HFRS Recert with Blackcomb Helicopters

NSR HFRS members participated in a "recert" with Blackcomb Helicopters in preparation for the Olympics. This satisfies the legal requirement with Transport Canada that NSR personnel must train annually with all their helicopter charter providers. It also gave members a chance to familiarize themselves with the pilots and with the aircraft that we will be utilizing during the Olympic Games period. Talon Helicopters was and will continue to be our primary helicopter provider before and after the Olympics. Blackcomb Helicopters won a PEP contract to provide a standby rescue helicopter during the games, and as part of that contract, the government has provided NSR/SAR with number of flight hours to be used for training, familiarization and orientation to the North Shore terrain.

Included in this exercise where: NSR HFRS technicians, NSR HFRS aware members, CARDA handlers and their dogs. The recert included the following components:

• Operational briefing
• Introductions (pilots and aircrew)
• Dryland rigging of helicopter
• 150 foot longline insertions to mountain gulley (in tandem and with CARDA dogs)
• 200 foot longline insertions to mountain gulley (in tandem)
• 200 foot rescue basket extraction from river bank
• Debrief, cleanup and paperwork

Overall a good experience for all members that were involved. Having regular exercises such as these keep all our skills honed and at the ready to render aid to the public.

For pictures of this training exercise check out our Flickr Page or Facebook Page.

Code Alpha Table Top Exercise

North Shore Rescue personnel were joined by representatives from various agencies (see below) last night for a table top exercise regarding avalanche response on the North Shore mountains.

• BC Parks
• Grouse Mountain
• Cypress Mountain
• RCMP/ISU
• CARDA
• BC Coroners Service
• Canadian Avalanche Center
• Coquitlam SAR
• Lions Bay SAR
• Surrey SAR
• Metro Vancouver Parks

Participants were assigned to various scenario groups covering each of the 3 local resort areas and asked to prepare an action plan covering the response to these scenarios. With a lot of cooperation and shared knowledge groups worked together to come up with a realistic response to each of these scenarios. Developing and maintaining a close working relationships with all stakeholders is an important part of emergency response and as such this exercise was a tremendous success.

For background information; Code Alpha refers to an avalanche preplan developed by NSR which sets out the response guidelines/resources/procedures/etc. for a situation where a civilian or a member is caught in an avalanche. This preplan allows for a response to a hectic and complicated situation fraught with emotion and confusion, in a thourough and systematic approach. Ultimately the goal is to protect the safety of the rescuers, while saving as many lives as possible.

2010 HFRS Training Exercise

North Shore Rescue HFRS technicians were joined by their fellow members as well as members from the Canadian Forces, RCMP/ISU, WVPD, Coquitlam SAR, Lions Bay SAR and the Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association (CARDA) in a training exercise Sunday. HFRS techs honed their skills inserting and extracting personnel into steep terrain, requiring transfering members from the long-line to a anchored tether on the ground. This operation was run out of the Capilano Watershed and the insertion/extraction point was on the front side of Grouse Mountain near the BCMC.

This training exercise involved two machines from Talon Helicopters. The AS350 B2 (C-FTHY) flown by Derek Riendeau and the AS355 flown by owner Peter Murray. Helicopters flew members into and out of the site in an alternating pattern, communicating tactically via a simplex frequency to coordinate the movement of personnel. The key idea behind this exercise involved the need to be able to put many members on the ground quickly were light or weather could be a limiting factor on the rescue outcome. By having the ability to put a lot of manpower on the ground quickly, NSR can respond to calls more safely and increase the liklihood of a positive outcome.

Members also practiced extractions from terrain utilizing a rescue basket, suspended from the long line. This device is primarily designed for river/water rescue, however, it's application for mountain rescue is indispensible. If faced with a dangerous terrain or limited time, a stranded climber could be directed into the basket and flown a short distance to safety.

Check out more pictures of this exercise on the NSR Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/northshorerescue