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Wells Gray SAR hosts cliff rescue course

Participants came from across the southern Interior the weekend before last to learn cliff rescue techniques
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Zoe Walton of Rossland and District Search and Rescue manages the stretcher holding Wells Gray SAR's Julie Campbell during a cliff rescue workshop held on the cliffs near Blackpool the weekend before last.

Participants came from across the southern Interior the weekend before last to learn cliff rescue techniques during a course put on by Wells Gray Search and Rescue.

The event was called SIRE - Southern Interior Rope Exercise. It was the first time for an event that Wells Gray Search and Rescue hope to hold every second year. It was organized by local SAR member Fred Erler. The event was planned to practice their rope rescue skills and swap ideas and techniques in this demanding discipline and help team members amass some of the 20 hours of supervised practice that is necessary to keep their rope rescue certifications current each year

Instructors at the event included Ryan McLarty from Clearwater, Don Torry from Kamloops and Robin Beech from Rossland.

Participants included 11 members of Wells Gray SAR, nine from South Cariboo SAR (100 Mile House), four from Vernon SAR, three from Central Okanagan SAR (Kelowna), two from Central Cariboo SAR (Williams Lake), and single members from Kamloops SAR, Oliver/Osoyoos SAR and Kamloops SAR.

The event included a social and get together Friday night and a catered dinner Saturday evening as well as two days of extended exercises on the cliffs near Blackpool.

Team leaders, team members and apprentices faced a variety of high angle and steep slope rescue problems that they had to overcome. There were numerous strategies and techniques to solve these rescue situations and teams were able to share their knowledge and ideas. Even the most seasoned veteran, Don Torry from Kamloops, was able to pick up some new ideas. Techniques included edge frames and stretcher edge transitions as well as the usual raising and lower techniques. A number of items of new, hi-tech equipment were put in to the system to help members become familiar with their use.

 

Comments and feedback were 100 per cent positives and include raves for the food, accommodation and facilities, including the team's practice site. WGSAR plans to host another event in 2015. Some Okanagan groups at the event expressed an interest in hosting the event next year.