Month End meeting

Last night was month end meeting to review the past month's tasks, and equipment maintenance.

Body Recovery near Lynn Headwaters

Saturday we were paged out for a body recovery near Lynn Headwaters.
Myself, Tim, Bruce and Stan were HFRS'd in (long line under the helicopter) to the base of NorVan falls to recover the body.
There is a current police investigation, hence, that's it for my comments.
Read more - Province Story.

Pictures from Rescue Training

A few pictures from rescue training last week.

Theft and Vandalism

I've debated whether or not to comment on this on the blog, but I thought I should put it out there. Over the last few months NSR has experienced theft and vandalism to members and team equipment in a number of separate incidences. In certain cases, I am sure people do not know that they are targeting North Shore Rescue, and in others they are probably aware.

We are discussing internally how to deal with this. However, on a personal note, it is frustrating that a community organization that is run by volunteers, and does not have the funding to pay for these incidences is targeted. I wonder if any of these people will ever be lost or injured in the mountains and need our assistance. They should know we would treat them no differently than any other subject that is in need, and do our job regardless. I hope that whoever is responsible for the various incidents that have occurred over the past few months thinks about the fact that their actions cost our organization funds we don't have - we could be allocating these funds to training and equipment to help save lives.

Grouse Grind

Last night's training was a rescue scenario set near the Grouse Grind. The subject was unconscious located above a small cliff. I had the pleasure of hauling our dummy up to the spot on my back from the Baden Powell trail to help set up the scenario.

Once set up I returned to the Grouse Grind parking lot, and I headed back up to the spot as the "informant" with our advance team. The rest of the team followed, and we quickly had the patient packaged and lowered over down the cliff and then carried the stretcher the rest of the way with a "running belay".

Overall training went smoothly and actually simulated a real rescue better than some other scenarios, as it was a lot of bushwacking, and improvising with the materials we had available. It was also a bit of a struggle getting the stretcher down the steep slope with heavy windfall, which is something we encounter regularly on real rescues.

Immobilization in a Stress Environment

I have been away, hence a delay in posting. Prior to leaving we had a search for a missing female hiker on Seymour. She was found quite quickly with the assistance of the RCMP and their dog.

Tonight's training is medical evacuation training in a time compressed call. We will be using the SKED stretcher, SED and Cascade Sun Valley Splint.

"This session's goal is for members to act decisively in adapting /applying methods of immobilization in a stress environment."