Says Mike Kloser, two-time Eco-Challenge winner (Morocco with Team Vail, Sabah 2000 with Team Salomon Eco-Internet), "the adventure races themselves are probably safer than the training I do for these insane races. When I'm out racing in the events, I feel that I've got my big brother looking after me. Usually the race organization has got a pretty good idea of where we are most of the time, and typically doesn't like to expose us to many dangerous or life-threatening situations."

Most reputable race organizations supply teams with a variety of communication devices that may be used in an emergency, devices people don't carry with them when training. Teams usually are equipped with radios, GPS systems, flares, and even smoke signals. Because they periodically pass through designated checkpoints, the organization knows the last place a team has been and at what time, and also knows the next checkpoint they should check into. In this manner, race organizations are able to monitor a team's progress, and if they don't turn up in a reasonable amount of time, a search via helicopter commences. At least that's how it works with the bigger, well-funded races like Eco-Challenge...