South Fraser Search and Rescue

TRIP PLAN TUESDAY Needle in a hay stack! ... ‘Signalling for Help’, do you know how? Consider Your Signaling Position It’s extremely important to put yourself in the ‘eyes of the rescuer’ when it comes to signaling for help. Ensure you can position yourself in the right location so the search and rescue members will be able to see your signal clearly and respond efficiently. Signal Mirror & Whistle Of the essentials you should be carrying in your safety kit, the whistle and mirror signaling devices are great tools to have, as long as you know how to use them properly. Using the mirror or other reflective items such as a knife, belt buckle, sunglasses or watches can be an effective way to get the attention of searchers in aircraft, on top of a ridge or a hillside. Many searches take place on the ground, with dedicated searchers hiking through the bush trying to find you. If you have an emergency signaling whistle, you can blast it 3 times, take a break, blast 3 times again and continue to do this. If there are ground search and rescue members within hearing distance, they will locate you. Remember, to stop blasting occasionally, so you can hear the searchers responding to your calls. Be Bright! (cloths, tent) SAR volunteers like to see BRIGHT, vivid colours, making it easier to spot you. Shopping soon for new gear? Think about your colour choices. Be Searchable, Be AdventureSmart Being searchable enables rescuers to help faster. Follow the tips above and check out our friends over Recco Advanced Rescue Technology for details on their Backpack Rescue Reflector as a great addition to your essentials. The Backpack Rescue Reflectors are available @ the British Columbia Search and Rescue Association website as well. https://www.bcsara.com//recco-reflectors-now-available-on/ Thanks to the awesome crew @ Talon Helicopters for all their hard work and this picture! https://www.adventuresmart.ca/tripplanning/signaling.htm

Last night our Members in Training put the skills they’ve been learning for the past 8 months into action as they worked through some real life scenarios. Their tasks included search techniques, administering first aid, radio communications, providing and locating coordinates, patient packaging, and a stretcher carry. Job well done to our MIT’s, and a big thanks to the members who came out to run the scenarios!

This week our members practiced their basic first aid to keep their skills sharp. We’re learning to adjust to this new normal, which has been especially difficult when practicing skills that require close contact. Covid protocols were discussed and applied, full PPE was worn, and sanitizer was abundant. We’re not letting a pandemic stop us from being prepared in the field!

Our team has had a BIG project in the works for some time now and we are almost ready to share it with you.. Any guesses what it could be!?

Vancouver Police are requesting the public’s help in locating a 49-year-old man missing since September 24. Darcy Wild left his home near East 33rd Avenue and V...ictoria Drive last Thursday. Mr. Wild was driving a 2015 black Lexus RX350 with a BC license plate JS3 50P. Mr. Wild is white, 5’10 and has a slim build. He has greyish, blonde, short hair and was last seen wearing a black zip-up rain jacket with a grey shirt underneath, blue jeans, black boots, and a red face mask. Mr. Wild may be in or near Squamish, Whistler, or Pemberton. He is familiar with trails and roads in those areas. His last known location is believed to be near Alice Lake in Squamish. https://mediareleases.vpd.ca//vpd-looking-for-missing-man/

A very special #SFSARspotlight - Carla H. Carla has been with South Fraser SAR for 21 years. She plays many roles on this team including Ground and Inland Waters Team Leader, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, Organized Avalanche Team Member, Boat Team Member and Captain, Hover Entry and Exit, Emergency First Aid First Responder, among others. - Why did you join SAR: To expand my volunteer pursuits and develop my skillset in a plethora of areas, that were transferrable to my ...outdoor pursuits, my career and my community. - How has SAR impacted your life: My dedication to SAR has given me opportunities to help families in need with a host of professional skills, it has connected me to a network of simply outstanding peers, opportunities to mentor exceptional young people, and given me balance. I have been so lucky in this life, SAR gives me great opportunities to give back to those who need support. - What do you do outside of SAR: I love mountaineering with my dog, kayaking, riding motorcycles, ATVing, fishing, travelling, home renos, entertaining friends and family, and adventuring with my outgoing boyfriend and his curious and fun loving little boy. - What’s the best advice you were ever given?: Life isn’t fair, especially as a girl/woman, you just have to grab on tight to opportunities as they open up. When one door closes, five others open, My Dad. And sometimes you just have to hurry up, pull up your big girl panties and get on with it. Move forward, My Mom. - What is something you’re very good at?: Connecting with people and working hard. - What’s something you’ve done lately that was worth remembering?: Spent some long days in challenging conditions with a great team, doing our absolute best, to find someone’s loved one. - Any final words: SAR isn’t for everyone, but for those who are fit, have skills that they want to continue to develop, a good relationship with life and death, and want to give back to their community there are few better volunteer organizations. It should definitely be considered as a way to grow as a person and I encourage more people to learn more about it.

