Franklin Search & Rescue

January Business Meeting and Training Wed. Jan 11

2012-01-03T18:46:00.000-08:00

Franklin Search & Rescue (FSAR)

Monthly meeting and training

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Kingfield Fire Station 6:30 p.m.

As last month’s meeting was cancelled, all are encouraged toattend the January meeting on the 11^th.

In addition to regular business details, we will discussupcoming training opportunities, and view a photo and lecture presentation of aSAR case in Alaska by FSAR board member Paul Marcolini.

The ‘Gear to Share’ subject for this month’s meeting is myfavorite winter outdoor gear. It can be anything from clothing,footwear, food, hydration, tools, etc. Select something that you think othersmay not have seen or thought of.

As always, all interested people are welcome to attend.

map courtesy of http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/USA/alaska_map.htm

Waterville Search for Missing 20 month old

2011-12-22T06:06:00.000-08:00

FSAR was activated to participate in the search for a 20 month old missingWaterville girl on December 21 and 22. 8 team members worked with the MaineWarden Service and other MASAR teams during the search. We worked in bothsmall search groups (8) large groups (28) doing a fairly detailed grid search.A few possible clues were identified and marked for further investigation. Freezingrain made the trip back to Franklin County and our homes challenging.

2011-11-07T19:23:00.000-08:00

FSAR monthly meeting

Wednesday November 9

6:30 Kingfield Fire Station

Business meeting and training.

Gear to share: trail knifes and multi tools, bring what you use/carry with you when responding on a wilderness call.

FSAR assists in the search for a missing woman in The Forks, Maine

2011-11-06T16:53:00.000-08:00

3 FSAR members participated in a search in The Forks, Maine,for a missing woman in her 50s on Monday. The woman had been missing since theweekend.

On Thursday her body was found .75 miles from her home.

News links to the story:

http://www.kjonline.com/news/former-area-woman-found-dead_2011-11-04.html

http://bangordailynews.com/2011/11/03/news/state/body-of-woman-missing-since-sunday-found-in-west-forks/?ref=latest

Small Falls Training by Pat Cyr

2011-10-26T18:24:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, October 22nd, approximately 15 attended an exhilarating rope training at Smalls Falls on the Sandy River, south of Rangeley, Maine.
Represented were members of Northstar EMS, Franklin Search and Rescue, Mercer CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), as well as Rangeley Fire and Rescue.
The training was organized by Al Sleight and Dennis Kerrigan.
Paul Marcolini and Dennis shared their expertise and guided us in setting up and executing a Kootenay highline over the back falls gorge.

Smalls Falls is a popular spot for visitors and has been the scene of numerous accidents and body retrievals. The highline, when set up and executed correctly, offers the rescuers the ability to traverse over the gorge and drop down to retrieve the subject(s). The highline extended approximatly 100' across the gorge. Special thanks to Gabe and Tiger for volunteering as the "dope on the rope".
High angle ropes training has been held nearly every spring and fall yearly. The training is 'first class' with professionals like Paul and Dennis. All FSAR members should make it a point to attend the next one.

Pat

Rope Rescue Training Sat. Oct. 22 Smalls Falls

2011-10-16T18:14:00.000-07:00

Reminder:

D.K & Al will teach a 1 day Rope Rescue training atSmalls Falls next Saturday, October 22, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

They plan to setup a high-line over the back falls. This is agreat opportunity for any FSAR member who has past rope rescue experience or isinterested in learning more about rope rescue to get some hands-on training.

Folks should bring rain gear, lunch, sturdy shoes, and ahelmet and climbing harness if they have one. If you do not have any climbinggear, you are welcome to use team gear but you will need to make arrangementsto get it before the class.

Remember: “The halflife of rope rescue knowledge is 6 months!” –D.K.

Training At Smalls Falls in 2005 with instructors Glenn Speight and Steve Hudson

FSAR Activated for search in Bangor

2011-10-16T18:04:00.001-07:00

FSAR was activated by MASAR at 5:35 a.m. on Saturday 10-15-2011 toassist in the search for a 46 y.o. female in Bangor. She was last seen in the BangorCity Forest.

We had 3 members in route to Bangor around 7 a.m. when we received wordthat the search was terminated. The victim was found alive by a MESARD dog team.

Story here:

http://bangordailynews.com/2011/10/15/news/bangor/amherst-woman-lost-all-night-in-bangor-city-forest/

FSAR meeting Wednesday Oct. 12 at Mt. Abram High School at 6 p.m.

2011-10-11T17:49:00.000-07:00

Hi folks

This is a reminder that in addition to our monthly FSARmeeting, tomorrow evening is our annual fit-test. MASAR requires that each teamcertify that its members are physically fit enough to carry out the mission.

For starters, the meeting will be held at Mt. Abram high School in Salem at 6 p.m.(not in Kingfield and this is a ½ hour earlier than normal)

What to bring? Bring a pack and 25 lbs. of weight (2 literbottles of water, free weights, sandbags, rocks, etc.) and good footwear forwalking fast. The test: walk 2 miles around the track wearing your 25 lb. packfor 30 minutes. You are not permitted to run.

What if I am unable to take the fit test tomorrow due toinjury or other situations? No worries, come at 6:30 for the meeting and takethe test at another time.

At the meeting after the fit test, we will review a draft ofthe regional emergency services mapthat is being constructed by Ben Godsoe of the High Peaks Alliance. Ben willbring the map and he is eager to get our feedback. We will also talk about upcomingtraining; discuss gear to share and more.

Gear to share:since we will be bringing packs for the fit test, the piece of gear for thismonth’s meeting: my favorite pack forrescue work.

Mock Search & Rescue Event, Oct. 8

2011-09-23T04:10:00.000-07:00

Mock Search & Rescue Event

Saturday October 8, 4:30 p.m.- approximately midnight

Eachyear, FSAR is invited to participate in a large scenario training sponsored byWilderness Medical Associates (WMA) and Northstar Ambulance. The primarypurpose of the event is to provide a realistic wilderness ‘mass casualty’ situationfor the annual NorthStar WEMT class. The evening event usually involvesmultiple human participants with mock injuries. This is also a wonderful opportunityfor many agencies to cross-train with each other. This year’s drill will likelyinclude: EMS and SAR, the Maine Warden Service, local fire departments anduntrained volunteers may be involved.

For FSAR team members, the event will begin at the KingfieldFD where we will load gear and carpool to Lexington. Following a dinner at thestaging area the scenario will begin and is generally over, including a debriefing,before midnight.

This is an outstanding opportunity to participate in arealistic training, with supportive instructors and many of the same teammembers we work with on a ‘real’ rescue.

Please RSVP to Steve Mitman so a dinner count can beprovided.

Rescue members watch as WEMT class members work a patient back at the staging area. The 2008 scenario involved a mass causality flash flood water incident.

The 2009 incident involved lost and injured people with a plane crash thrown in for variety!

FSAR member at APU an update

2011-09-20T07:27:00.000-07:00

We asked FSAR member Devin to give us an update on how things are going in his program in Alaska....

As a sophomore at Alaska Pacific University, I have been taking classes towards earning a dual-degree in Outdoor Education and Environmental Science. Over the past month, I have earned my Swiftwater Rescue Technician I certification and have been playing in the swift waters of Alaska's coldest rivers. Other classes I have taken since moving to Alaska have been a Wilderness First Responder course, rock and ice climbing courses, as well as a winter wilderness course which gave me an Avalanche I certification. When I'm not in "class", I'm climbing, backpacking, skiing or just enjoying Alaska's beautiful views. I love being a member of FSAR! I can't wait to return to help those in need.

Here is a youtube of Devin's program:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUMjLjn_LNQ&feature=youtu.be

8 Tips for Active Search & Rescue Membership

2011-09-18T05:31:00.000-07:00

What should SAR members focus on when not on a rescue call?

