Facebook: A Cry For Help?

Paul in Cannon Beach

This week one of our summer staff got lost mountain biking in the woods a few miles north. He was riding some unfamiliar trails and became lost. The sun set and he realized he was in some trouble.

So...

he posted this on his facebook page:

"Hey, im currently lost in a forest right now & its really dark"

His brother read his comment and "liked" his status. (I am guessing he thought he was joking around).

I got the call at 1:30 am that he was lost in the woods. Police dispatch advised me to not have our staff go look for him (to prevent others from becoming lost). So, I just listened to my police scanner until I fell asleep.

The next morning he had still not been found. Fortunately, as soon as the sun came up, he was able to get his bearings and find his way to Hwy 101 where he was spotted by the police and brought home cold, hungry but safe.

I asked him later if the Facebook post was a bit of a joke and he said no. It was his way of asking for help.

The times, they are a-changing...

Tony Kessler

Paul, would the device he was using to update his status on Facebook have allowed him to make a phone call? :-/

ACU Frank

I know my 'reception' sometimes allows me access to data, but not voice. Even at that, I believe I may have texted someone directly rather than post to Facebook.

Oh, heck. Who am I kidding? I probably would have just tweeted and curled up for the night.

Paul in Cannon Beach

I believe he had spotty cell coverage but he could text and access FB. Data coverage and cell coverage areas can be different.

Tony Kessler

Then it sounds like he was being very resourceful under the circumstances, working all the angles that might work. I'm glad everything ended up OK.

Paul in Cannon Beach

One thing he did that was very smart was to stay put when he realized he was lost. He found a safe spot between some trees and spent the night there until the sun came up.

cnghr

It's good that he knew enough to stay put. We have a couple of mountain trails around here where, if you start wandering around when it's begun to get dark and you can't see well, you could end up completely off trail and over the edge of a cliff before you knew what was happening.

I guess posting on Facbook could be considered resourceful under the circumstances, although if it were me and I had data reception I think I would have actually texted a specific person for help rather than putting it out there on Facebook. (I don't even have a Facebook page personally, though, so what do I know?!)

Celeste Blackburn SPHR

Paul, do you know if the Facebook post was what ultimately got him the help or if he texted someone?

I hate to imagine my mom or dad logging on to Facebook one morning and seeing that and being really upset. But, on the other hand, maybe one of my resourceful friends would be the one to save me.

Paul in Cannon Beach

I think it was his texts that alerted his coworkers that he was in trouble. The Facebook just adds "style" to the story.

There is a backstory to this particular employee that would explain his behavior. He's just a bit different.

KSR6450

"A bit different"? Now that would be an understatement considering the circumstances. In his post he did not ask for help directly. Odd that.

I prefer texting. Can you collect Workman's Comp for thumb cramps? Oops, should I admit to texting from work?!?