Salt Spring Island, Dec 15 — If you were near Burgoyne Bay last Saturday morning, you might have noticed several search and rescue groups in action on land and on the water. The sight of these dedicated teams working together (in the wind and rain) likely piqued your curiosity about what was happening.
Three marine search and rescue (RCMSAR) organizations, including Salt Spring Island’s RCMSAR25, Brentwood Bay’s RCMSAR31, and Cowichan Bay’s RCMSAR34, as well as Salt Spring Island’s Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR), converged in Burgoyne Bay near Daffodil Point for a collaborative Search And Rescue Exercise (SAREX). Beyond the intrigue of the moment, these exercises are vital in preparing the volunteers for real-life emergencies, ensuring swift and effective responses and strengthening inter-agency communication and cooperation.
The SAREX involved complex, true-to-life scenarios: shoreline searches, medical crises, and rescue missions. The exercise started with RCMSAR25 discreetly positioning two rescue mannequins along Burgoyne Bay's shoreline. Station Leader Andrew Ross Collins elaborates:
“After taking a GSAR communication liaison on board, we assumed on-scene command and tasked the other units with a shoreline search. Upon locating the mannequins, GSAR administered first aid, then worked with the RCMSAR units to transport the patients via boat back to the government dock in Burgoyne Bay.”
Wind and rain was a considerable factor in the training exercise.
“Inter agency training is critical for rehearsing possible real life scenarios and identifying areas for improvement in inter agency cooperation. In particular, increased familiarity with other agencies' command structures and communications systems leads to better operational outcomes in the field such as saving lives and reducing suffering" affirms Salt Spring Island’s GSAR Manager, Conrad Bowden.
Those who observed these exercises witnessed the dedication and skill of these volunteers, serving as a reminder of the continued efforts these search and rescue organizations put forth to protect local communities.
