By Kathy Harris, Examiner.com

Injured or lost hikers. Trapped climbers. Missing backcountry campers. We hear the news stories all the time. And although we don’t like to think about it, those accidents can happen to any of us who live and play in the mountains. One thing you can do to help protect yourself is to purchase a Colorado search-and-rescue (CORSAR) card. For the cost of the card, you help make sure that trained and well-equipped search-and-rescue teams will respond should you become lost or in need of rescue.

Your purchase of the card is a contribution to the Colorado Search and Rescue Fund, which helps offset expenses that may be incurred if you ever needed a search-and-rescue operation. Many cities, counties and other types of special districts bill victims for expenses related to their rescue. If you have a CORSAR card, the Colorado Search and Rescue Fund will attempt to reimburse eligible expenses to prevent you from having to pay out of pocket.

The card is not insurance, however. The CORSAR website specifically states that “the card is not insurance and does not reimburse individuals nor does it pay for medical transport. Medical transport includes helicopter flights or ground ambulance. If aircraft are used as a search vehicle, those costs are reimbursed by the fund. If the aircraft becomes a medical transport due to a medical emergency, the medical portion of the transport is not covered.”

You can purchase a CORSAR card for just $3 a year, or pay $12 for five years.

NOTE: Anyone with a current hunting/fishing license, or boat, snowmobile or ATV registration is already covered by the fund.

Purchase a Colorado search-and-rescue card online here.