Grand Forks Search and Rescue

It is with heavy hearts that Kaslo Search and Rescue shares the news of Member Joe LeBlanc's passing from a snowmobiling accident. Joe joined our team in 2019 ...and quickly won over everyone with his smile and sense of humour. He trained our group in helicopter awareness, making sure every member had a chance to ask questions, his passion and professionalism was admirable. He will be greatly missed by all who were lucky enough to know him. Joe is a father of three children and a Go Fund Me Page has been set up to help his family through this difficult time https://www.gofundme.com/f/family-of-joe-leblanc-support-af

As we move into spring, we need to consider the effects of warming weather on snow stability. Know before you go, visit Avalanche Canada at avalanche.ca for more information. Stay safe out there.

Thank to to Steve Danshin and the crew at MSC Enterprises Ltd for donating their time and material building our classroom, and adding some passage doors and shelving to our hall. Looks great guys!

We would like to send a huge shoutout the the Grand Forks Credit Union staff who donated $1000 to GFSAR from their "wear jeans to work" fund. Thanks a lot guys! We're a fully volunteer, non-profit society, so we need donations to do what we do. If you're interested in donating, reach out to [email protected].

Congratulations Colleen! We are incredibly lucky to have you and your team available to help us out.

It's easy to underestimate the amount of "rotor wash" working below a 442 Squadron's Cormorant helicopter at night. Add well below freezing temperatures and snow that *was* on the ground and you have a winter wonderland of a wind chill blizzard. Yes, we volunteer because we want to! ;)

Last night, Grand Forks Search and Rescue was called out by RCMP to help rescue an injured, hypothermic subject in a canyon. We reached out to Oliver/Osoyoos Search and Rescue members and Penticton & District Search & Rescue's high angle rope team to assist. These SAR teams worked with the 442 squadron based out of Canadian Forces Base Comox for a successful night helicopter evacuation of the subject and handover to BC EHS. A big thanks to everyone involved.

It's not enough to own a beacon, probe, and shovel, you and your party need to know how to use them. If you spend a lot of time in the backcountry, consider taking an AST course from an Avalanche Canada provider. More info at avalanche.ca.

Many thanks to Brian at Chain Reaction Ride & Slide for his help trouble-shooting a slow leak in our big wheel, which we attach to our rescue stretcher to take the load off of the rescuers when evacuating subjects. He also donated a spare inner tube, so that we would not be caught with a flat at a critical moment. It is community support like this that keeps our program, and all of the 79 volunteer ground search and rescue teams in BC operational and ready to respond to backcountry emergencies, 24/7/365, always free of charge. And thanks as well to Miles Randell SARMed for the photo of our stretcher and big wheel at work in the field

Heading outdoors this weekend? Do you know what time the sunsets in your area of BC? October 16 ... Prince George 6:10pm kimberley 6:50pm North Vancouver 6:19pm Revelstoke 5:57pm Whistler 6:17pm Port Hardy 6:34pm Golden 6:51pm Tofino 6:30pm Kitimat 6:33pm Williams Lake 6:11pm Fort St John 5:58pm A large number of unplanned overnights could be prevented by carrying a flashlight or headlamp. Often, someone who requires rescue did not start out lost, but simply ran out of daylight and was unable to get back to their car or the trailhead. Once it gets dark, the chances of getting lost are greater. Although we all have some night vision, we are much more vulnerable after dark. Without a source of light, moving at night can be dangerous. https://www.adventuresmart.ca/land/survive-essentials.htm

Grand Forks Search and Rescue joined fellow first responders at the cenotaph at City Hall in honour of our veterans and the fallen. We are grateful to Branch 059 of the Royal Canadian Legion (Grand Forks Legion) for making this ceremony possible despite the challenges of COVID. Bravo Zulu. Lest we forget

On October 17th, 7 GFSAR members completed their Helicopter Operations Level 2 training. We also had 2 other members complete this at the end of September. Helicopters are used often in SAR operations for crew and subject transport, recon and scene evaluation, as well as for medivacs. Heli Ops 2 provides our members the training to perform hover entries and exits. A hover entry/exit is performed when a helicopter is under power during the loading/unloading, such as in powdery... snow, soft ground, or uneven terrain. This is obviously a dangerous maneuver so it is used when no other reasonable options exist. Thanks to Castlegar Search & Rescue for hosting both sessions and Dam Helicopters for flying us.

Be #AdventureSmart and be tick smart when trekking in the outdoors by tucking your pants into your socks . When you get home remember to: Wash your clot...hes right away, Put them in the dryer Bathe or shower within 2 hours of being outdoors Learn more on tips to avoid ticks and how to keep yourself safe: http://ow.ly/xeMX50BK6dR

Had another great time with Grand Forks Search and Rescue teaching SAR Medic 1. This team is always fun to work with and are eager to learn. An outstanding group of people! Had some threepeats, some great learning and solid team building. Even had some visitors decide to ride our packs.

This weekend, 9 members from GFSAR completed a SAR medic course hosted by SARMed. This course is designed to build on existing first aid knowledge and apply it to a rescue situation, as well as providing some more advanced techniques. As a medical rescue team, we are the first responders to a wilderness incident scene. We act as a bridge between where the incident happened and where the paramedics can recieve the subject, which is often in remote areas and in complex terrain. We have a very talented team with nurses and paramedics, and this course provides those individuals extra hands to improve patient care and well-being. Congratulations to all who participated, and thanks to Miles at SARMED for coming out and teaching the course.