Keepyour body physically fitso you will be an asset on a call in the back country and not a liability.Could you Hike Bigelow tonight?
Maintaina ready-pack that willallow you to be self sufficient in the wilderness for a minimum of 24 hours atall times of the year.
Maintaina workable footwear, clothing and outerwear system that will allow you to managemoisture and keep you comfortable in any type of weather at any time of year.
Stayconnected(electronically) with other team members. Could an FSAR officer contact you bytext or phone if we had a rescue call right now?
Doyour best to attend FSAR meetings & Trainings We meet the 2^nd Wednesdayof the month at 6:30, usually at the Kingfield Fire Department. FSAR bylawsstate that you should attempt to attend 50% of trainings/meetings.
Pay your yearly dues ($20)
Maintain a current CPR/First Aid certification.
Keep your priorities straight; put your family and job beforeFSAR.

Next FSAR Meeting Wednesday September 14

2011-09-08T20:08:00.001-07:00

The firstFSAR meeting of the season will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 14at the Kingfield Fire Station

FSAR Article in the Daily Bulldog (Farmington)

FSAR article in the Pine State Mountaineer (Kingfield)

Come check us out on Wednesday!

For more information contact team president

Steve Yates265-2638
or team secretary Steve Mitman smitman@tds.net

FSAR Baxter SAR coverage August 26-28

2011-09-08T18:51:00.000-07:00

FSAR is new to providing SAR coverage in Baxter State Park.The weekend of August 26-28 was the 4^th time we have been the on call SAR team in the park this year.Due to other commitments, we were only able to field 2 members for thisweekend, Chuck and Mit. Ironically, neitherof us has hiked Katahdin before so we were a couple of newbies on the mountain!We figured that it was important to learn the mountain, so our training focusedon trail familiarization and hiking. We left Strong at 4:30 a.m. on Fridaymorning and were on the trail at Roaring Brook just after 9 a.m. Our first stopon the trail was the amazing Chimney Pond. This is a place that should beexperienced in person.

The Cathedral trail that we had elected to ascend was steep almostfrom the start. It was a wonderful adventure, since we had no real knowledge ofwhat the next pitch held for us, as we picked our way up the steep trail. Chuckdoes not generally enjoy heights, but he did very well with the considerablenumber of steep cliffs on the Cathedral Trail. Once at Baxter Peak, we took ashort lunch. We have both heard Knife’s Edge stories for years, and Chuckdecided that it was ‘now or never’ for an expedition down the Knife to PamolaPeak. We made good time along to South Peak and down the upper Knife’s Edgetrail and we were feeling quite confident. I remember thinking to myself “What’sthe big deal!?” Once we hit the lower Knife’s Edge trail, things got tough. Wewere both concentrating hard and psyching ourselves up for each increasinglymore difficult and more dramatic section. We passed a pair of soiled underpantslying on the side of the trail which summed up some sections of the lower Knifetrail. After we conquered the descent down Chimney Peak and the final ascent upPamola Peak, we were overwhelmed with psychological exhaustion and a majorsense of accomplishment. After a brief celebration with M&Ms, we headeddown the Helon Taylor trail frequently breaking out in laughter thinking aboutwhat we had just done (survived!). It was an amazing day that I will notforget.

The following day, Saturday, we were given a SAR assignmentby the duty ranger Mike Martin. Hurricane Irene was due to hit the park duringmid-morning on Sunday and the (rare) decision was made to close the park to allvisitors on Sunday and Monday. We hiked over 11 miles around Katahdin Lake to 3lean-tos to warn 2 separate groups of park visitors that the storm was on itsway and they needed to evacuate. After successfully completing the task, we wentback to the bunkhouse for a fine dinner of delicious lamb burgers from theRoyce farm.

Sunday morning, the Baxter folks encouraged us to head backto western Maine where the worst of the now tropical storm was forecast to hit.We made good time in the still moderate rain bands of the early storm.

In late fall, Pat will be announcing the Baxter dates forthe 2012 season. If you ask any of the 8 FSAR members who were able toparticipate in this year’s Baxter weekends, I think you will hear that these opportunitiesare worth the effort.

Recent FSAR Calls/Training/Coverage

2011-08-16T11:53:00.000-07:00

Aug 12, 2011 Body recovery on AT in Carrying Place Twp.

http://www.dailybulldog.com/db/features/recovery-operation-ongoing-in-nothern-franklin-county/

Aug. 2, 2011 Bigelow rescue of an AT section hiker on Avery Peak

http://www.sunjournal.com/franklin/story/1068342

Baxter State Park SAR coverage July 30-31, 2011

Review of training weekend by Steve Y.

Pat, Chuck, Barry, and myself have returned from our weekend at Baxter. We saw no rescue action, so we had plenty of time to relax. We were stationed at the northern end of the park (quiet side) at Trout Brook Farm. We did several hikes, Barry and Pat did some fishing, and we explored the adjacent campgrounds. We did some on mountain compass training review and had plenty of time to do some planning for the future of FSAR. If you have not participated in a Baxter trek I hope you can find time to do so in the future. The next trip is scheduled for August 27&28. Talk to me or Pat for details....Steve Yates

July 24, 2011, Carrabassett Valley Cross Country Challenge Mountain Bike Race, SAR coverage and race support assistance

http://www.dailybulldog.com/db/features/cvs-first-mountain-bike-race-an-absolutely-fabulous-event/

The next FSAR meeting & training evening will be held at the Kingfield Fire Station on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. All interested people are encouraged to come check us out!

FSAR Update

2011-07-16T04:37:00.000-07:00

Hello active FSAR member!

I hope that everyone has been able to get outside and enjoy some of this well earned great weather!

It has been an uneventful rescue summer so far, but don’t let the lack of action fool you!

I thought I would send a reminder that as an active FSAR Team member you should:

· Maintain your body in good physical shape (could you carry someone off Bigelow tomorrow?)
· Maintain a ready pack for the current season and weather conditions
· Let a board member know if you will be unavailable for a rescue call for extended blocks of time (a week or more) because of vacation, health reasons or other commitments. The FSAR board members are: Steve Y, Steve M, Pat C. and Barry L.

Cheers!

Mit

Jim & Christi on Goose Eye in July, 2011

Horns Pond in the Bigelows from South Horn July, 2011

Showers below from West Peak in the Bigelows.

FSAR at Baxter State Park by Jim Logan

2011-06-12T08:28:00.000-07:00

Pat, Steve M., Devin, and Jim represented FSAR at Baxter State Park over the Memorial Day weekend as on-duty volunteers to assist in any search or rescue actions that required extra manpower.

Although the crew was not called into action, we all gained significant information and experience. Steve and Devin had never been to the Park before and Jim had never worked in the Park; it was Pat’s first role in the summer season. We were received by Jean Hoekwater, Park Naturalist, and Dave Stewart, Deputy Chief Ranger. We proceeded to the Visitor’s Center just before the main gate where we camped. The adjacent bunkhouse was occupied by personnel from Mahoosic Mountain Rescue Team (MMRT), an experienced team who shared many useful insights with us as to expectations and procedures.

Upon entering the park we were issued special placards for vehicle dashboards advising people that we were serving in the park in a search-and-rescue capacity and these allowed us parking and access where needed. We visited key campgrounds, meeting rangers and learning what SAR-related equipment they had and where it was stored. They seemed very happy to meet us and appreciated our willingness to be ready to assist.

We were on call from 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm while we were there but we were encouraged to see the park to develop familiarity, with the expectation at least two of us would be available from 2:00 on. We did a group hike along the Nesowadnehunk near Daicey Pond, and enjoyed Big and Little Niagara as well as other features of the stream.

In camp we discussed rope and belaying procedures, especially benefitting from Steve’s recent class at MDI and Devin’s classes at college. It was a useful way to occupy on-call time.

