Job-related injuries create mounting danger for search and rescue workers

[Retired and Broken]

Job-related injuries create mounting danger for search and rescue workers
‘Guys are getting injured faster than we can replace them’

David Burke · CBC News · Posted: Jun 24, 2018 8:00 AM AT

ubmerged underwater more than 270 kilometres off the coast of Newfoundland, Sgt. Damien Robison almost ran out of air.

He was tethered to a helicopter hovering over a nearby fishing boat that was in distress. He was in the water to help save five sealers, but was hit by a 12-metre wave that drove him below the surface.

Chunks of ice in the water whipped by as Robison tried to puzzle out how he and the sealers would survive.

That happened on March 5, 2017, on what Robison considers a good day on the job. It was good because he, his crew and the sealers all got home safe.

After that rescue, Robison said he was pretty banged up. Getting hit by a wave almost the size of a four-storey building can do that.

He's not alone. Many Canadian Forces Search and Rescue Technicians (SAR techs) are getting injured on the job and it's putting a strain on the service.

More at http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/search-and-rescue-injuries-sar-techs-helicopters-1.4718469

 

[Retired and Broken]

It's interesting to see this getting some news. The problem is a lot worse than many realize. The trade literally has a 100% injury rate. The only questions are when, and how bad. Most guys/gals are flying with some sort of significant chronic injury and if they aren't now, they will be soon. But there is so much more to the dismal trade numbers than injuries....even if that is the 'official' reason SAR Techs are leaving. Injuries are the route out. Not the reason.

 

[Journeyman]

But there is so much more to the dismal trade numbers than injuries....even if that is the 'official' reason SAR Techs are leaving. Injuries are the route out. Not the reason.

Given the number of people reading, with an interest in SAR (to say nothing of 'tribal elders' who would benefit from knowing but maybe isolated by the chain of command), would you explain?


...if you can without self-incriminating.

 

[Retired and Broken]

Given the number of people reading, with an interest in SAR (to say nothing of 'tribal elders' who would benefit from knowing but maybe isolated by the chain of command), would you explain?


...if you can without self-incriminating.

Decided to delete my response for reasons I won't disclose.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

The tempo of training does not help, I was amazed back in the 90's just how many qualifications they had to maintain. We used to do dive training between 442 squadron and the CCG Hovercraft dive team.