Bedford County Wilderness Search Team Inc.

 

 

Special Transportation Strike Team

The Special Transportation Division of the Bedford County Wilderness Search Team was designed to meet the special needs of emergency response organizations that respond to emergencies in remote locations.  Through a thorough examination of search and rescue it was determined that there were a few areas that needed specialized services with specialized training.  In the past, on search and rescue incidents, individuals would assist with searching or rescue in the below fashion without training.  This type of service without training was always detrimental to the well being of the searcher and the injured or lost individual.  The Division was designed to meet three needs - Wilderness Evacuation, Equipment and Personnel Transportation, and Advanced Hasty Team Search.

Wilderness Evacuation

In remote locations, the removal of that individual to an ambulance access point is usually very difficult.  To transport one individual in a stokes basket (wire rescue basket), 20 rescuers are typically needed to carry out that individual one mile.  The amount of manpower can be drastically reduced with the proper motorized vehicle and a trained operator.

Members of the Special Transportation Division are trained to gain access to patients in remote locations in through the use of All Terrain Vehicles (ATV's), Snowmobiles, Horses, and Four Wheel Drive vehicles.  When responding to assist with the individual from a remote setting, Special Transportation personnel come equipped with the requested vehicle, basic medical equipment, and special extrication equipment that is specific for that vehicle.

All of the above-motorized vehicles come specially equipped and are not simply off the shelf products.  ATV's come equipped with winches and special racks for equipment.  Four Wheel Drive responders come with vehicles that considerable lifts for added clearance, high traction tires, and winches.  The snowmobile responder comes with special patient hauling sleds.

Equipment and Personnel Transportation

During missing person searches, the typical search usually covers very large areas.  To get searchers to these areas and to get equipment to these individuals special vehicles are needed.  The members of the Special Transportation unit can bring vehicles that can both personnel and equipment in and out of the field.

Hasty Searches

Hasty searches are techniques that take place during the initial phases of a search.  During a hasty search, searchers will search a trail, wilderness roads, power lines, or other easily navigatable routes.  The searchers move very fast looking mostly for the lost subject but also looking for clues that may help in determining where to search next if the hast search does not work.  This type of search is usually done at a fairly fast pace (3 mph).

Strike Team Specialties