Sunday morning we broke camp, but the weather finally broke, too, and gave Steve and Devin their first views of Mount Katahdin, complete with snow in many areas. Among other things, we learned how to pack better for Baxter, how better to be ready for a late call-out on the mountain, park methods of operation and personnel we could expect to work for and with, and important aspects of Park layout. We all agreed it was a very useful time and we know it will enhance any emergency trip to Baxter as well as FSAR ventures closer to home.

-Jim Logan

Note: As the mountain was completely socked-in for most of the weekend, we spent time exploring areas both inside and outside the park. The rafting images were taken at the ‘Cribworks’ rapids on the west branch of the Penobscot River. Pat has extensive whitewater guiding experience on the Penobscot and was a wonderful guide with many stories about this section of the river. –Mit

All photos are by Devin

Big Niagara on the Nesowadnehunk Stream.

The day we headed home, the weather broke. This is the view from our campsite!

Smalls Falls Training 6-5-2011

2011-06-08T04:11:00.000-07:00

DK and Al put on a great high angle rope rescue training at Smalls Falls this past weekend. About 15 members from Northstar, FSAR and RFD participated in the event. Rigging and lowering & raising evolutions were executed in 2 different locations at the Poplar Waterfall site. A 3:1 lower and raise system was used for BOTH the lower and the raise! This system is perfect for high angle calls in our region, because the overall working heights of the cliffs are rarely over 25 feet. By using a 3:1 for the lower (and not a break rack), you eliminate the need for: break rack, load releasing hitch, and a changeover to the haul system once the litter and attendant have reached the patient. The tandem prusik belay system remains the same. A high-directional to a tree as well as a human-vectored high directional was demonstrated to assist the litter over the edge for the lower and raise. Participants of all experience levels participated in the event. DK pointed out that the half-life of rope rescue training is about 6 months. The key to being successful at a real high angle rescue is frequent trainings with members of EMS, SAR and local fire departments cross-training together. Thanks to Al for organizing the event and co-teaching with DK.

Monthly Meeting June 6, 2011

2011-06-06T03:48:00.000-07:00

Franklin Search & Rescue

Monthly Meeting and Training

Wednesday June 8, 2011

Kingfield Fire Station

Monthly gear share: overnight sleeping shelter. Your ready-pack is designed to include all the gear you would need to be self sufficient for 24 hours in the backcountry. Weather you use a bivy bag, tarp, ultra light tent or garbage bag, please come prepared to share your sleeping system.

Rigging for Rescue 3 day workshop Acadia NP May 20-22

2011-05-24T20:03:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, I had a wonderful opportunity to study and train with some of the best rope rescue personnel in the state of Maine. The 3-day workshop, hosted by Mt. Desert Island Search & Rescue (MDISAR), was put on by Rigging for Rescue, a technical rope rescue training company out of Ouray, Colorado. Every technical rope rescue team in the State of Maine was represented at this workshop. According to instructors, Mike Gibbs of Ouray and Leo Loyd of Durango, who train with teams all over the world, this kind of statewide cross-training opportunity is very uncommon but essential.

Although I have done my share of rope rescue training over the years, I quickly learned that I was the only person in the room that did not have technical rock or ice climbing experience! Being the least experienced workshop participant was actually a great position for me to be in. As a public school teacher, it is very valuable to experience ‘not getting it.’ It helps inform my teaching and makes me more in-tune with the students in my classes who are in the same place. Mike, Leo and the members of the class were very supportive with my questions and quest to understand.

Participants agreed that this kind of cross-training event was a great way to share information, team build, network, and practice common techniques. One thing that I heard many times during the weekend was that many teams have adopted the text: Technical Rescue Riggers Guide, 2nd Edition by Rick Lipke as their un-official rope rescue standard. I borrowed a copy from Mike at BSP, and found it to be very helpful and comprehensive.

-Steve Mitman FSAR

Some of the systems and concepts we worked with over the 3 days:

Simple, compound and complex mechanical advantage systems
Parallel Plaquette main lowering system
Tandem prusik belay system
Prucel prusik use
Rock anchoring techniques
Edge management and protection
Verticle litter edge bridal
Litter patient securing techniques
Common rope rescue voice commands
Scene size-up
T-Method (I still don’t get it!)
Scarab rescue friction device
And much more

Click on the image for a larger version. If your image is posted below and you would rather not be, please drop me a quick email and I'll remove it. smitman@tds.net

Participants were from the following teams and organizations:

Lincoln SAR

Mahoosic SAR

Franklin SAR

MDISAR

National Park Service

Unity SAR

Camden

Wilderness SAR

Baxter State Park

Many Thanks to Steve H. at MDISAR for his hard work in organizing this great training.

2011-05-18T03:46:00.000-07:00

Smalls Falls

Rope Rescue Training

Sponsored by: Northstar Back Country Rescue

Sunday June 5

9 a.m.-3 p.m.

This is a hands-on, on-rope training taught by talented teachers: DK, Mike and Al.

Harvey King WSAR 1941-2011

2011-05-14T04:53:00.000-07:00

Harvey King of Waldo SAR at the SERE training near Rangeley in 2010.

May 12, 2011

From MASAR President, Deb Palman:

I am sad to report the loss of Harvey King, a member of Waldo County (SAR) and a hard worker for SAR in Maine.

Last night around 10 pm, Jay Holweger from Waldo SAR and MESARD called me to report that Harvey King had gone turkey hunting and was missing. Someone had just located his car and Waldo SAR was forming up at the Searsmont Fire Department. Wardens had just arrived on scene.

Shortly afterward, Sgt. John Blagdon called me to page out MESARD to join the search. I had just got that done when Sgt. Blagdon called back to say that Harvey’s body had been found.

Harvey apparently was turkey hunting, had shot a turkey and collapsed while carrying the turkey back to the car. He passed away doing something he loved.

MASAR extends its condolences to Harvey’s immediate family and extended SAR family at Waldo SAR and MASAR. We will miss him.

Deborah S. Palman

President MASAR

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Visiting hours for Harvey King will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 15 at Crabiel-Riposta Funeral Home at 182 Waldo Ave. in Belfast. A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. Monday, May 16, at Belfast Area High School. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.ripostafh.com.

News articles about Harvey:

http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/05/12/news/longtime-belfast-teacher-found-dead-near-home/

http://waldo.villagesoup.com/news/story/retired-veteran-teacher-found-dead-in-searsmont/398558

Monthly Meeting Wednesday, May 11, 6:30 p.m. Kingfield Fire Department

2011-05-07T04:18:00.000-07:00

Franklin Search & Rescue

Monthly Meeting

Wednesday, May 11

6:30 p.m. Kingfield Fire Department

We have a number of things to discuss, see and do at this month’s FSAR meeting including sharing information about the MASAR Spring Event, Lifeflight training, and do a debrief of the recent Smithfield, Maine Search.

Deven is back from Alaska and he will share some of the training he is doing in school there.

Gear to share: Headlamps Bring your favorite(s) to share with the team, what do you like about it and why?

We will also do some parking lot training with the new litter wheel.

All interested people are welcome to attend.

http://franklinsar.blogspot.com/

Smithfield Search For Missing Man May 3, 2011

2011-05-03T11:54:00.000-07:00

9 FSAR members met at the Smithfield FD at 7:30 to participate in a hasty-team search this morning for a missing 87 y.o. man.

At 1:44 p.m. MASAR sent out a text saying the "Search in Smithfield Concluded. Subject Located"

Thanks to all FSAR members who were able to re-arrange your schedules on short notice, we had a great turn-out.

