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| Getting ready for the mock plane crash: dummies are loaded into vessels to be taken to the scene. |
The exercise tested SAR interoperability in a number of key areas: medical and triage capabilities; interaction between federal, provincial and municipal agencies; communications capabilities; and emergency preparedness plans for the various agencies within the Greater Toronto Area.
Preparations began early Saturday morning at HMCS York, on the Toronto waterfront, with casualty simulation and briefings on their injuries. Volunteers, paramedic students from Humber College, were transported to a life raft at the crash site. While this was taking place, exercise protocols and the timeline were being finalized with participating agencies. Vessels not taking part were marked as observers, and equipment and weather conditions were checked.
| Agencies involved in the exercise |
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About two kilometres away, the Canadian Coast Guard vessel, CRG 100, was engaged in a towing exercise with the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary vessels, the GAMRU, TINKER, TOWARF and SARAH ASHBRIDGE. The auxiliary vessels were unaware that they would be taking part in the SAREX, although they suspected that some larger scenario was about to unfold. While the towing exercise was in progress, a call was made to JRCC Trenton that a plane had crashed into Humber Bay. The CRG 100 was tasked to head to the scene with the Coast Guard Auxiliary vessels following close behind. Metro Toronto and Peel Regional marine unit vessels were also deployed and a command post was simulated at HMCS York, staffed jointly by the Canadian Forces Naval Reserve.
As part of the exercise, the Captain of the CRG 100, who was at this point considered to be the On-scene Coordinator, was stung by a bee causing a strong allergic reaction. He needed medical attention from a paramedic and had to be evacuated from the scene.
| The National Search and Rescue Secretariat, in partnership with the other federal agencies, is preparing a multi-jurisdictional exercise plan for the next three to four years. Anyone with ideas for exercises should contact Bryan Finney at (613) 996-7163 or bfinney@nss.gc.ca. A report of this exercise will available online at www.nss.gc.ca in January 2004. |
THE OUTCOME
The exercise identified the need for standard radio equipment and channels,
and the assurance that all agencies could communicate with a central command
as well as each other. Loss of contact, different frequencies and static
interference created inefficiencies and delays. Other recommendations
dealt with protocols and procedures such as the need to standardize triage
protocols and to have standard training programs in search and rescue
for all SAR partners, including provincial and municipal agencies that
respond to air and marine incidents.
As for the Captain who was stung by a bee, the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary
crew member reacted quickly with appropriate procedures and executed a
flawless evacuation.
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Cruise ship traffic in the inside passage of the coast of British Columbia has increased over the past few years, increasing the potential for a large scale search and rescue operation. To assess the level of readiness and identify any interoperability deficiencies in the event of such a disaster, Federal SAR Departments, Provincial and Municipal agencies responsible for emergency response including SAR, and representatives from the cruise ship industry, held a table-top exercise in Prince Rupert, British Columbia on October 30, 2003. Scenario: An explosion takes place in the engine room of a large cruise ship carrying 1900 passengers and crew in clear weather. Smoke is carried throughout the ship, and the Captain has asked that the ship be evacuated. Passengers and crew have mustered at the lifeboat station and a number of people have suffered injuries. Resources: Four Coast Guard vessels and one Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel are in the vicinity and tasked to respond, along with two other vessels. A Canadian Forces Cormorant and Buffalo are also tasked as well as USCG aircraft. Agencies located within the town of Prince Rupert are notified and begin preparations for evaluation, treatment, identification and overall well being of the cruise ship passengers and crew. A report on the exercise will be available on the National Search and Rescue Secretariat's website at www.nss.gc.ca in January 2004. |
Gander SAREX:
Farewell to the Lab
by Lt. Jennifer Faubert
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| 103
Squadron of 9 Wing Gander captured with the Diamond Trophy award for
the best overall performance at the National SAREX in Gander last
October. Photo by Cpl. Bill Parrot |
This year's National Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX 03) presented one of the last opportunities to see the CH-113 Labrador flying alongside the CH-149 Cormorant. It was the Cormorant's first such exercise and the Labrador's last.
This year's competition, held Sept. 29 to Oct. 5, was hosted by 9 Wing Gander and 103 Search and Rescue Squadron. Over 200 SAR Techs, military personnel, aircraft crew and members from the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA) were on-site taking part in competitions, judging or attending meetings on search and rescue issues throughout the week.
"It was wonderful news when we heard that the folks at 424 Squadron were bringing the mighty Labrador to the competition," said Lieutenant-Colonel Peter McKeage, 9 Wing Commander. "What a treat for all of us who flew her and how appropriate that the last SAREX for the 'old girl' will be here in Gander."
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| Master
Cpl. Bill Clouter, a SAR Tech of 444 Squadron in Goose Bay, Labrador
tends to a victim. SAREX events included rescue, maintenance, medical
and search events. SAR Techs also participated with a parachute jump
camp using the new CSAR-7 parachute. Photo by Cpl. Bill Parrott |
Although weather put a damper on some of the competitions, and the scheduled fixed wing aircraft were unable to participate, the exercise met its objective to provide a venue for the standardization and evaluation of operational search and rescue techniques and procedures utilized by the Canadian Forces.
"Search and rescue is a bad weather job and this seems to be holding true for this competition," said Master Corporal Derek Rogers, 103 Search and Rescue Technician and winner of the SAR Technician of the Year award. "However, there were still a lot of events going on which highlighted various aspects of search and rescue."
National SAREX provides an excellent opportunity for members of CASARA, an integral part in search and rescue, to hone their skills.
Next year's SAREX will be held in Comox, B.C.
Lt. Faubert is with 1 Canadian Air Division Public Affairs.
by Capt. Dave Muralt
Fifteen members of Canada's Air Force took part in the annual Arctic Search and Rescue Exercise hosted this year by the Russian Federation at Gelendzhik, Russia, from Sept. 10 to 12.
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| Russian,
Canadian, and U.S. team members carry a "victim" to a waiting
aircraft for evacuation. Photo by Maj. Mike Haller |
Arctic SAREX 03 is the 10th in a series of Canadian, American and Russian military efforts to improve combined search and rescue (SAR) capabilities to respond to major air disasters and major searches.
"The Arctic SAREX program is an important series of exercises for us, " said Major-General Marc Dumais, Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division. "Not only does it promote understanding between Russian, American and Canadian Forces, it also provides a venue for each nation to observe the others' SAR procedures and equipment and to demonstrate their own."
In a departure from what has become the normal theme of the Arctic SAREX series, this year's training scenario involved the rescue of three astronauts from the International Space Station who have made an emergency water landing in a Soyuz spacecraft (Russian spacecraft normally make dry-land touch-downs).
The Canadian contribution included members from: 442 Squadron (Sqn) in Comox, B.C., 424 Sqn in Trenton, Ont., 413 Sqn in Greenwood, N.S., 435 Sqn in Winnipeg, Canadian Forces School of Search and Rescue in Comox, 1 Canadian Air Division Headquarters in Winnipeg and two translators from Ottawa for a total of 17 personnel.
In Canada, aerial search and rescue is the mandate of the Canadian Forces. Hundreds of Canadians are rescued by Air Force search and rescue personnel every year from coast to coast.
Capt. Muralt is a Public Affairs officer with 1 Canadian Air Division.
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Table-top
exercise focuses on cruise ships