Taking it to the next level
Eight pass 10-day search-and-rescue course in Rankin Inlet
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
RANKIN INLET
Eight members of the local search-and-rescue (SAR) team completed an intense 10-day training course in Rankin Inlet earlier this month.
Wesley Innukshuk, Victoria Noolook, Marlene Tulugak and Sean MacEachern (instructor), back row from left, and Thomas Angoshadluk, Samson Amarudjuak and Paul Jr. Kanayok, front row from left, completed a 10day searchandrescue course in Rankin Inlet earlier this month. Missing from photo are Steve Kanayok and Violet Innukshuk. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo |
The course was instructed by Sean MacEachern of Ronan Safety and Rescue in Delta, B.C.
The training combined a basic ground SAR course with a search management course.
MacEachern said the training covers everything from initial notification of a SAR tasking - when someone has been reported overdue or missing - to how to stand up a SAR effort and the co-ordination processes involved, deploying assets into the field to conduct SAR operations, and how to maintain a sustained SAR operation in the field.
He said the training also covered, depending on whether the missing person has been located, how to replace people in the field or start to scale back the SAR effort to demobilization.
"We also spent some time talking about how the SAR in Nunavut fits into SAR with the rest of Canada," said MacEachern.
"And we talked about the procurement of new capabilities for a SAR unit."
MacEachern said portions of the course have to be adapted to fit the Northern climate.
He said it has to be modified because survivability times projected in the south might not be accurate in the North, due to the extreme environment and terrain.
"Searchers here tend to be more familiar with the people who go missing.
"They have to be more sensitized to dealing with family members and the community in general while conducting a search, than someone in the south who may never have anything to do with the direct family of someone who's been lost.
"Searchers here are also more skilled and know the land, so they're more in-tune with survival out on the land.
"Down south, some people who might volunteer with SAR may not have all that much experience out on the land conducting search operations."
MacEachern said the GPS is a big search tool in the North, while compasses may not be all that reliable.
He said all those issues have to be considered when delivering a course in Nunavut.
"I've taught many times in the North, and I've been delivering this product for the past six years in places like Rankin, Arviat and Pond Inlet.
"The eight who took this course are very keen operators who really want to take the SAR efforts in Rankin Inlet to a new level.
"They were always quite engaged, and it was a pleasure working with them throughout the 10-day course."
