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🔴TASK UPDATE: On Saturday at approximately 6:00 PM, KSAR was requested by the RCMP to locate the owner of an iPhone whose SOS feature had been activated and the coordinates indicated that the phone was located south of Scuitto Lake. A team of 14 members mobilized and conducted a search of the area using UTVs but did not find the individual or the phone. A K9 team was also deployed to search for any physical evidence, in case the phone had been dropped in that location.
Later, it was determined that the owner had accidentally activated the SOS feature without realizing it and had returned home safely. Around 10:00 PM, SAR managed to contact him by phone, and he confirmed his safety.
🆘When your emergency SOS is activated, a request for help, including your location, is sent to a monitoring agency, typically routed directly to 911 first. This information is then relayed to the appropriate emergency services, such as the RCMP, Fire Department, or Ambulance. If Search and Rescue needs to be involved, the call will be routed through the Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) in Victoria, which will activate the nearest team.
⛔If your emergency SOS is triggered accidentally and results in a Search and Rescue response, it is crucial to contact emergency services (911) as soon as possible. Explain to the operator that the SOS was a mistake, and they can cancel the alert to avoid unnecessary dispatch of SAR teams. (DG)
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⛑Technical rope skills are crucial for an effective SAR team. When you need ropes, you REALLY need them! KSAR trains regularly!💪🏼(DG)
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Sandra and Tico, Carole and Parker attended a four-day K9 training event, organized and generously hosted by @Central Okanagan Search & Rescue over the long weekend. Training consisted of challenging scenarios from tracking to wilderness to introduction to water searches.
Special thanks go to the COSAR Captains and boat crew who were patient in helping us navigate dog challenges in a new environment. (CC)
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At approximately 16.00 on Saturday of the long weekend, KSAR received a call for an injured mountain biker in the Tranquille area. The injured individual was suspected of having sustained spinal injuries.
A total of 18 KSAR members responded, including members with advanced first aid training and KSAR’s emergency physician. As the team was mobilizing, BCEHS was en-route to the scene, and a Medevac helicopter was placed on standby to assist with patient extraction if accessing the site proved challenging.
BCEH reached the subject and provided care and transport to the Hospital. KSAR members then stood down, demobilized, and debriefed. All team members were home just before 19.00. (DG)
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Victoria long weekend, Saturday morning, KSAR members set out on a pre-plan team hike—an essential part of our ongoing training and readiness efforts. These hikes serve a dual purpose: strengthening our navigation and field skills while allowing us to familiarize ourselves with terrain that may become the focus of future SAR operations.
We were greeted with clear skies and ideal hiking weather, making for a lovely start. However, as is often the case in the backcountry, conditions changed quickly. Rain moved in, and the team made the call to return to the trailhead. Everyone was safely back and home before 1 p.m. (Just a couple of hours later, a call came in for the same area). (DG)
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