Building the case for a special helicopter rescue team
Prince George, B.C.- Prince George Search and Rescue has one more endorsement to add to its efforts to create a regional helicopter external transportation system (HETS) team.
The Regional District of Fraser Fort George has agreed to write a letter of support for the project.
HETS can come into play when a helicopter is unable to land in an area where people need help. You may have seen images of rescuers dangling from a long line that’s attached to a chopper. This system allows rescuers and first aid specialists to be lowered into areas which are difficult to reach and can save precious time when the person needing rescuing is injured. Then the rescuers and subject re-attach to the long line tether, and the helicopter (not a winch) lifts them out of the area, and sets them down where it’s safe.
“A really good example of where this system could have been used is the rescue from the Fang cave” says Prince George Search and Rescue Search Manager Dale Bull. In that case, the injured person had to be extracted from the cave, and the terrain didn’t allow for a chopper to land on site. So, rescuers had two options, move the injured person up the mountain to a meadow, or take him down the mountain. They opted to take the person down the mountain, a journey that took about 4 hours to complete.
This kind of system was also used during the 2010 Olympics when a downhill skier had a serious crash and had to be lifted off the slope.
There are about half a dozen Search and Rescue groups in the Province of BC which already have an HETS team, but Dale Bull says the nearest one is in Penticton. In Vernon, a pilot project is underway involving a chopper with a winch mounted to its side. Having an HETS team in Prince George would provide the service throughout the North and save precious moments when lives are at stake.
The equipment and training don’t come cheap. While a helicopter is not part of the package ( a helicopter company would be under contract for such service) Bull says the equipment to hook up to the chopper costs over $50 thousand dollars, and finding the funds may be a challenge. “Gaming grants are not available for new programs” says Bull, “It will all have to come through our group, whether we are able to secure some of that through grants or fundraising, we wouldn’t get a cheque from Emergency Management B.C. to pay for it.”
So for now, in order to move forward, Prince George Search and Rescue is collecting those letters of support and preparing a business case showing why such a program is needed in this area. “We are optimistic it will go forward” says Bull “We have every reason to believe they (Emergency Management B.C. will formally support it.”
Comments
I fully support this as the north needs services like this it’s not a case of want but it’s a need however people need to support it as well. I don’t want it to go the way of the H.E.R.O.E.S initiative
Prince George lost one of its best long time resident this last weekend in the Torpy. A great guy liked by everyone and a successful local business owner. I am not sure if something like this would have saved Kenny, but if it would have, then it would have been worth it just for that time alone.
Prince George pays so much in resource taxes to the senior levels of government that it is almost criminal that we don’t already have a dedicated helecter on standby for search and rescue and emergency transport. The ones who create the wealth often working in dangerous remote locations are an after thought for those who are in the decision making chair….
If we can overpay 125k for a new city website, I’m sure we can come up with 50k a year to have a helicopter budget in place for S&R? I have to also agree with Eagleone, we lost a great guy on the weekend, and condolences to Vince and family.
Be careful out there people, that was an experienced group of riders in the hills with lots of training and prevention on them. Just stay out of the mountains for a while.
After seeing helicopters land on the roof of VGH, see the chopper rescues on the lower mainland on a regular basis, I wonder what NIH considers us taxpayers in the Central Interior, inferior? I have yet to see proposals for a heli pad at our hospital let alone BC Ambulance considering air transport of patients here. I have yet to hear of any helicopters on contract in the interior to even transport patients. Does anyone know?
Perhaps this will be the start, I sure hope so.
Helicopters are used here its just that there are no dedicated helicopters in central and northern BC.
A helicopter would have been used for the snowmobile incident up the Torphy if not for bad weather.
Seamutt – they aren’t looking for a helicopter, they’re looking for special gear to attach to a helicopter that will allow them to be lowered into an area a helicopter can’t land, and to be lifted back out again. Rarely are we lucky enough to get injured on a nice open low grade glade. Usually it’s in some treed area and rescuers have to hike into you, bundle you up, then hike to the closest area a helicopter can land. This device would likely save lives, reduce risk for rescuers. And all for the price of a trip to China by city council.
Start a fund and I’ll donate. In fact, if every back-country user threw in a $100.00 we could probably fund it ourselves. With the number of snowmobilers in town, I think we have at least 500 users.
