This is an example of my callout form. Feel free to copy and adjust this to your needs. I like to include a picture of me in the form so rescuers can easily have an idea of what I look like.
Here are the details for my caving trip and what to do if you don’t hear from me by the emergency contact time. I plan to contact you by the planned contact time, but sometimes delays happen. Contact 911 if you don’t hear from me by the emergency contact time.
CAVE TRIP DETAILS
CAVE TRIP DATE: {CAVE TRIP DATE}
PARKING LOCATION:
{GOOGLE MAPS LINK}
^This is where we plan to park our car(s).
CAVE NAME / ENTRANCE LOCATION:
{CAVE NAME}
{CITY / STATE OF CAVE}
{GOOGLE MAPS LINK}
# OF CAVERS: {NUMBER OF CAVERS}
^Estimated number of cavers.
CAVING START TIME: {TIME & TIMEZONE}
^We plan to start caving at this time.
CAVE MAP:
{IMAGE OF CAVE MAP}
PLANNED CONTACT TIME: {TIME & TIMEZONE}
^This is the time I plan to contact you by. Sometimes trips run late or delays happen due to minor injuries, rough terrain, etc. Due to unforeseen reasons, it might take me longer to contact you.
EMERGENCY CONTACT TIME: {TIME & TIMEZONE}
^If you don’t hear from me by this time, follow the rescue instructions below.
RESCUE INSTRUCTIONS:
Follow these steps if you don’t hear from me by the emergency contact time.
- Text me at {MY PHONE NUMBER}. Just in case I’m exhausted and forgot to notify you.
- If you don’t hear from me within 30 minutes, call 911 and tell them:
- “I’m calling for a friend. {MY NAME} went caving with a total of {NUMBER OF CAVERS} people. He was supposed to contact me by {EMERGENCY CONTACT TIME} to let me know he exited the cave safely, but I haven’t heard from him. Can you redirect me to the local authorities for {CITY/STATE OF CAVE LOCATION} so I can request a potential cave rescue?“
- Once redirected, tell the operator all of the Cave Details above and my car’s details (found below). They will notify the relevant cave rescue team to perform a rescue, if needed.
- Wait for me or someone else to contact you with an update.
TIPS:
- My car is a {YEAR, MAKE, MODEL, TRIM}. The color is {COLOR}. It’s a {SEDAN/TRUCK/ETC}. My plate number is {PLATE NUMBER}.
- My emergency contact, {EMERGENCY CONTACT NAME}, has 24/7 access to my iPhone’s location through the Find My app for IOS devices. They can use that app to see my last known location. My emergency contact’s cell phone number is {EMERGENCY CONTACT PHONE NUMBER}.
- I am a member of the Nashville Grotto. If needed, you can contact {NAME OF SOMEONE FROM THE GROTTO} who is a member of the grotto. Their contact info is {GROTTO MEMBER CONTACT INFO}.
- I always try to drive to a cave location, but I may not be chosen to drive for some trips so you may not see my car.
- You can share the link to this page with the authorities so they have these details for a rescue.
- My phone has satellite service. This means I may be able to text you even if there is no cell service. If I can make it out of a cave, I will attempt to do this. If my text to you is very short, I might have done this. Don’t assume I can reply. Satellite service doesn’t work in caves, so if I’m trapped in a cave, I have no way to reach you.
- If a rescue is needed, please relax and stay calm. Rescue’s happen SLOWLY. It can take anywhere from hours to a day for a rescue. In rare circumstances, it can take longer. Who knows, maybe my car broke down and I’m stranded in an area without cell phone or satellite service.
- When looking for me in a cave, listen for any strange noises, look for any lights/reflectors, check for collapsed rock piles, and watch out for pits/holes. If possible, I’ll do whatever I can to make me noticeable.
