SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Rescuing injured people is hard.

Rescuing them in harsh climates in remotes parts of Canada is even more challenging. But this is the job of hundreds of Royal Canadian Air Force search-and-rescue technicians who provide on-scene medical aid and evacuation all over Canada.

Col. Leo Cardenas, left, Col. Juan Carlos Mestas and Lt.-Col. Jorge Abitia from the Mexican Air Force chat at the Yellowknife Airport. The air force members are part of an international delegation observing the week-long exercises. Maj. Allan Ireland, left, and Capt. Thomas Bowdery pilot a CH-146 Griffon helicopter on Wednesday afternoon.

It's also why the air force is conducting its yearly national search-and-rescue exercise in Yellowknife this week.

Warrant Officer Dan Lamoureux, the officer in charge of the Canadian Forces School of Search and Rescue in Comox B.C., says training in places such as Yellowknife is essential.

"Working in a new environment, you always come out with some good lessons learned on how to move forward in certain areas," he explained, adding the week-long training allows technicians to network with other search-and-rescue groups who might have experience to share.

For example, on Wednesday, a medical drill disaster situation conducted in the sandpits involved a mock two-plane crash.

During the exercise, technicians had to get on site and perform a triage to determine the injuries, Lamoureux said. They then determined how to transport the patients safely to the nearest medical facility. But these technicians have many functions.

According to National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces, search-and-rescue personnel are accredited as primary care paramedics, but also have more advanced skills. A person who has been lost for 24 to 36 hours with serious injuries often needs antibiotics to fight infection.

Search-and-rescue technicians can administer antibiotics before reaching the hospital. As part of search-andrescue training conducted in schools across Canada, Lamoureux said technicians are also taught how to survive in harsh climates such as the Arctic, rough seas, ice and mountains.

"You're parachuting into the mountains, into the trees, landing into the water, landing out to sea, landing on glaciers," he said. "Wherever it is, we'll do it."

The search-and-rescue training wraps up today. The visiting military members leave Yellowknife on Saturday.