Human Interest Human interest Search and Rescue team building and training
Search and Rescue team building and training
| Human interest |
The Cariboo Regional District’s Cariboo Chilcotin Search and Rescue (CCSAR) unit recently hosted their annual Chimney Lake training weekend for approximately 40 participants, welcoming SAR members from Prince George and 100 Mile House to join them for the unique event.
The weekend was organized by CCSAR members Allen Schaad, Rick White and Brielle Penner. Training exercises covered a range of tracking and rescue skills, and gave participants the opportunity to develop both individual and team-building skills.
One exercise for swift water search and rescue featured rings and hoops anchored in the water, as well as throwing bags. There was an auto extrication exercise with the ‘jaws of life’ and ATV searches featuring both GPS and visual input.
“These exercises provide skill development for missing person searches,” Brielle explained. “You track, and look for articles of clothing, possibly related items and footprints. You put it on the GPS and if it’s part of the search you can go back and track it. You write a very detailed description of the article or print—those little details can mean that you find the person.”
She said that participants did kayaking exercises that included a big boat crash scenario. “We’re used to looking along the shoreline but not always in the water, and this exercise taught us how to look further. Evidence can be in the water itself, and learning to explain what you see is a great skill,” she continued.
Search and Rescue instructors experienced in things like tracking and communication ran the various exercises, helping to develop skills that are critical to a successful search.
Brielle said that a tracking instructor had them practice finding shadows on the ground during a search, looking for things like grass that is shiny, or broken. “We used tracking sticks to measure the footprints, measure direction, heel or toe and left or right feet,” she noted.
“We practiced deploying avalanche beacons—we had to find ones that were hidden by using beacon locators.”
She said that feedback from the training weekend was very positive. “This was more than skills training—it was also team building,” she explained. “It also gave everyone the opportunity to socialize and enjoy getting to know Search and Rescue members from other communities.”
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