Information in the press about the search:

http://www.wgme.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wgme_vid_7708.shtml?sms_ss=gmail&at_xt=4dc1ddc37ede6ce7%2C0

http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/smithfield-man-found-dead-after-daylong-search_2011-05-03.html

Life Flight Helecopter LZ Training Strong Legion Field SFD

2011-04-30T14:47:00.000-07:00

Life Flight & Aaron at Strong FD did a nice job with a 2 hour helicopter awareness training today at the Strong Legion Field. Approximately 40 participants from local EMS, FD, CERT and SAR organizations watched a PowerPoint presentation by a Life Flight representative about many aspects of the helicopter EMS service.

Initial contact with Life Flight should be made by the local FD or EMS through Franklin dispatch. In order to land, a minimum landing zone (LZ) of 100' x 100' clearing that is free from loose debris and obstacles is needed. A 20' x20' patch of firm, dry earth or well packed snow is also required at the center of the LZ for the wheels of the aircraft to sit on. Local communications with the aircraft should be made on the State Fire channel. One of the most dangerous obstacles for the landing aircraft are utility wires. Ground personnel should make the pilot aware of any wires in the area. The word 'ABORT' said on state fire over the radio should be used if any situation arises that would make the landing of takeoff dangerous like a child running out onto the field or an unseen overhead wire. The highlight of the presentation is when a Life Flight helicopter arrived for show & tell.
Thanks to Aaron and SFD for hosting the training.

What Are Your Favorite Outdoor, Gear, Rescue Web sites?

2011-04-17T10:12:00.001-07:00

I asked FSAR members to send me their favorite outdoor, camping, hiking, rescue, and gear web sites. Here is the first batch; I’ll add more as I get them. -Mit

Jim:

Since I subscribed in early October, backpackinglight.com has been my site of choice.

Almost all product reviews have been thorough, and the forums add to that. Other articles have also been worthwhile. For example, there was a recent one by Mike Clelland on food for an extended trip that I found most interesting and have flagged it for quick referral when the time comes. They have irritated some of their crowd by going away from hyper-super-ultra light, but that is good for me; however, the hard-core people are also worth hearing from. The range of things considered is impressive.

For gear, I have for years used REI (I’ve been a member for 25 years). They have a wide range of items although many of the specialty brands cited in BPL, for example, are not carried. They also have useful product information and comparison charts are easy to put together. I look at Bean’s only when I have a very specific item that I am uneasy about: might I dislike it enough to want the easiest of returns? For example, I am soon going to buy a new sleeping pad quite likely a light-weight Thermarest, which is unlikely to be discounted AND which may have problems with leaks, so I’ll probably buy from Bean’s.

I will add that for gear, especially when getting items not carried by the big stores that will give refunds (Bean’s, REI, EMS), it is somewhat dicey because it is hard even to view the products in New England. My GoLite packs and coat fit into that group. The new tent I bought over the winter was easier because the friend I have gone on overnighters within the past year has one so I knew what I was getting. (I can’t wait to use it!) Other items are much less sure and often they cannot be returned if the labels are off or they appear any less than As New.

Pat:

http://www.matc.org/http://www.matc.org/
http://www.trailjournals.com/journals.cfm
http://newenglandtrailconditions.com/me/
http://www.state.me.us/mema/weather/weather.htm
http://www.stupidguidetricks.com
http://www.gcpba.org/
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt
http://www.maineflyfishingforum.com/default.asp
http://www.skymaps.com/http://www.skymaps.com/

Seb:

www.brigadeqm.com

www.blackhawk.com

www.uscav.com

www.sierratradingpost.com

www.mountaingear.com

Pete:

http://www.viewsfromthetop.com/

Barry:

http://www.maine.gov/ifw/

http://www.outdoorprolink.com/

http://www.promotive.com/action/index

http://www.outdoorlife.com/

http://www.animatedknots.com/

http://www.cascadetoboggan.com/Home.asp

http://www.map-reading.com/intro.php

http://www.m4040.com/Survival/Survival.htm

http://www.cabelas.com/

http://www.princeton.edu/~oa/safety/safeman.shtml

http://www.canoeing.com/

http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/060199tip2.htm

http://www.flyfishingconnection.com/

http://www.nrsweb.com/

Mit

http://www.weather.gov/

http://franklinsar.blogspot.com/ !

Next FSAR Meeting Wednesday April 13, 2011 KFD

2011-04-11T15:45:00.000-07:00

Hi Folks

The next FSAR meeting will be this Wednesday, April 13 at 6:30 at the KFD.

Gear to share: Please bring your favorite Rain Gear to share with the team. Gear sharing time is a great opportunity to share what you have found to work well and/or see what others are using to inform your next purchase.

Topics of discussion:

Upcoming training opportunities summer plan
Baxter review and photos
MASAR Spring Conference
EMS Conference
LifeFlight Training
Wheel use
BASAR Certification
Shelter Building discussion/training (indoors)

More Baxter Photos By Barry

2011-04-08T04:26:00.000-07:00

FSAR at Baxter March, 27-29 2011

2011-04-05T18:45:00.000-07:00

The following was written by Franklin Search & Rescue’s (FSAR) Vice President Pat Cyr. Pat organized FSAR’s first formal visit to the park which has opened the door to more training opportunities the in the future. There is a MASAR member (Maine Search & Rescue) rescue team training at Baxter on most weekends during the summer hiking months and on some weekends during the winter climbing season. All interested hikers and outdoors people are welcome to check out FSAR during our monthly meetings which are held at the Kingfield Fire Station on the second Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. Our next meeting is Wednesday, April 13.

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FSAR Winter Training - Chimney Pond, Baxter State Park 3/25-3/27/11

Attending : Pat Cyr, Chuck Royce, Barry London, Pete Boucher, Seb Tooker

In February I submitted an application to Baxter State Park for FSAR to conduct a winter training at Chimney Pond. Several MSAR teams have been assisting BSP by providing coverage on weekends for both the winter and summer seasons. Teams include Lincoln, MDI, Wilderness, and Dirago.

Stewart Guay, Duputy Chief Ranger for BSP, contacted me and we set up the available dates.

Stewart was most helpful and really appreciated the fact our team wanted to come to the park.

3/25 – Friday

After a 2 1/2 hour ride from Farmington we arrived at the BSP head quarters where we had access to the building with a key made available for us. We unloaded and inventoried personal and team gear and repacked for the following morning. We took a last minute shopping trip and headed over to get takeout supper nearby before retiring for the night on the floor of the conference room.

3/26 – Saturday

We met Park Rangers Rob Tice, Mark and Issac at the Abol gravel pit. 3 park snowmobiles were headed in with us and and our gear. Gear was loaded into a large tow sled which Mark pulled with his snow machine. The five of us piled on another transport sled which was pulled by Rob’s snowmobile. The transport into Roaring Brook took a little over an hour and it was sort of like a kid’s amusement park ride. All we need were floppy ears on the front.

Roaring Brook campground was the end of the line for the people transporter. It was 3.3 miles and 1,500 feet of elevation gain to Chimney Pond. Rob, Mark, and Issac took all our gear all the way into Chimney Pond! We had a great walk in and had our first glimpse of the Great Basin when we approached the Basin Ponds. Katahdin loomed large and was wild with wind and clouds dancing off the rocks and snow.

A look at the “snow stick” off the trail on the way in showed 87” of snow.

We got to the crew camp to find all our gear stowed inside and the wood stove was loaded and hot!

After and orientation by Rob, we set out and spent the rest of the day exploring the Saddle Trail winter route. A warm supper and good company with friends topped off a great day.

3/27 – Sunday

The crew cabin was heavily banked with snow on all sides which provided a nice warm camp while the bitter winds whipped all night. The sky was crystal clear Saturday night. Morning brought clear skies which offered the opportunity for us to explore higher up the mountain. Pete, Seb, Barry, Chuck, and I had a quick breakfast before speaking with Ranger’s Rob and Mark who were shuttling in timbers on snowmobiles. We took Rob’s advice and explored the Cathedral winter trailhead by bushwhacking off the Saddle due to likely high avalanche area where the Cathedral summer trail normal tracks.

