Winter SAR Simulation Vose Mountain 3-6-2011

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

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

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

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.

Frostbite Presentation 12-8-2010

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.