After 33 days this is what I have learned so far….
1) Did you know that you do not have to wait 24 hours to report someone missing? I didn’t. Literally, you could be out of my sight for seconds and if I called, RCMP or the Police would have to respond. (Disclaimer: this does not count for wives making beelines to the mall or wayward husbands heading out for a beer). It does not matter the age.
2) Make sure there is one person out there that knows your password to your Apple ID if you own an IPhone. Ryan had a two way authentication on his phone. You couldn’t change his password with just an email address. Because we couldn’t answer his security questions, they would only text his new code to his phone 23 day later. Even RCMP intervention could do nothing. So we will never know ,if looking at his find my iPhone app, his last location would have been given.
3) There is a gap when local volunteer Search and Rescue teams fulfill their tasks. Who is left to take over?
There are several reasons, I have since discovered, why some people go missing. There are the willing, unwilling and the unknowing. But in almost every case, there is someone left behind that grieves at that loss. There should be resources that these loved ones can access to help them through this process. People should never wonder if what they have done is enough.
4) In places like these, that attract adventure loving people, there should be safety measures and protocols put in place.
Is it possible to have some marker or beacon added to staff id’s that trigger a beacon once activated?
What about having a procedure in place if employees don’t show up? Have a detailed plan that involves an emergency contact and an escalated plan that involves the authority if merited.
I am very aware that in our case, all these measures would be reactive and reflective actions.
The shame about tragedies is processes that are developed will only be proactive for others.
But what I have learned most importantly, is that my son was happy here.