We returned back to camp in time to pack up, clean up, and load up. All our gear was loaded in the snowmachines for the trip out leaving us a light snowshoe out. Barry and I brought our plastic sleds for the downhill grades which proved to be a blast! We had the advantage of knowing there were no other people or snowmachines heading into Chimney Pond so we were able to cruise! While the 5 of us were crossing Basin Pond, Barry noticed the start of an avalanche in the North Basin behind us. He yelled out to the rest of us and we were lucky enough to see a huge avalanche over a mile away. I was lucky enough to get my camera out in time for some pictures.

We were shuttled out from Roaring Brook and back to the gravel pit by 4 pm where we parted ways with Rob and Mark.

Overall the experience was positive and certainly left us all wanting to come back with more team members and more SAR training ideas. Spending time with Seb, Barry, Chuck, and Pete was a lot of fun, especially in a more relaxed setting and not in the more intense scene of a search or rescue operation.

We hope to be back next winter with more members. More immediate however is the possibility of covering a weekend or two this summer. Stay tuned for more information to follow.

Winter SAR Simulation Vose Mountain 3-6-2011

2011-03-06T14:03:00.000-08:00

10 members participated in the winter SAR simulation on Vose Mountain in Kingfield today.

The simulated rescue call came in around 8 a.m. Sunday morning.(I'll add more to this write-up later)

After the patient was packaged, Pete demonstrated how to build a signal fire using green softwood boughs. He said if one colored signal flare was added to the smoking signal fire, it would color the smoke red and will carry much further than if used alone.

To end the day, members took the newly purchased litter wheel for a spin on Steve's driveway. The wheel was purchased with a grant from the Sugarloaf Charitable Trust. It will make a big difference in evacuation speed and to reduce body fatigue for rescue personnel on summer carry-out calls.

Winter SAR Simulation 3-6-2011

2011-02-15T03:09:00.000-08:00

To: FSAR, Northstar Ambulance, Area Fire Departments and Sugarloaf Ski Patrol

Franklin Search and Rescue is hosting:

Winter Search & Rescue Simulation

Sunday, March 6, 2011 8 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Kingfield Fire Station

This simulation will begin at the KFD staging location at 8 a.m. Rescuers will be given more information at that point and spend the rest of the day on snow. Anticipated activities will likely include winter deep snow alpine hiking, litter handling, patient packaging and some belay rope work. Participants should come with appropriate gear for a winter back country response which would include (among other things), snowshoes, spare base layer, gaiters, food, water, etc.

This simulation is considered by the FSAR board to be one of the most important training scenarios of the year. Members are requested to make every effort to attend. Simulations not only enhance skills but refine team interaction, highlight gear performance, and hone team communication skills; train like we respond, respond like we train.

Please RSVP to FSAR team president Steve Yates vose@tdstelme.net

FSAR Meeting Wednesday Feb, 9 2011

2011-02-04T03:50:00.000-08:00

Agenda for the Feb 9 FSAR meeting

6:30 KFD

· Bring favorite snowshoes and winter traction devices to discuss and share with the team

· Discuss the March winter rescue scenario

· Discuss FSARs role in the increasing amount of incidents on the back-side of Sugarloaf

· Pat Cyr will do a 30 minute training on ‘Lost Person Behavior’

The 'back-side' or south side of Sugarloaf Mountain forms a bowl shape that feeds into a wood landing at the bottom . This is where CVFD and KFD set up camp, build a large fire and make noise to attract lost skiers and snowboarders. Sugarloaf Ski Patrol assists in the search at the top. Incident command, is very cautious about putting rescuers into the bowl of the mountain in search of lost skiers because of the risks involved.

Upcoming Training

2011-01-24T19:35:00.000-08:00

Northstar is hosting a Winter Rescue Skills 1-day workshop on Sat Feb 5 from 8am-4pm Claybrook Lodge in Lexington

The class will cover:

· Navigation

· Avalanche in the backcountry

· patient packaging

I believe Dennis Carrigan is the instructor.

If you are interested, please email Steve Yates vose@tdstelme.net

So he can notify the Northstar folks for the lunch count.

There is no cost for this training.

Also

The FSAR Backcountry Rescue Simulation will be held on a Saturday (TBA) in March.

There were too many schedule conflicts to make a February date work.

FSAR member S. Wise Graduates! US Border Patrol

2011-01-02T10:16:00.000-08:00

From Sprague:

Happy New Year to you all, yup it's for real they let me take a picture with a fancy uniform on. Graduated December 13th and went right into the Spanish curriculum the next day. 28 class days left, a few days to gather my belongings and start in the field February 21st. A ten month stint in Laredo, TX and finally back to Maine. Trust all has been well with you all and you have been enjoying the holidays. It sprinkled snow here the other day, I smiled! Cheers- Sprague

Frostbite Presentation 12-8-2010

2010-12-06T17:14:00.000-08:00

Frostbite

A presentation by Paul Marcolini

Hosted by Franklin Search and Rescue

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

6:30 p.m.

Kingfield Fire Department (Franklin County)

The Frostbite presentation covers injury patterns, causation, and treatment. It includes case studies from Denali and Maine and includes some graphic images from the ER.

Paul Marcolini has recently completed his 5th season as a climbing ranger with the National Park Service on Denali and has worked for Wilderness Medical Associates (WMA) since 1981. Paul was one of the original WMA instructors and served as Executive Director for 5 years in the early 90’s. As a paramedic, he has worked for ground, rotor and fixed wing EMS programs. Paul has over 17 years of experience with Outward Bound and is a former chair of Maine EMS Education Committee. Paul is currently a member of Mahoosuc Mountain Search and Rescue, Franklin Search and Rescue team and is preparing for a second season of climbing in Bolivia, and the winter guiding season in Maine and New Hampshire.

All interested people are welcome to attend.

How to Download a 7.5 Minute Series USGS Topo Map

2010-12-06T17:08:00.001-08:00

How to Download 7.5 Minute Series USGS Topo Maps

December, 2010

Mick Womersley
MASAR Resource Officer
Unity College SAR

What follows are instructions for downloading free .tif files of the 1:24,000, 7.5 minute series (meaning 7.5 minutes of longitude and latitude per map) USGS topographic maps for use in Maine Search and Rescue, from the Maine Geographic Information Systems Library run by state government (know as MEGIS).

A .tif file is a common-format, computer photo file. If you browse the Internet and look at family photos on your computer you already have software to access and read these files.

These maps are US government property and so legally in the public domain and free for all to use. However, the printed versions now cost six or eight dollars apiece, so the online maps are a great help.

Please circulate as freely as you wish.

To download the files:

1. Find the map you want by title. These are the same titles printed on the map. Usually the nearest Town is the title, often with a directional qualifier, so for instance my house is on the "Brooks East" quadrangle, despite being in Jackson (because Brooks is the largest settlement on the map and so the map is named for Brooks). You can get the titles for all Maine USGS 7.5 minute topo quads using the USGS Map Store map locator using this link.

http://store.usgs.gov/b2c_usgs/usgs/maplocator/%28ctype=areaDetails&xcm=r3standardpitrex_prd&carea=%24ROOT&layout=6_1_61_48&uiarea=2%29/.do

2. Using a web browser such as Firefox or Internet Explorer, go to the MEGIS Catalog portal (click on this embedded link):

http://megis.maine.gov/catalog/catalog.asp

3. Go to the tab menu for "Tile" files. "Tiles" are picture files designed for use in GIS programs, but if a file is a picture file, you don't need a GIS program to open it.

4. Search for the title you want under 'drgclips". The "drgclips" section, which is the first section under MEGIS Tiles, is the ine that has all the 1:24,000 maps. Follow the MEGIS menus to download the map files to your computer. Save these files to a labeled file folder.

