BURSTLocal search and rescue teams are hailing coordination as a key to successful aid with the latest rescue off Chin Beach on the Juan de Fuca Trail.
Juan de Fuca Search and Rescue was called out Monday (Sept. 1) to help an 18-year-old hiker who had sustained a head injury.
With support from Shirley Fire, North Shore Rescue, Talon Helicopters, and BC Emergency Health Services, the team safely extricated the injured hiker.
“Juan de Fuca SAR responded alongside local fire rescue resources and a flight team, including an ER physician,” North Shore Rescue said in an online update.
In what North Shore Rescue called a “great example of coordinated response and teamwork across agencies,” the team flew into the area and landed on the beach. Working together, the responding teams safely transferred the patient onto the helicopter. The hiker was transported to a nearby landing zone, where she was handed over to BC EHS.
“Thank you to all agencies involved for the quick, coordinated response,” Juan de Fuca SAR said in an online update. “Hoping the hiker is home resting and has a speedy recovery.”
Despite the late-night helicopter interruption, other trail users took the time to voice thanks after the rescue. “The low pass shook my tent at Mystic Beach last night, one commenter wrote on the Juan de Fuca post. “Thank you for keeping us safe when things go wrong out there.”
Things can go awry out in nature—the Sunday night rescue was the third rescue reported by the local SAR teams in over a handful of days.
The Juan de Fuca SAR team tackled a portion of the trail with the same name near Botanical Beach to help a hiker Aug. 27. The team was called out Aug. 30 to rescue a hiker with a lower-leg injury, and her two dogs too.
The No. 1 reason for search and rescue in B.C. is injury, particularly to the lower body, caused by slips, trips, and falls. It’s a reminder that even common activities on familiar terrain can quickly turn serious without proper preparation, according to BC Search and Rescue Association data.
They remind hikers to take along the 10 essentials: flashlight, fire-making kit, signalling device such as whistle, extra food and water, extra clothing, navigation aids, first aid kit, emergency shelter, tools such as a pocket knife and sun protection.
The BC Search and Rescue Association represents the 3,200 volunteers in B.C. who make up 78 teams across the province and respond to about 1,960 incidents each year. Teams across the province regularly promote safety by sending people to check out the myriad tips online at adventuresmart.ca. It offers checklists, a trip planning app and safety webinars.
About the Author: Christine van Reeuwyk
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