[GaltAdonis]

Two winters ago a neighbor of mine fell on the snow & ice in the parking lot of
his apartment complex. He injured his leg and couldn’t get up or move.
And nobody was around that could hear him yelling for help.
It was evening and everyone was inside and did not hear.
He was stuck out there for several hours before anyone happened by and heard him.

He was stuck out there for several hours. Luckily it resulted ONLY
in a broken ankle and a case of pneumonia.
He was lucky, in my opinion - it could have been much worse.

[Freedom4US]

Hikers in the backcountry, even/especially day hikers have long been advised to always carry with them the “10 Essentials”, items that SAR and rescue groups devised over the years to prevent tragic incidents similar to this.

A high output whistle - like high school football coaches or sadistic Drill Sergeants use is perfect. Lightweight, doesn’t take up much room, or even wear around the neck. Shouting or yelling doesn’t carry that far, and besides, the vocal cords will quickly wear out and lose voice anyway. 3 blasts on the whistle every so often will (eventually) get somebody’s attention. Worth thinking about anyway, even in “civilization”.

[metmom]

Mr. mm slipped and fell on black ice on a very early morning bike ride in a school parking lot. Fortunately someone was leaving for work early and he called me to come and get him.

He would have been in rough shape if he spent another couple hours before school staff started to show up.