5. Open the map files in an image/photo viewer such as Preview or Adobe reader. In most cases your computer will do this automatically if you click on the image icon or thumbnail in your file folder.

6. You can zoom in, zoom out and print the map at any size of enlargement you want, or just read it on your computer. You can also "tile" multiple maps together to make composite maps in documents using either a GIS program (there is now a free GIS program called Q-GIS - a little complicated, but you can puzzle it out) , or more simply using Microsoft Power Point.

(If you tile together a Microsoft Power Point image of your unit's area and email it to me, I can print a 42-inch poster-size image on our college's plotter for you and mail it back to you - a handy resource to have in the SAR Cache.)

To use the files in SAR operations and training:

1. The 7.5 map data is the same as the data in the DeLorme Atlas and in the GIS programs used by the Warden's Service. The GIS programs add satellite imagery, which is what is normally handed to search team leaders at the start of the search. But these 7.5 minute topos have additional useful information. They are, however, often several years out of date as to buildings and roads. In almost all cases, however, the topography (ie contours, waterways, and landforms in general), is accurate, and this is most useful. Also the UTM grid is present on most of these maps which makes finding and using GPS coordinates very easy. Finally, the UTM grid can be used as a map grid to take compass bearings from the map to use on the ground much more easily than can be done with the satellite hand-outs. This is most useful when a Silva-type compass is used because these compasses are designed to be see-through so you can identify direction of travel and the map grid looking through the compass plastic, and line them up properly.

2. First step: print your map at the proper scale. This may take trial and error, enlarging and reducing images in your printer viewer until you get it right. You can print about a quarter of a map at a time at the 1:24,000 scale using regular US letter copy paper. The UTM one-kilometer grid on the map should be about 1 and 5/8 of an inch across when you get the scale right.

Remember, this is a one-kilometer grid, so even if you don't get the scale right, you still have a scale if you understand the grid squares to be one kilometer across (on the ground) and estimate from there.

3. To use these maps on a search and rescue operation, I suggest you them use it side-by-side with the satellite imagery given out by the Wardens Service. Take the maps into the field and make comparisons as you navigate to, from, and around your search areas. The contour and waterway information is the most useful as this will help you find routes over rough terrain.

4. Take care using GPS. In many cases these 1:24,000 series maps are fitted to an out-of-date GPS datum, NAD 27, and have the UTM grid also fitted to this datum printed on the map as an overlay. MEGIS deleted this information when they made the "tiles." There are ways to infer it using a GPS or other maps, but all too complicated to describe here. The Warden's Service Satellite imagery uses WGS 84 and lat-long coordinates, which can be many meters different than NAD 27. So although the UTM grid on the map can be used for taking compass bearings, it can't be used for radioing coordinates back to the CP unless you make sure the CP is looking at the same map. This is just likely to cause confusion and I would avoid it unless there is some very good reason, such as the possibility that you're using a trail or road that is marked on the map but not on the satellite.

(Having said this, knowing how to give and use a proper 8-figure UTM coordinate as well as a lat-long coordinate is a good SAR skill. UTM coordinates are very much easier to use in the field with a map, and very handy for training purposes. The US military has used them for many years. We now teach this skill to all Unity CLE graduates along with the traditional Lat-Long system.)

Hope this is useful to you.

Happy mapping.

Mick Womersley
MASAR Resource Officer
Unity College SAR

Possible Search on Sunday November 28, 2010

2010-11-25T03:37:00.000-08:00

From MASAR:

Lt. Kevin Adam has contacted MASAR to determine the availability of searchers for Sunday, Nov. 28.

The search is in Saco in the Saco Heath. The areas to be searched are potentially very wet.

The subject is a 22 year old despondent male who has been missing since last Sunday.

FSAR

Please contact me with "likely Yes or Likely No" via email or cell before noon on Friday Nov. 26 so I can give MASAR a count for our team. I will call any members who have not responded by that time. Thanks.

-Mit

MDI SAR article

2010-11-16T18:16:00.000-08:00

The following article ran in the Bar Harbor Times Soup Last week.

Click to read the MDI SAR article

Crazy Busy Lives

2010-11-14T04:23:00.000-08:00

I have been in contact with a good portion of the team in the past week, many have talked about how crazy-busy their lives have become. People are dealing with medical emergencies, work, family commitments, and more which makes attending the monthly FSAR meeting difficult.

How can I remain a contributing team member even if I need to skip a monthly meeting?

Keep your priorities straight; put your family and job before FSAR.
Workout, hike, ski, keep your body in shape (could you hike/snowshoe Bigelow tomorrow if we had a call on Avery Peak?)
Keep your ready-pack stocked for the current season.
Maintain the appropriate footwear, clothing, outerwear and gear for the season.
Stay in touch with other team members via email and make a board member aware of extended times when you would be unable to respond to a call.
Try and attend the next FSAR meeting, it is the second Wednesday of the month at 6:30, usually at KFD.

A quick email or call is appreciated if you will not be able to attend. This helps to keep you ‘in the loop’ and the board aware of your status.

Be well and keep in touch!

-Mit

Smoke from the campfire and a rising moon creates some interesting night effects on MDI.in September.

FSAR meeting minutes 11-10-10

2010-11-11T04:08:00.000-08:00

We only had 4 members at this month's meeting. I heard from a number of members who were unable to attend (I appreciate the emails and calls beforehand if you will be unable to attend, thanks) However we had a good training.

We worked halfway through MASARs Search Tactics section of the BASAR class. Members learned about and discussed:
• PLS- Place Last Seen
• LKP-Last known point
• Touched on: lost person behavior
• POD-Probability of detection (this is a %)
• Passive search methods: attraction, confinement, track traps
• Active search methods: Grid search, dog teams, air assets and dive teams.
• Discussed Critical separation

In the meeting we discussed the process of selecting the best wheel to purchase for our litter (grant funded, thank you Sugarloaf Charitable Trust!)

Al, Barry and Will and other Sugarloafers were unable to make the meeting so we will hear a review of the big Sugarloaf scenario training at the December meeting.

Steve will create a laminated FSAR active roster for all members and will distribute it at the next meeting.

Next Meeting December 8, KFD 6:30.

Search for 85 yo man in Bingham, Me. 9-3-2010

2010-09-04T07:20:00.001-07:00

9-3-2010

Search for Missing man in Bingham

Around 6 a.m. Maine Warden Kevin Adam contacted FSAR about a missing 85 y.o. man in Bingham. He had been missing all night from his home in Bingham. The PLS was 4 miles south of Bingham on Rt. 16.

Warden Adam asked that FSAR be on standby to assist in the search. He was conducting a hasty search for the individual and if he had not located him my 9:30, he was going to call for a full scale search. The MASAR duty officer and FSAR membership was notified by Steve Y and Steve M but only 2 members were available at the time due to work commitments.

Hurricane Earl was threatening the Maine coast with a possibility of making landfall within the next 24 hours. Around 9 a.m. Steve Y was notified that the individual had been found.

Tumbledown Mtn. Rescue 8-29-2010

2010-09-04T07:19:00.000-07:00

Rescue call on Tumbledown Mtn. in Weld

Sunday evening around 6 p.m. August 29, 2010

FSAR was requested by Franklin Dispatch to respond to a rescue of woman in her mid 30’s that had lost feeling in her extremities. The patient had multiple sclerosis (MS). She had hiked to the top of Tumbledown Mtn. and was at the pond. A Northstar Ambulance crew was the first to reach the patient and began to evaluate and hydrate the patient. Because of the warm weather and the fact that this was the last weekend before the local schools began their academic year, very few rescuers from area fire departments responded.