Ski, I was replying to Grizzly.
@Eagleone..
Good post..As an industrial level 3 FA attendant and avid back country recreationist(Snowmobiling, hiking, snowboarding & ATV)I can definitely say we need more resources put towards rescue and first responders. The fastest way and best way to get people to medical attention within the golden hour is by air so I support any initiative that can get resources towards this. We also need these resources for remote work locations as well.
Its hard to say if this would have made a difference for KC but not having this in place for all aspects of remote work, play and travel is a tragedy in itself..
Regards,
I think there is a significant cost to this than just $50,000 for a hoist attached to a helicopter.
One cannot rely on just one helicopter with that equipment, otherwise the helicopter as well as crew have to be on standby at all times. That is what costs the money.
The other option is to have 2 or more to have the equipment plus the crews that can handle it.
Just to give some of you an idea what certifications are required, here is a job advertised for Kelowna that gives some idea of what is needed to operate the helicopter as well as the hoist. The article speaks about training need.
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We are currently looking for one Commercial Helicopter Pilot who has at least 5 years experience winching and has the following certifications and qualifications:
• Certificate of Competency in Winching Operations for Endorsements in a Helicopter Winch Operator’s Log Book
• Certificate of Competency in Rappelling Operations for Endorsements in a Helicopter Aircrewman’s Log Book
• Hoist Operator with at least 800 hoist cycles
The position is full time and located in West Kelowna, British Columbia with seasonal work in Australia for our sister company.
• Salary of $34.19 per hour
• Attractive benefits package
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Yes, this is also badly needed for the rescue of those working in industry as well who have had an injury in the workplace. It is time that the province funds such equipment, training and operating costs, possibly in conjunction with the industries whose workers are out in the remote regions and need to be brought in within that “golden hour”.
Finally, we must remember to not rely 100% on helicopter rescue since their flight windows are restricted by weather, so a secondary failsafe system must still be able to operate.
In regards to winching.
You see that on Canadian Armed forces helicopters.
Search and Rescue Helicopters.
Or you have seen them on US Coast Guard Helicopters.
The North Shore Rescue in Vancouver uses the Long Line procedure.
Like gopg2015 stated above ,if you are going to winch.
Then you need a dedicated helicopter and crews.
The question to ask, is how many rescues based on past history.
Could have been done Long Line or Winching.
Yes I agree that helicopters could be better utilized.
They need to investigate more, apparently a lot of snowmobilers are drinking out there. It doesn’t help when they go into deadly situations that they are aware of. A few years back we lost 17 in b.c. in one winter.
Agreed, onemansthoughts, incidence avoidance is the first approach to ensuring someone gets back home safely. As they say in the safety industry, there is no such thing as an accident and all incidents can be avoided.
But some people still want a rush and like to live life on the edge. Pushing that envelope of caution and knowledge provides the adrenalin rush. One could say it is an addiction. But without it, North America would not have been reached by sea as early as it was, for instance, no one would have walked on the moon and so on.
Having a beer while taking a break on the trail, is as natural as having a beer after rec hockey, or on a hot day at the beach. Now we are judging sledders for having a beer, as if it’s some forbidden drug that isn’t readily available? They are not getting drunk on the trails, they are having a beer. They aren’t getting drunk in the parking lot behind Kin 2 after a rec hockey game, they are just having a beer.. see the similarities? Only a fool would believe any serious sledder is getting hammered and heading into the Alpine, it just isn’t happening.
Leroy, you are absolutely wrong in your comment saying that they aren’t getting hammered out there. Many are getting hammered out there while sledding. That’s an indisputable fact. I was one of those who has been riding in the mountains for the past 30 years and have had many beers on many rides with many others that have been hammered out there. Butter Ripple was actually my favorite beverage before during and after a ride. In the early days I used to pack a 24 pack of Budweiser on my sled. Nothing but empties at the end of the day.
I’m not assuming this is what happened in this latest incident, but you better believe many are getting hammered out there because they are.
I have seen many backpackers getting hammered up in the high country. Some good parties in those back country cabins.
Just trying to get the debate even.
Backcountry skiers & hikers don’t drink…they get high, less weight to carry ;)
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