What inspires someone to get into volunteer search and rescue? What motivates them to make a years or decades-long commitment? These are among many questions that Dr. Yuan Huang is asking in her research of volunteer SAR. Huang is a senior lecturer at Cardiff University in Wales, U.K. Her primary focus is operations management and
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
“Self-selection” is a phrase I’ve heard every now and then in my SAR career. It has always meant that an individual needs to recognize if they are able to meet the demands of a mission whether it is physical readiness or technical capacity and if necessary, opt out of a mission to ensure they are
Click here to view the full PDF version of the Winter 2023 Meridian in a beautiful, magazine-style layout. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit Email
I had the good fortune to recently be in the San Juan mountains of Colorado. It was at the height of the fall color season and the aspens were glorious against the dusting of first snow on the high peaks. The change of seasons made me reflect on the changes ahead for the MRA. As
This year, Juneau Mountain Rescue received the Mel Nading Search and Rescue Award after a series of missions in the summer of 2022. The award recognizes “exemplary service of ASARA member volunteers performing search and rescue operations either on an individual or team level in difficult, dangerous, or complex situations while going above and beyond
Rick Lindfors – Meridian Editor in Chief Los Angeles – Just outside the Los Angeles city limits shoots a more than ten-thousand foot peak. Mt. San Antonio, commonly known as Mt. Baldy, is within plain view of the second most populous city in the U.S. and draws hundreds of thousands to its trails in the
Another year down and many stories to look back on for MRA teams. I hope all of us are able to look back on the year with lessons learned in missions and training and be proud of what we’ve accomplished. One thing to look forward to this coming year is the continued distribution and event planning
Click here to view the full PDF version of the Fall 2023 Meridian in a beautiful, magazine-style layout. Sponsor Spotlight: Black DiamondMRA team members are familiar with two types of black diamonds. The first is the ski slope we take on when we’re feeling brave and the second is a gear company that covers the
President’s Message I recently attended the Spring Conference and want to again thank Coconino County Sherriff’s Office Search and Rescue for the excellent event in Flagstaff. They were professional, organized, helpful and appeared to enjoy working together! There were lots of new faces at the conference and the pre-conference events were very well attended. For
SEATTLE – Surviving an incident that could have killed her was just the beginning for Nichole Doane. The Seattle-area trauma nurse nearly died in a rappelling accident and found the road to recovery to be long and brutal. But in her path forward she also discovered a way to help guide other trauma survivors through
Bill M Campbell MD FAWM DiMMAs mountain rescuers, we get very focused on finding and rescuing individuals in austere conditions. Some teams even have the motto “So others may live.” But we must constantly remind ourselves of our priorities: self > team > subject. If we don’t take care of ourselves, then we let ourteam
Courage, Compassion, Commitment. Those are the words that surround the Mountain Rescue Association logo on the organization’s challenge coins. They represent the core of our volunteers; courageous people who have committed to saving lives in search and rescue through a sense of compassion for our subjects. The first two can be easier to gather within