The Northstar team was able to get the patient ambulatory and she began the slow hike down the mountain. In all, about 15 people participated in the rescue; FSAR had 3 members along with Phillips FD, Wilton FD, a Maine Warden, and others.
The game warden was able to use an ATV to evacuate the patient for the final 1/3 of the trail to the waiting ambulance. She was transported to FMH. All people were off the trail by 9 p.m. with no injuries

Cranberry Peak Carry-out

2010-07-05T14:39:00.000-07:00

Rescuers from a number of local emergency-response teams responded to a hiker in need in the Bigelow Range near Stratton last Monday. The 17 year-old girl from Utah was hiking with friends on the Cranberry Peak Trail when she began experiencing seizures. Fortunately her friends were able to obtain a cell phone signal and could contact the authorities for help. A Northstar Ambulance crew was the first team to make contact with the patient around 12:30 p.m. As more rescuers arrived the patient was loaded into a litter basket for the trip to the ambulance located at the trail-head. About 25 people took turns carrying the patient an estimated 1.5 miles down the trail. A rope belay was used to secure the litter for 2 different steep sections of trail. High humidity and temperatures in the 90’s made the relatively short carry-out a challenge. The rescue took about 3.5 hours and included volunteers from Eustis Fire Department, Carrabassett FD and Franklin Search & Rescue.

Jake and Sprague run the litter belay

Northstar EMT Vanessa stayed at the patient's head monitoring her condition for the entire carry-out.

Bob and Pat lead the way

Bob gets a cool-down from Sprague at the trail-head after successfully completing the mission.

NorthStar EMS Smalls Falls Training WIth DK By: Gabe Gunning

2010-05-26T03:30:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was a doozy up here in Franklin county. It was absolutely beautiful and it also happened to be that time of year. Yes, the annual spring Smalls Falls Training coordinated by the 2010 Northstar EMS Employee of the Year, Dennis Kerrigan WEMT-P. The Smalls Falls Training has become a treasured time when Franklin SAR, Northstar, and area Fire Agencies, mainly Phillips and Rangeley Fire, can all come together for some quality training time with ropes and water in the vertical realm.

This particular session occurred over a two day timeframe which is something of a new concept. This is how it worked: day one was a basic seminar regarding ropes techniques, essentially an awareness level class delving into some operational techniques. It is a great review and a thorough introduction specifically for the ropes systems that are carried on all first out duty rigs in the Northstar System. Day two, on Sunday was an advanced ropes day, more of a full on operational day, where the rubber really meets the road.

Saturday was a Phillips day: Jim Gould, Phillips Fire Chief, Tim of Phillips Fire and avid ropes guy, and Stan Wilcox Northstar paramedic and Phillips Fire member came on Saturday along with the Northstar Phillips Duty Crew of the Day Nate Delavan and Colby Atwood. It was great to see so many folks from the Phillips perspective especially as Phillips Fire has coverage of the Smalls Falls area. The training was full of directed energy with a small dedicated team of learners and lot’s of rescuer pearls were given out by DK. We finished just as some nasty weather started coming in hot and fast.

Day two was great! It started off with a bang at the end of the introductions and course briefing. Along with the usual suspects of the smalls falls training, mainly DK, Al Sleight, and myself, Jeff from FSAR and the folks from Phillips Fire, the Northstar Phillips Duty Crew of the Day, Darlene Peters and Dan Brown; Northstar Rangeley Duty Crew of the Day, Ben Guild and Peggy Betts; and Stan Wilcox and Jeremy O’Neil, Northstar paramedics all were in attendance. So back to the bang: a tweenage girl (mysteriously similar in appearance to one of DK’s daughters) came up to the group yelling that her father had just fallen off the cliff! The clock started and the team got their gear together and made the traverse over to the main falls to initiate the scene size up.

The simulation was a smashing success! From initial patient access to all rescuers back in the cold zone of the scene with the patient (Luigi the manikin) secured took a little less than an hour. This included setting up an initial dropline for two rescuers (Ben and Jeff) to gain access to the patient along with setting up a vertical raise/lower of a litter / attendant system (Tim on the first round and Jeremy for the second) and backup safety systems. After lunch, we did another rescue cycle and broke down each component of the rescue system together for further knowledge building and understanding of the mechanical reasoning behind the system.

Lessons learned: as DK continues to stress, proper technical rescue scene responses are all about appropriate utilization of the technology and knowledge on hand. Our response capability within the Franklin County system has reached a point where we keep the rescue response as simple as possible. It really all comes down to rescue before medicine. You can do medicine until the cows come home but if you aren’t able to get the patient and rescuers safely out of the scene, then where is the success? This point was driven home on both Saturday’s training session and last fall’s session as well. Both of these sessions took place along the roadway / falls interface where last year Maine DOT did some major Route 4 remodeling and deforestation allowing for some of the riskiest all-hazards response profiles one could ever think up. See a prior post for that write up as to why its so truly scary.

Till next time, which I believe is the Summer Version of our Annual Northstar/FSAR Backcountry Jamboree.(Rapid River in August)

Photos and article by: Gabe Gunning,
Thanks Gabe!

Smalls Falls Rope Rescue Training May 22-23

2010-05-20T18:27:00.001-07:00

These are the details for this weekend’s Smalls Falls Rope Rescue Training. If you do not have any rope training, I would recommend attending both Saturday & Sunday’s class. For the advanced class, Sunday is the day!

Please RSVP to Dennis.

Saturday May 22 10:00a - 4:00p Intro / Basic Rope Rescue Class Smalls Falls (Madrid) Dennis Kerrigan, WEMT-P, Instr. Free. Bring sturdy footwear, appropriate clothing and bag lunch Please let Dennis know if you're coming: denniskerrigan@gmail.com

Sunday May 23 10:00a - 4:00p Advanced Rope Rescue Skills Class Smalls Falls (Madrid) Dennis Kerrigan, WEMT-P, Instr. Free. Bring sturdy footwear, appropriate clothing and bag lunch Please let Dennis know if you're coming: denniskerrigan@gmail.com

Links to Gear Suppliers Mentioned by the SERE Instructors

2010-05-13T03:01:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Ben with FSAR & Northstar Backcountry obtained this great list of gear suppliers from the SERE instructors at this past weekend’s training in Redington. Awesome list Ben, Thanks!

http://www.maptools.com/ Not only do they have supplies but resources as well for map work.

http://www.bdu.com/ Military clothing and what not

http://www.blackhawk.com/ Clothing for PD, outdoors, and what not.

http://www.extremeoutfitters.us/ nice supplies for outdoor/rescue

http://www.arcteryx.com/ Arcteryx is a outdoor company that has lots of backcountry supplies like coats, pants, and other clothing.
Fire starting supplies demonstarted or mentioned during the training:

Duck tape
chapstck on cotton balls
zero form in a foil package
hand sanitizer
Potassium permanganate and sugar
cotton swab and Vaseline
9 volt battery with coin or steel wool
maxi pad
flint and steel
saw dust and paraffin wax

Thanks Ben!

MASAR Spring Conference at the USN SERE School in Redington, Maine

2010-05-09T05:04:00.001-07:00

Sunny with temps in the 70’s....not!!

‘Train like we search/rescue and search/rescue like we train’ was the motto of the MASAR Spring conference at the SERE School in Redington, Maine. With a steady rain, a stiff breeze and temps peaking in the low 40’s, 66 members from all over the state converged on the US Navy’s SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance & Escape) school in Redington for a day of training with 4 of the school’s instructors. After being divided into 3 groups, participants received detailed instruction on trapping animals for food, wilderness shelter building, and fire starting and overall survival techniques for the backcountry. Many thanks to Jim, Joe, Steve, Deb and the SERE crew, all of whom donated their time to make the event a success.

Click photos for a larger version

Wilderness First Aid Class by WIlderness Medical Associates IFD May 2010

2010-05-03T03:51:00.000-07:00

Copy by Jim Logan
Photos by Steve Mitman

May First and Second, FSAR members Steve M, Jeff, and Jim, participated in a Wilderness First Aid course offered by Wilderness Medical Associates at the Industry Fire Department. This class was sponsored by NorthStar EMS and funded by a grant from the Department of Homeland Security. There will be three other classes offered later in the year in other parts of Franklin County.

