Search and Rescue crews work with USCG

Last Saturday, the Wahkiakum County Search and Rescue (SAR) conducted a joint training with Cowlitz County SAR on US Coast Guard (USCG) helicopter operations. This was a wonderful opportunity for our local responders to conduct actual hands on training with the USCG.

The training began with the arrival of the new USCG J-hawk helicopter. The helicopter is stationed out of Astoria and had no problem finding a good landing site at the Hancock Forest Management sorting yard near Cathlamet. The rescue swimmer provided a briefing and then began the training. He explained many important operations like the helicopter's capabilities; USCG's expectations of us while working around the helicopters, and how to safely approach, enter and exit the aircraft. We also learned how to load an injured person into the USCG basket for hoisting up to the helicopter.

We were then given the opportunity to practice the operations we had learned while the helicopter was hovering overhead. Each group of two was given the opportunity to move under the helicopter and receive the "tagline." Once the team members had a hold of it, the basket would appear in the door of the helicopter and moments later it would begin its 100-foot trip down to the team.

This was a wonderful cooperative training opportunity with our neighbors in Cowlitz County and the USCG. It is one thing to watch a training movie on this subject but it really does not prepare you for the hurricane force winds you encounter while working under these amazing machines.

The group also spent the afternoon conducting a mock search mission looking for an object lost in a field. Everyone got to practice radio communications as well as their search techniques. We all worked together and in the end it was a great training opportunity.

Wahkiakum County SAR is always accepting applications for volunteers. Contact SAR Coordinator Beau Renfro at renfrob@co.wahkiakum.wa.us, 795-7876 or 465-2202 to obtain an application or have more information.