Category: Article Categories

Appalachian Region Teams Assist with Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts

Molly Williams October 6, 2024 No Comments

Several MRA teams have been deployed to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, including Appalachian Mountain Rescue, Linville-Central Rescue Squad and Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue Service. With widespread destruction in some of their communities as well as adjacent areas, these teams are working in command post positions and also as boots on the ground in

President’s Message – Fall 2024

Mark Miraglia October 3, 2024 No Comments

First, I want to thank all of you for giving me the opportunity to serve as your President. I will strive to live up to the standards set by our previous leaders. Second, I want to thank Alison for her service during the past two years and her guidance in preparing me for the role.

The Volunteers: Mountain Rescue Brings us Home

Molly Williams October 3, 2024 No Comments

A new documentary about two search and rescue teams and their mostly forgotten shared history is more than just a story of difficult rescues and the hard-working volunteers that perform them. Filmmaker Mark Weiner hopes it is a philosophical look at the ways in which mountain rescue teams might provide an example for community and

MRA Reduces Board, Makes Bylaw Changes

Molly Williams October 3, 2024 No Comments

By Molly Williams, Meridian Editor At the summer business meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, the Mountain Rescue Association board approved a proposal to change the organization’s bylaws, which were first written more than 60 years ago. The major revision in the proposal reduced the board from 71 to 12 members. This option was

Case report: Patella dislocation in backcountry setting

Bill M Campbell MD October 3, 2024 No Comments

The Obed Wild and Scenic River National Park (Obed) unit in eastern Tennessee is home to, among other things, world-class climbing. Injuries and incidents there range from lost or marooned paddlers to climbing injuries to falls from cliffsides of non climbers. With the access to both water and climbing activities, the NPS rangers created a

SAR Briefs – Fall 2024

Molly Williams October 3, 2024 No Comments

“Where the Rope Ends” Airing on PBS The documentary that was featured in the last edition of Meridian is now going to be shown on PBS stations. “Where the Rope Ends” tells the story of Nichole Doane, a Seattle nurse who was rescued by SAR after a canyoneering accident in 2017. Doane was seriously injured

Letter from the Editor – Fall 2024

Molly Williams October 3, 2024 No Comments

This marks my first edition of the Meridian as Editor in Chief, and I am excited about this new adventure. Thanks to Rick Lindfors-Ackerman for all his dedication to the team and for answering my thousand questions as I embark on this new journey. As Rick mentioned in his last letter, I have a background

Meridian Summer 2024 PDF

Rick Lindfors July 20, 2024 No Comments

Click Here to view the full PDF version of the Winter 2023 Meridian COVER IMAGE: A U.S. Navy helicopter hoists a patient after he was pinned underneath a boulder in Inyo County, Calif. Sponsor Spotlight Communication is key in SAR operations and outdoor adventures in general. Rocky Talkie is a company committed to helping

President’s Message Summer 2024

Alison Sheets July 20, 2024 No Comments

Dear MRA, This is my last president’s message. As we move on to the next chapter of our organization, I want to thank all of you for your support over my two-year term. It has been an honor and a privilege to be leading such an amazing group of people. The MRA mission statement: “The

Rigging the Rock: Team Lifts Boulder off Patient

Rick Lindfors July 20, 2024 No Comments

Rick Lindfors-Ackerman – Meridian Editor in Chief INDEPENDENCE, CALIF – Ingenuity, communication and a bit of automotive know-how all came into play during the rescue of a man in Inyo County, Calif. The man and a friend were hunting for quartz crystals on December 5, 2023 near Crystal Ridge around 7,300 feet. The area

Documentary Spreads Awareness for SAR

Rick Lindfors July 20, 2024 No Comments

Rick Lindfors-Ackerman – Meridian Editor in Chief A documentary film with the mission to raise awareness and support for search and rescue is gaining acclaim and popularity. “Where the Rope Ends” tells the story of Nichole Doane, a Seattle nurse who was rescued by SAR after a canyoneering accident in 2017. Doane was seriously injured

Studying Medical Treatment in Rescues

Bill M Campbell MD July 20, 2024 No Comments

Bill M Campbell MD FAWM DiMM, MRA MedCom Chair In Mountain Rescue we are often called to search for a missing person. Searching is a skill that is learned and also perishable if not used or practiced. But once we find the person we are looking for, what then? Some in the SAR community

Letter from the Editor – Summer 2024

Rick Lindfors July 20, 2024 No Comments

Once again I’d like to thank you for downloading and reading this issue of Meridian and hopefully enjoying the stories and contributions of MRA team members. We are used to downloading this as a file but we’ve recently taken a big step: Meridian is available as a dedicated web page on the Mountain Rescue Association

Meridian Spring 2024 PDF

Rick Lindfors June 7, 2024 No Comments

Click here to view the full PDF version of the Winter 2023 Meridian in a beautiful, magazine-style layout N THE COVER: Members of Chaffee County Search and Rescue evacuate a hiker who was caught in a snowstorm wearing a hooded sweatshirt and no survival equipment. Sponsor Spotlight: Communication is key in SAR operations and outdoor adventures

President’s Message Spring 2024

Alison Sheets June 7, 2024 No Comments

In Italy last October, the ICAR Medical Commission drafted recommendations for operational stress injury in SAR. The work of mountain rescue is difficult with many technical skills required but the psychological wellbeing of the humans involved is what makes us effective in our teams. Rescue work is emotionally challenging, but it should not be emotionally

2023 Final ICAR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STRESS RESILIENCE IN ALPINE RESCUE

John Ellerton June 7, 2024 No Comments

Prepared for the AOD by John Ellerton (MedCom President) and Alison Sheets (MRA) Passed by the AOD on the 21st October 2023. Review date in 3 years time. These ICAR recommendations are designed for all rescuers and mountain rescue organisations. Mountain rescuers are exposed to significant stress in the work they perform. The injuries, illnesses and

Unprepared and Freezing

Rick Lindfors June 7, 2024 No Comments

Rick Lindfors – Meridian Editor in Chief Search and rescue teams are no stranger to responding to calls for help from unprepared subjects or locating missing people who lacked the necessary clothing and equipment for their adventures. But these lapses in preparation can have life-threatening consequences as evidenced by two recent operations in Colorado and

The Most Common Wilderness Injury: A Case Report

Will Petitt PA-C June 7, 2024 No Comments

Will Petitt PA-C, MRA MedCOM This article was originally published in the Winter 2022 edition of Meridian The subject was a 60-year-old female hiking down from the summit of Pikes Peak (14,109 ft) on a sunny, September day. She stepped on a rock and twisted her left ankle, resulting in lateral (outside) left ankle pain

Compassion Fatigue: Signs and Meaning for Search and Rescue Volunteers

Rick Lindfors June 7, 2024 No Comments

Rick Lindfors – Meridian Editor in Chief Stress can show itself in many forms in first responders. One sign of stress or burnout is known as compassion fatigue. This can show itself as cynicism towards patients or feelings of hopelessness. Compassion fatigue can show after repeated exposure to stressful or traumatic incidents. “Usually people who