The course dealt with basics of emergency tactics covering a broad variety of problems one might encounter at any time of the year on land or water in FSAR situations or in recreational activities in Maine. Anaphylactic shock, lightning strike, hypothermia and heat –related conditions, broken limbs, internal injuries, and core first aid and CPR were among the subjects. In addition to classroom time, the course included simulations which gave opportunities to apply what was learned in more life-like situations. Two especially useful handouts were provided and familiarization with equipment and alternative uses and materials was very helpful.

There were three top-notch instructors, (2 of which, Mike and Gabe are also FSAR members!) and 8 students in this class, everyone agreed there was a lot learned. The FSAR participants agreed the class was enjoyable and rewarding and they look forward to additional courses to build on this one with a possible progression to WAFA (Wilderness Advanced First Aid) and WFR (Wilderness First Responder) levels.

MDI SAR training June 12, 2010

2010-04-11T05:18:00.000-07:00

To Wilderness Rescue Team, Franklin SAR, Lincoln SAR, Mahoosuc SAR, Unity College SAR, Acadia National Park, Baxter State Park, MASAR Education Director, Division of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife:

Hello, I'm coordinating the summer training schedule for MDI SAR and we are having a steep angle litter evacuation training on Saturday, June 12th at 8:30 AM in the Anemone Cave area of Schooner Head Peninsula on Mount Desert Island. The team would like to invite all members of teams and agencies listed above to come participate in (or observe) a joint technical rescue training exercise. If it is more convenient to come up to MDI the night before, we can probably find MDI SAR team members who can provide a place to stay. Please let Steve Hudson (email address shudsonme@myfairpoint.net) or me know if you would like to attend and we will keep you apprised of any developments. See attached photo of the training area from an earlier exercise.

Thanks,
Scot Bowen

MAY 8 MASAR Training Day at Redington

2010-04-03T04:37:00.001-07:00

(MASAR)
presents the
2010 Statewide Training Day
May 8th

Offering a Back to Basics instruction taught by
National Experts in Wilderness Survival
And
An opportunity for Meeting other SAR team members

Weekend Plan and Instruction from SERE Instructors
 Basic Survival*
 Evidence Awareness*
 Lost But Found program Train-the-Trainer*

The 2010 MASAR Statewide Exercise will be held at the United States Navy’s Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape school near Rangeley, ME
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/navytrng/a/sere.htm

Cost of $25 per person includes camping and lunch Saturday
Register through your SAR team (preferred) or directly with brydge@gwi.net

Primitive camping is available at SERE School for Friday night only
(Tent sites and some lean-tos - privy - stream for water (filter or treat)

Come prepared to learn and train outdoors!

Wilderness FIrst Aid Class offered (free!)

2010-03-25T12:52:00.000-07:00

Wilderness First Aid (WFA)

Offered in Franklin County

WFA is a 2-day (16 hours) class

Wilderness First Aid is a two day introduction to general medical concepts and Basic Life Support skills. It’s targeted to the outdoor enthusiast on day trips or short adventures.

Wilderness Medicine differs significantly from standard Red Cross courses and other programs that are oriented toward the urban environment. This course teaches what to do with a medical emergency when help is miles away and calling 911 isn’t an option. We prepare students for emergency situations that involve prolonged patient care, severe environments and improvised equipment.

This program is grant funded and will be offered 4 times in Franklin County this year.

• Industry Fire May 1&2 8am until 5-6pm
• Rangeley Fire June 26 & 27 from 8am 5-6pm
• Kingfield Fire September 4 & 5
• Phillips Fire October 16 & 17

Wilderness Medical Associates Instructors:

Dennis Kerrigan
Dennis has been a nationally registered EMT since 1984, and became a national registry paramedic in 1991, the same year he started teaching for WMA™. He currently works as a float paramedic for NorthStar EMS in Maine, and is a member of their Backcountry Medical Response Team, as well as working for Monmouth Rescue. In addition, Dennis teaches swiftwater rescue for Rescue 3 and is a Swiftwater Rescue Instructor Trainer for the American Canoe Association. He is also a Paramedic Instructor/Coordinator for Maine EMS. Dennis lives in Maine with his wife and two daughters.

Mike Senecal
Mike is the Regional Operations Manager and Back Country Medical Response Team Leader for NorthStar EMS in Western Maine. In addition to teaching for WMA Mike is a Maine paramedic Instructor Coordinator and ACLS instructor. He enjoys section hiking the Appalachian Trail and wilderness canoeing.
FSAR members: Please contact BOTH Mike Senecal & Steve Mitman if you are interested in attending.

Michael Senecal MSenecal@fchn.org
Steve Mitman smitman@tds.net

MASAR Spring Gathering Saturday May 8 SERE School Rangeley

2010-03-19T02:42:00.001-07:00

The following is from Jim Bridge the MASAR (Maine Association of Search & Rescue) Education director. FSAR is helping to organize the annual MASAR conference which will be held in Rangeley. Last year's conference was held at Sunday River, it was at Acadia the year before. This year's conference will only be a 1 day event (2-3 days in the past). Steve Yates will likely need additional assistance in making arrangements, please contact him if you can help. -Mit

===================================================================

Good Morning,

Thursday, Steve Yates and I went to SERE School and did a site survey on the facility. The site will work well for us and I believe we will have a productive and fun spring gathering of the MASAR clans. Here’s the start of the plan to pass to your unit personnel. More will follow as we develop it.

· Annual MASAR training conference Saturday 8 MAY

· The event will be held at the Navy SERE (Survival Evasion Resistance Escape) school just outside of Rangeley (WGS-84 45 00 04.0N/070 30 38.49W)

· People may arrive afternoon/evening of Friday the 7^th and we will all depart around sundown on Saturday. The road is gated and must be manned when open so we will define times that the gate is open Friday afternoon and evening and Saturday as we get closer.

· Tent camping spots and lean-tos are available at SERE school otherwise a list of places to stay in town will be provided in a couple weeks

· We are on our own for dinner Friday and breakfast Saturday, lunch will be provided Saturday (probably soup and sandwiches)

· Cost will probably be between $20 and 30 per person payable upon arrival and covers the facility, instruction and lunch

· SERE instructors will provide training on Saturday (we are discussing the plan and it might include survival, ready pack, evidence awareness, navigation…)

· Instruction will be mostly outside with limited classroom time so come dressed for the weather

· In addition to the lean-tos, the facility has a classroom for approximately 60 with a small separate instructors’ area, this building has electricity and heat, there are porta potties; water is obtained from a stream and should be filtered or purified before consumption or bring your water

· Parking in limited. There is parking at the facility for about 15 vehicles and will be reserved for the instructors and people managing the event. Other vehicles may come up to drop off people and camping gear. We have a couple parking areas and will identify them as people arrive because which we use is weather dependant.

· The assistance of Franklin SAR in helping set up the local logistics is greatly appreciated and has already been of great assistance

RSVP’s by team for food planning and allocation of lean-tos would be greatly appreciated. Approximate numbers of people coming and if they will camp or not would be sufficient for now.

As the plan comes together, we will pass it on to keep you fully informed. Look forward to seeing folks, here is what we have for responses to date:

North Star – not attending prior commitment
MESARD 3
Franklin yes number undeclared
Unity possibly, number undeclared (although this is finals time so I doubt they will have a significant presence)
Waldo 10 – 14 in Friday night and out Saturday evening to be home for Mother’s Day
YCERT 2 for sure and 2 more possible
McSAR ~10 in Friday night and out Saturday evening to be home for Mother’s Day

Thanks,

Jim

Jim Bridge

Education Director

Maine Association for Search And Rescue