West Mead 1 and West Mead 2 joined forces for training the last week in November. At 7:00 PM, Crawford County 911 dispatched the departments for a search detail involving a hunter who had not returned home. Crews and equipment from both departments established a command post at Neason Hill Elementary and identified a search area by conducting a witness interview. Crews then searched a twenty-acre area locating the missing hunter 12 minutes into the search. Crews then established a plan for extrication and called command for additional resources for high-angle rescue along with 29-24, West Mead 2’s UTV. Crews then worked to disentangle the hunter from the safety harness and lower the victim to the ground.
Following the operation the two departments conducted a critique of the operation and discussed how harness-induced pathology impacts the time frame for a successful rescue.
Both departments were well represented with nearly 25 volunteers participating in the drill.
Here in the south the rescue/recovery operations are frequent. Especially with “rock climbers” becoming trapped in an environment they should not be in. This is valuable training.