Thank you for everything that you do, North Shore Rescue!

Last weekend many of our volunteers completed their #ProjectLifesaver Electronic Search Specialist course providing them will the skills and knowledge to rapidly recover lost individuals who are on the Project Lifesaver program. Well done all!

The smoke across the lower mainland is heavy and dense, making rescue operations more difficult than usual. Please take a moment to consider if hiking during this time is worth the risk.

2019 Labour Day long weekend incidents: 65 2020 Labour Day long weekend incidents: TBD.. #itsuptoyou

We are sending members to assist Central Fraser Valley Search and Rescue Society with this search today. #MutualAid

#SFSARspotlight - Brian C. Brian has been with South Fraser SAR since 2018. He is on the Marine and Swiftwater teams, as well as on our Board of Directors. He’s also responsible for posting the most memes on our internal chats! - Why did you join SAR: Like all our other team members, I was looking for something to do between the hours of 11 PM and 6 AM other than sleep. Also I wanted to apply my outdoor experience and first aid training towards a meaningful cause.... - How has SAR impacted your life: SAR has provided me with extra motivation to plan all my hikes and camping trips carefully and to stay safe because I'd never hear the end of it if SAR had to bail me out. - What do you do outside of SAR: I'm a lawyer practising in civil litigation, including commercial disputes, insurance defence, and construction law. In my spare time, I volunteer for some pro bono legal providers in Vancouver, sit on various boards, and occasionally help train Scouts Canada leaders. - What are you most proud of in the last year?: Our SAR team has done a great job adapting to the COVID-19 situation in terms of keeping our team members safe while still providing our services to the community. - If you could do anything, besides what you are doing right now, what would it be?: Hike, camp, travel! - Any final words?: Carry the "Ten Essentials" and tell someone where you're going (and when you expect to be back) before you go on a hike!

SFSAR is out at Eagle Mountain on a mutual aid call, assisting Coquitlam Search and Rescue in locating Ali Safar Naderi. Naderi is described as: A 52-year-old Persian man,... With brown eyes, Black, salt and pepper hair of medium length, 178 cm (5’10) and 80 kg (176 lbs), May be wearing hiking gear If you have seen Naderi, or may have information about his whereabouts, please contact the Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550 and quote file number 2020-22677

Coquitlam RCMP are asking for the public's assistance to find missing hiker Ali Naderi Ali Safar Naderi was reported missing just before 9:00 p.m. last night (August 23, 2020) when his vehicle was found in the 2100 block of Diamond Crescent, Coquitlam. Naderi is known to hike alone in that area almost daily. However, a concerned citizen called police after observing that Naderi’s vehicle had been parked many hours longer than usual.... Naderi is described as: A 52-year-old Persian man, With brown eyes, Black, salt and pepper hair of medium length, 178 cm (5’10) and 80 kg (176 lbs), May be wearing hiking gear If you have seen Naderi, or may have information about his whereabouts, please contact the Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550 and quote file number 2020-22677 http://coquitlam.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ViewPage.action

Late last night, SFSAR was called to assist Delta Police in locating a missing person. They were found in good condition, and our team was able to return home before sun up. We were fortunate enough to have some help from a couple of our friends who happened to be in town for the weekend, instructing a Ground Search Team Leader course. Thank you for your help and dedication Dylan and Nick! It’s always a pleasure to work alongside members of neighbouring teams. #searchandrescue #SAR #BCSARA #SFSAR #BritishColumbia

It was another busy week in BC for search and rescue incidents. With record setting weeks since the beginning of July it's time to try hiking closer to home an...d give #BCSAR volunteers a break. Think lower risk and the three Ts (trip plan, train, take essentials) when you head outdoors. Weekly incident report http://ow.ly/B4M450B53Ws : Central Okanagan Search & Rescue

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