If you are seeking a sense of adventure by heading into the backcountry, you may want to take note.

Andy Potton, President of Cochrane Search and Rescue understands the lure of camping in a remote spot but says anyone headed in that direction should place safety as their number one priority. "The first thing is to educate yourself. There is a great amount of research out there and everyone should seek out the new initiative created by Sundre Search and Rescue and Search and Rescue of Alberta Association and that is the 'Distance to Assistance' program. So the concept of the program is to educate people on what they should be taking with them in terms of supplies, first aid, and things like that, but it also really hammers home that if you find yourself in an emergency situation help is a long way away and not on hand."

Potton shares if people spent as much time on devising a safety plan and educating themselves in comparison to how much alcohol they haul in, we could see a reduction in the number of unfavourable situations that can occur. "If people did that then they would be a lot better prepared."

Heading to the backcountry can be a great getaway, shares Potton, especially when life stresses get to be too much. "We all know there are huge groups of people that go out to celebrate, get away, fire off shotguns, but you have to recognize that all of your actions you are responsible for. Make sure to stay within the law. I know a lot of people like to go into the backcountry to let off steam but there are so many different implications of letting off steam that could lead to a fatality or a fatality due to help being located so far away. It is not often one big thing that creates an emergency, it is usually a series of small little events that add up until the point where it has now become an emergency."

In the event of an emergency situation, Potton shares information is absolutely critical and can make a difference between life and death. "Always make sure you know where the nearest cell phone signal is, let family members and/or friends know not just where you're going to be but what you'll be doing out there. Will you be riding dirt bikes, quads or anything like that?! Then make sure you leave that information with somebody because if you are delayed coming out or you don't come out, then at least all first response resources will know your approximate location."

Other things to take note of, shares Potton, is whether or not the area is a conserved site or if your actions could hurt the wildlife, or could your actions be harmful, not necessarily to your life, but to other people's.

Are there fire bans or advisories issued for the area? Because if there is a fire advisory, you are going to need to pack in a whole lot more water to make sure you can manage the fire. Make sure you have a sensible fire pit and that you have enough food. Also, if you are going out as a group, have a conversation regarding whether anyone has any medical issues such as allergies, asthma or seizures and do you know what medical assistance the person may require. "If you don't have those adult conversations before you head out, and should the worst happen, you will once more end up in a tough situation."

Cochrane Search and Rescue will not be doing patrols in one specific locale this May long weekend but instead, equipment and members will be operating standby rotational shifts located in a central location so they can best respond if a call for assistance comes in.

Potton shares some of the best backcountry resources and those are found below: