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GROUND SAR
SAR Medic: A new course
by Brandie Howey
This past spring, eight members of Edmonton
Regional Search and Rescue Association (ERSARA) took part in a pilot
course called SAR Medic, offered by the Rescue Training Institute. The
course is an intensive 60-hour commitment that combines the 44-hour Red
Cross First Responder course with wilderness first aid components and
focuses on practical work and scenarios based on real SAR events.
 The
training includes such courses as level C CPR, oxygen, evacuations, spinal
injury care, blood pressure and basic First Aid. But there is an added
twist: how to do all this in the wilderness where ambulance response times
are not measured in minutes, but possibly hours? Because the SAR Responder
may be faced with the extra challenges of isolation, and SAR Medic course
offers extensive teaching in many areas to prepare the student for these
situations. Specifically, environmental injuries, field water disinfection,
preventing disease transmission, decontamination of equipment, camp hygiene,
multiple casualty incidents and possible injuries to both SAR Responders
and patients.
Instructor Daryl Black, long-time ERSARA member and president of Rescue
Training Institute, has many years experience in teaching First Aid and
related courses.
"Traditional courses, whether urban or wilderness based, do not deal
with the specifics of SAR response. SAR responders need capabilities and
equipment specific to their environment and mission and SAR Medic fills
that need," he said.
This specialized training will enable SAR responders to provide better
on-scene care and more detailed information of the situation to EMS responders.
For more information, visit www.first-aid.ca.
Brandie Howey is a long-time member of the Edmonton Regional SAR Association.
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