets -> <a class="user" href="http://www.amazon.com/Emergency-Thermal-Blankets-4-Pack/dp/B0007N0XDO">http://www.amazon.com/Emergency-Thermal-Blankets-4-Pack/dp/B0007N0XDO</a>Survival manual -> <a class="user" href="http://www.amazon.com/US-Army-Survival-Manual-21-76/dp/0967512395">http://www.amazon.com/US-Army-Survival-Manual-21-76/dp/0967512395</a>Parachute cord -> <a class="user" href="http://www.armysurplusworld.com/product.asp?ProductID=5226">http://www.armysurplusworld.com/product.asp?ProductID=5226</a>A good knife -> <a class="user" href="http://www.amazon.com/Black-Zytel-Handle-Tanto-ComboEdge/dp/B000G0VD1O/sr=1-12/qid=1168287379/ref=sr_1_12/102-4140156-6624125?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods">http://www.amazon.com/Black-Zytel-Handle-Tanto-ComboEdge/dp/B000G0VD1O/sr=1-12/qid=1168287379/ref=sr_1_12/102-4140156-6624125?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods</a>Signal mirror -> <a class="user" href="http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Swiss-Army-Signal-Mirror/dp/B0006IECJG/sr=1-2/qid=1168287767/ref=sr_1_2/102-4140156-6624125?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods">http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Swiss-Army-Signal-Mirror/dp/B0006IECJG/sr=1-2/qid=1168287767/ref=sr_1_2/102-4140156-6624125?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods</a>Hat -> (winter) <a class="user" href="http://www.uscav.com/productinfo.aspx?productid=7602&tabID=">http://www.uscav.com/productinfo.aspx?productid=7602&tabID=</a>Hat -> (warm weather) <a class="user" href="http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=5673&TabID=1&Sale=1&CatID=5205">http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=5673&TabID=1&Sale=1&CatID=5205</a>Whistle -> <a class="user" href="http://www.bestglide.com/nato_distress_whistle.html">http://www.bestglide.com/nato_distress_whistle.html</a>Lip balm (w/ SPF) and sunblock (Important regardless or the climate)Bug repellant (not all survival situations occur during winter)Warm clothing - Remember, in a survival situation COTTON = DEATH. When wet, it leeches body heat (this includes perspiration) Wool or synthetic materials retain body heat when wet. This includes HATS. Your heads a chimney that pours out heat. Keep it covered! In the summer it bakes like a potato! Cover your grape!And get a small daypack to keep it in. * These items take some practice to use. Don't wait until an emergency to try and figure it out. Take a compass walking with you, use the firesteel to practice in your backyard firepit.That's all I can think of off the top of my head. I believe these are all the items I have in my trunk, but I'd have to go look to be sure. Hope that helps. Better to be safe than sorry and all that. And I know it sounds like a lot, but it all fits nicely in my pack.
guytorontoJan 9, 2007
"if you have never experienced what this man went through, shut the f**k up! "If we experienced what he went through, we'd be dead too.