Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Ashley Legassic / Dylana Milobar

KAMLOOPS SEARCH & RESCUE

Slower spring allows for more KSAR training ahead of summer season

Jun 20, 2019 | 2:29 PM

KAMLOOPS — A slower spring for call outs and rescues has allowed Kamloops Search and Rescue members to get in more training.

Of the 18 searches undertaken so far this year, KSAR’s Jenn Stahn says they responded to 10 calls in the last three months, including two river searches and two medical rescues in parks.

“So in total compared to last year, we’re doing about the same for the number of call outs,” she explains. “The difference is, at this point last year we had several searches already that had gone into multi-day operations, whereas we’ve only had one that we’ve been involved in this year so far.”

Stahn says those multi-day operations are often high-stress for members involved.

“It’s a lot more of a commitment that’s asked of everybody, and needless to say as you go further into multi day search, the emotional and mental toll can become quite draining on you,” she explains. “You’re trying your hardest to bring somebody home, so the longer that it goes on the harder it becomes on you mentally when you feel like you’re not doing what the family needs you to do.”

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With less rescues on the go, Stahn says KSAR has had more time to train volunteers and update current members. Last week, ground search and rescue training took place, another with new member training at the end of March.

“We also had a dog camp that some of our members attended at the end of March, and we have a new puppy that is officially a search dog in training with our team,” Stahn says. “We also had members attend tracking and team leader training, and rope training.”

Depending on how the wildfire season goes with smoke coverage, Stahn says all that training could prove useful.

“Two years ago our summer was actually quite quiet because of all the smoke. There were a lot fewer people out recreating.” Stahn explains, “I think what the wildfire season does is really going to dictate what our year looks like this year, but we definitely do see the trend of water rescues going up in the spring and summer months.”

Unfortunately, KSAR knows when the weather is hot, people looking to cool down in local rivers and lakes can forget to take important safety measures like wearing a life jacket.

“Once in a while the calls are simply a boat stranded or what have you. Typically, we end up with people that are nearby who are able to get out in their boat to help them before we’re able to get out on scene,” Stahn says. “But it’s the drownings that we see that are really difficult because for the most part they are preventable.”

Heading into the summer season, Stahn urges people to use personal floatation devices, and to communicate what their plans are.

“That’s kind of what we’re seeing in a couple other instances this spring so far, is us being able to get to people more quickly because they have a way to communicate where they are when they’re in trouble,” she notes, “or they’ve left a trip plan with somebody, so that person has realized that the person hasn’t returned on time, and they called for help for them.”

As for the new permanent headquarters for Kamloops Search and Rescue operations, Stahn says the project layout is not yet complete.

“We are still in the process of all the planning. We’re waiting to hear back from developers, and just waiting to get our eyes on a floor plan so we can start to do a little bit more planning of our own.”