Last week members of the Badlands Search and Rescue (SAR) completed its final session to complete the Fundamentals of Ground Search Course.
This means that Badlands Search and Rescue is certified to work as a part of a ground search crew anywhere in Canada.
Badlands SAR training coordinator and search manager Guy Latour explained on Saturday, October 19, three teams were performing distinct and different methods of searching, deployed for different search scenarios.
One was the quick search of an area, searching in key areas. This is often the initial search.
The next style of search is a sweep search. This is where a team sweeps an area with a methodical approach searching for the missing person(s) or items.
The next is a closed grid search. This is the “shoulder to shoulder” type search where the parties cover a large area a small section at a time.
The final type of search the team worked on was an evidence search. This is the “hands and knees” type of search looking for clues to aid in collecting evidence or to find a lead. On Saturday this was simply looking for shell casings scattered near McMullen Island.
On Sunday the training continued when the nine members of Drumheller SAR were joined by the Alberta Cave Rescue to do a mock search and rescue in Horseshoe Canyon. This includes finding a person, and then conducting the rescue and evacuation. The Alberta Cave Rescue crew did a demonstration of a steep slope rescue using ropes.
According to Latour, the course was not all in the field, but the members also attended a number of classroom sessions prior to the fieldwork.
He says now they have completed the course and they are now operational.
The Badlands Search and Rescue fills a geographical gap between other services. They are able to be the lead association in this area and are now able to support other surrounding teams if there is a need. With the recognition they are also able to apply for grants for training.
(l-r) Chris Stickel, Jane Dau and Scott Campbell of Badlands SAR were at McMullen Island training on Saturday, October 19. Nine members of Badlands SAR completed their ground search course.
