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msar-riders - Re: [MSAR] colors

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Subject: Mounted search and rescue

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  • From: "Kinch" <kinch@shaw.ca>
  • To: "Mounted search and rescue" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [MSAR] colors
  • Date: Sat, 2 May 2009 12:35:24 -0700

We use headlamps with red light when working at night. It doesn't cause either the rider or mount to lose their night vision and it also allows others to see you coming, both the victim and other searchers. People have a tendacy to get scared when they hear big things approaching and don't know exactly where it is. The reason we use the red versus other colours that don't affect night vision is because when working with topo maps, the blue light causes the grid lines & rivers / creeks to disappear or be very hard to see and the same with the green light and tree lines. With the red light you can still see the roads / trails on the map and all other important information. The chopper pilots in the military are using green lights for night vision as this is the same colour as their night vision devices and they have special night vision maps they use which works very well when using green. The grunts are still using the red light because it works better with ordinary topo maps.
 
Don't forget, it takes on average 5 minutes or more to regain your night vision after looking at white light. When approaching ground pounders using white light, keep one eye closed in order to maintain partial night vision.
 
Joe Kinch
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2009 12:08 PM
Subject: Re: [MSAR] colors

 Mammut Lucido TX1 Headlamp - Best headlamp out there, plus it leaves your hands free.
 
 
 

 
From: msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org]On Behalf Of IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN
Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2009 10:07 AM
To: 'Mounted search and rescue'
Subject: Re: [MSAR] colors

If you decide to use a “night” light red is not the best color.  This is an urban myth from the user’s point of view.  Red is one of the hardest colors to see at night, thus if there are snipers out there you use red for self protection.  Most cockpit lighting is now green or even diffuse white or white green.  This eliminates the red-green color blind problem, the color shift effects of red and other colors on the object being looked at, and normal eyes see best in black and white at reduced light levels.  If you need a marker beacon use an infrared or blue flasher.  Blue is the second most visible color after amber according to emergency vehicle lighting studies but conveys an official presence as amber is used by everybody.  Many vehicles now use blue or green LEDs for gauges.  

 

If you are using the lights for work, like tacking up, loading, briefing, investigate the possibility of using a few shielded white lights as area lights rather than wearing one.  Often one or two sets of work lights can do the trick where 10 or more headlamps are just a headache.  And examine the pattern built into the light.

A small spot, like a MiniMag, may be intense but not cover sufficient area to be useful. A full size Maglight or Streamlight with variable focus is good, and the aluminum tube filled with D cells is useful in other ways.  The Litebox uses a sealed beam equivalent to about 8 watts on a lead battery and can be placed on the ground, the head can be aimed or carried on a strap. It comes either spot or flood depending on the lamp. Great for changing tires or lighting a table but heavy to carry.  For base camp there are units powered by gel cells or little generators.  I would expect to see fuel cells small enough to be carried soon that run off air and propane for silent generators and water production. The fire company I run with has found that the quartz work lights sold for $10.95 to roughly $29.95 outperform the  “emergency service” units we used to buy as long as an explosion proof lamp is not needed.

 

Examine your needs and buy what fits 80% of them.  It can get extraordinarily expensive to get next 5 to 10% of utility.

 

Irv Lichtenstein

 

 

 


From: msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of pennbo@verizon.net
Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2009 12:47 AM
To: msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [MSAR] headlamps

 

These are all good points Irv and follow my thoughts too. I do think every unit should carry headlamps but not for mounted work. There have been times on night searches where we were headed into some rough utterly unfamiliar terrain. We got off and walked the horses. THEY may see well at night but humans not so much and a light is handy! :-)  Also a red lamp is a more useful tool as it doesn't destroy your night vision like white light does. (and doesn't cause the cussing a white light does when you forget you have it on your helmet and you look someone in the face!)

Examine why you want to use a headlamp, bounce the ideas around here and amongst your members - and see what you come up with.

Chris


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