WELCOME TO THE
PRSAR NEWS
Chief Editor: Doug Logan ------ duglogan@hotmail.com
**********************************************************************
This is issue No. 4 of The Powell River Search and Rescue News.
This newsletter belongs to the membership of PRSAR.
(But all are Welcome!)
**********************************************************************
"QUOTE OF THE DAY"
Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible--the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family.--Virginia Satir
**********************************************************************
Mar 3 - Callout
A late callout for two missing persons up Powell Lake. Two members were prepared to join the RCMP at the Marina at 07:30 hrs. The RCMP went up the lake, pre-dawn, and found the subjects waiting at a float cabin with their boat, which had engine trouble.
Mar 5 - Regular Meeting and Training
Mar 19th Rope Team Training Night-Recent Events and Issues,
-Map and compass practice,
-Practice stretcher operations with new two-piece stretcher and wheel attachment
-GSAR Evaluations completed
-Prepare equipment required for Low-angle and Embankment operations.
Mar 20th, Texada Island Rope Training session
Three Texada SAR members met with myself in the Giles Bay Community Hall, to review the basics of rope rescue and the limitations under PEP guidelines. We covered basic knots and low-angle operations. Further training with other Texada SAR members is planned, towards completing their GSAR evaluations.
**********************************************************************
TIP OF THE MONTH
**********************************************************************
a) the rescue personnel have most of their weight on the ground,b) the weight of the stretcher rests at least partly on the rescuer,c) the stretcher is attached to the rope at one end, andd) there may be three or more stretcher bearers.
High Angle (Vertical, Technical) Lower:A lower down a drop of generally more than 40 degress (cliffs, buildings, caves, vertical drops) where:a) the rescue personnel have their weight supported by the rope system,b) the weight of the stretcher is supported solely by the rope, andc) at the most there are two stretcher attendents.PEP PolicyIt is the policy of the Provincial Emergency Program that SAR Group members may assist in Cliff or Embankment Rescue activities if:i) they have recieved specific PEP training in rope rescue, andii) they operate under the direction of a PEP trained and certified Rope Rescue Team Leader.
**********************************************************************
New Stretcher
The new two-piece stainless-steel stretcher and the All-Terrain Wheel assembly has been tested and has been placed in the PEP Truck. The patient-protective Plexi-shield requires a different bracket/clamp to be properly fitted to the stretcher. The replacement bracket is on it's way from California. A protective cloth bag is also being made.
We will need try this unit in the field to work out the handling problems.
PRSAR Website
Work continues on building our website. It requires a lot of content and building. When we have a working site that is 'under construction', we will publish the link.
Links and stuff(Know of a coming conference send in the info or link)
Here is the link to the Washington Sar Conference - May17, 18,& 19 , 2002 www.skamaniasheriff.com/2002sarconference.htm
Coming Events
April 2/02 PRSAR Meeting/Training Night - 7 p.m.
(USUALLY FIRST TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH PRSAR/FIRE HALL)
April 16/02 Rope Team Meeting/Training Night - 7 p.m.
(USUALLY THIRD TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH PRSAR/FIRE HALL
**********************************************************************
Acronymphobia
Here's this month's Acronyms - Rope Management
K.I.S.S.
From the GSAR Manual:
Keep It Simple & Safe
I.D.E.A.S.
From the Rope Rescue Manual:
Integrity of the anchor point,
Direction of pull, as between the anchor and the load,
Equal tensioned anchors,
Angles of all anchor components less than 90 degrees,
System anchors adaquate for rescue needs.
**********************************************************************
In order for this to work, everyone needs to be involved, and contribute.
Forward your contributions to duglogan@hotmail.com.
The more people participate, the more this becomes 'our' newsletter.
The next issue will be May 2002. It will be sent out on Friday, May 3rd. Deadline for contributions will be midnight, May 1st. Preferably, send in submissions as soon as possible. The information can always be changed before the deadline date.
People can subscibe by senting their email address to
To unsubscribe, contact the above email address.
If there is any trouble with this 'rich text' version,
a 'plain text' version can be sent out.
**********************************************************************
"Thought for Tomorrow"
When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened.--John M. Richardson, Jr.
BE RESPONSE READY!