Gsar

[iamvff]

I am off to a Ground search & rescue course in Swan river at the end of May. Should be lots of fun, and some good learning. I have always wanted to know how to use a GPS, so I guess now I will learn. Once done, I will be able to put my name on the list for callouts in our area if a GSAR team is needed. This course will also be a good addition to my couse list for USAR. At the same time our I will be sending about 5-8 guys to Virden for Hazmat awareness, that will make about 15-17 guys on our dept with awareness...next step hazmat ops!

iamvff

[Toxic]

Sounds great that you guys are doing lots of training. Sounds like slim fire coverage back home that weekend though...

Some of our guys went for GSAR 2 weeks ago. They will be part of the Eastman team. Sounded like a neat course. They were saying that when you're walking through the bush you should be looking for clues not just a person. There's only one person but could be many clues like clothing, gum wrappers etc... And how someone lost will become disoriented and will eventually try to hide from rescuers.

[iamvff]

Sounds great that you guys are doing lots of training. Sounds like slim fire coverage back home that weekend though...

Some of our guys went for GSAR 2 weeks ago. They will be part of the Eastman team. Sounded like a neat course. They were saying that when you're walking through the bush you should be looking for clues not just a person. There's only one person but could be many clues like clothing, gum wrappers etc... And how someone lost will become disoriented and will eventually try to hide from rescuers.

We did a little bit of GSAR when I went to spruce woods during the winter exercise. It was definately interesting. The biggest problem we ad was trying to get everyone walking at the same pace..there was always someone either running...or someone almost at a stop. The manpower shortage is something I am going to discuss with the chief this morning. it is definately a concern of mine as well. Although pierson is only 15 miles away and could easily cover us. I think we will end up sending about 5 to virden. I am looking forward to the ops course when we can get it...we will actually start to get caught up with the other mutual aid districts :rolleyes:

iamvff

iamvff

[iamvff]

Back from the gsar course in Swan River, had a blast...96% on the written test! Got to stroll through about 2-3 KM's of solid bush, and walked through about an 18" deep swamp! COOOL...what a blast. Nothin better than a road trip and fire courses! Trying to buy a GPS on ebay now that I know how to use them. What an awesome tool! We found about 60% of the clues they left in the bush, which apparently is quite good!? Well...back to work!

iamvff

[DFCSmash]

We found about 60% of the clues they left in the bush, which apparently is quite good!? Well...back to work!

iamvff

Ya likely found all of the clues, but they didn't want to admit it. :D Wouldn't make them look smart, right?

Glad you had fun.

And maybe even learned something. Naaaaahhhhh

[iamvff]

Got the phone call today, the MESC GSAR summer exercise is on, and I got accepted>>>yeah :D ! I got teamed up with another mutual aid districts team, because as usual...our MAD didn't enter a team!! :confused: My understanding is that it will be held at Devils Lake, mb. just south of Grand Rapids! Should be a blast...anyone else going??

iamvff

[DFCSmash]

Funny devil's lake story. Well I thought it was funny.

We were travelling to Thompson for a wedding. Had the truck and RV, so we stopped at Devils Lake picnic ground for lunch break. Mrs. Smash wanted to drive, so I elected to take a nap. She asked about directions. I said just follow this road up to the stop sign, then turn right. About .75 hours later, she woke me up, said she must have missed the intersection, as she hadn't seen a stop sign. So I asked her if we had gone through Grand Rapids yet. She said no, so I told her it was still about 2 hours to the stop sign. She hit me.

Oh well, she didn't think it was funny either.

Don't foget your 45 gallon drum of DEET. Enjoy!!!

[iamvff]

Don't foget your 45 gallon drum of DEET. Enjoy!!!

Mosquito nets were on sale the other day at Walmart for 50 cents....I bought 4!!! :o

iamvff

[iamvff]

Got my letter the other day! Have to be up north on saturday (27th), then they give us a helicopter orientation lesson, and the fly us 200km north into the bush and don't come back for a day! I hope I can run faster scared than a bear can hungry!! Definately reviewing what is in my backpac for this one! Should be a blast, I got teamed up with a nieghboring MAD, as ours never bothered to put in a team...as usual! :rolleyes:

iamvff :)

[CrazyLadder]

You don't have to run faster than the bears, just your partner.

[Toxic]

Hmmm... The firearms act probably calls that a Remote wilderness location. Means it's one of the few circumstances where you could apply for a permit to carry a handgun in Canada.
(I can't run worth a damn) :D

[iamvff]

Well, Off to the bush up north tomorrow, hope the bears are well fed, and heading toward their winter spot!! :p Cool...I get to ride in a helicopter, should be awesome...I'll post some pic's when I get back!

iamvff

[tmehmel]

Good luck!! Heard that the bears were the tamest things up there, watch for mad beavers!!! LOL
Tom

[iamvff]

Back from up North, trip was good, camped the night in the bush, a good experience was had by all I would say! Here is a few pic's from the trip...
1-me in the helicopter
2-the team trekin through the woods
3-Us fabricating a battery out of 5 double A's, because the batteries they supplied us with for the fleetnets were dead, it was the only way we could radio to be picked up in the morning...thank-you McGyver!! For the record...5-DBL A's, taped end to end, and two pieces of mechanics wire will power a radio for a good half hour!! :cool:

iamvff

[iamvff]

GSAR team leader course in Brandon this weekend...anybody taking it??

iamvff

[NFD25]

I'll be attaining. I had to cancel the hotel room a had reserved in La Riviere! Good to know 4 days before the course starts that they changed the location. See you there iamvff.

[iamvff]

I'll be attaining. I had to cancel the hotel room a had reserved in La Riviere! Good to know 4 days before the course starts that they changed the location. See you there iamvff.
COOL, no prob...I'll be the one with the fire department t-shirt on! :D I talked to Marla the other day, and she said that there was nobody from LaRiviere in the course, so they changed it to Bdn. Last I heard there is only about 8 of us in the class, should be fun though. Theory on Friday night, and saturday, followed by a trek in the bush Sat night until 2 or 3 AM. Good stuff...I love that part.

iamvf :)

[NFD25]

Is there a test at the end? I sure hope not. I'll where my fire dept. t-shirt as well, hahaha

[iamvff]

Is there a test at the end? I sure hope not. I'll where my fire dept. t-shirt as well, hahaha
Actually, I was talking to Scott Kerbis and he said there was a test, and it would be done on Sat. before we went off to the great outdoors! Where are you from??

iamvff

[NFD25]

I meant to say wear not where on that as post. I'm from Neepawa. Where are you from? There are two of us going from Neepawa. Besides writing a test on Sat. it should be a good time. Do you know if Scott Kerbis is instructing this course?

[iamvff]

I meant to say wear not where on that as post. I'm from Neepawa. Where are you from? There are two of us going from Neepawa. Besides writing a test on Sat. it should be a good time. Do you know if Scott Kerbis is instructing this course?
No prob BOB...spelling seems to be fairly irrelevanty on this site. Melita. Well, Marla told me Scott was doing it, but Ken Carmicheal told me yesterday that he thought Murray Bedford and Dave (I assumed Dave Schaffer, but it could have been Singleton) were instructing. All great guys so good none-the-less! Don't worry on the test...there usually not that bad!

iamvff