Mounted search and rescue

[Pennbo's <pennbo@verizon.net>]

Thanks Irv. You brought up a lot of good points.

> Often called slime green the color is used for personnel in construction and
> roadside locations due to the prevalence of orange lights, cones, drums,
> etc. It makes the people stand out in that background.  In the woods where
> brown trees and green leaves prevail hunter's orange is a preferred color.
>  
I have seen this color 'leaking' over to other realms. First because it 
is different and is getting the attention of those who are inured to 
orange, and then because it IS more visible than orange in many places. 
Since first seeing slime green being used for SAR gear earlier this year 
I have discussed this issue with several people. I have said the same as 
you- orange is better in forested areas. However we also have lots of 
desert area around here. I would not have thought it but having spoken 
to several folks who are also doing 'tests' on the colors the green is 
most visible in the desert. Since visibility is our main concern with 
uniform color choice I think we'd best not rule out either color since 
we may see both of them in the future.

> It also has the advantage of being associated with fellow hunters, not law
> enforcement types as the green is. 
I think the issue of being law enforcement 'types' is always going to be 
around no matter what color we wear! If you are on a search and law 
enforcement is there also most folks don't stop to think whether or not 
you are also part of the force. They assume. Putting SAR on the clothing 
doesn't help distinguish as 1. most people don't know what it stands for 
and 2. most people don't realize that SAR personnel are most frequently 
NOT law enforcement. I've yet to see law enforcement in slime green- 
doesn't mean it won't happen just that it hasn't happened here yet.

> You do not want to wear a color or
> combination that occurs in nature in the area you are searching.  For
> instance in the PA woods never wear brown and white, particularly white
> gloves since whitetail deer and the poachers who shoot them out of season
> are always around.  
>  
Very good point. Also a good reason to have blaze orange (or slime 
green!) saddle bags, blankets, and/or collar and halter markers on our 
mounts. If you are traveling through dense brush/forest during hunting 
season an inexperienced hunter may not see you and may only see your 
horse (they are not looking high up but rather focused at 'deer' level). 
It's important to loudly proclaim your mount is not a deer! If you have 
to leave your mounts tied anywhere for any length of time this 
coloration becomes even more important. We do not have a lot of hunters 
in our area but I have had bullets whistle past me because a hunter 
heard a movement and shot before sighting. SCARY.  Best to be extra 
cautious during hunting season (especially deer)!!

> Florescent is supposed to be more visible than merely bright but one
> township painted all their highway and fire apparatus that green and their
> accident rate went up.  The population couldn't associate the green with
> service vehicles and didn't identify them as such.  There is also the
> possibility that red/green color blind people would not see the green. 
> They went back to red fire trucks (yellow didn't work out either) and orange
> highway maintenance vehicles. 
>
> Irv Lichtenstein
Fire engines are routinely slime green in our area and have been for 
awhile. The yellow didn't work nor did the red. Too many other things 
can be red in the environments where the trucks travel. I am going to 
take a stab at saying that the accident rate didn't go up as all new 
engines are the same color and they would've gone back to the old color 
if it had. That being said since this has been a long gradual change 
over for us apparently the general population has had a chance to adapt. 
And then again it's California where most people EXPECT weird things to 
happen and aren't much fazed by the out of the ordinary! Btw- out of 
curiousity I called my brother-in-law to ask if he could see the slime 
green trucks better or worse than the old red ones. He said the old red 
ones looked brown but the slime green look almost like a bright white- 
so yes he can see them better. (Not very scientific- just one man's 
opinion!)

Now if you want to talk REALLY stupid- CalTrans (California's state road 
maintainance bureau) has started changing their trucks over from orange 
to WHITE.  So now those trucks are not easily identified in traffic, 
they do blend in with their surroundings, they get covered in mud and 
dirt and look brown...all around a very poor decision on their part. I 
haven't found anyone yet who can explain to me why they are doing this. 
If anyone on here knows I would love to hear if there is reasoning 
behind the shift in color!

Chris Pennington