BURSTA hunter suffering from a serious leg injury in the mountains northeast of Kitimat was airlifted to safety after a joint response involving Kitimat Ground Search and Rescue, Kitimat Fire Department and BC Ambulance Service.
KSAR was tasked by BC Ambulance Service at 2 p.m. on Sept. 3. Eight search and rescue members and two paramedics responded. Three KSAR members and the paramedics were flown by helicopter to the scene, where they reached the injured hunter, provided treatment and prepared the patient for evacuation.
The hunter was then flown from the mountain to the Kitimat Airpark command centre, arriving shortly before 5 p.m., before being transported to Kitimat General Hospital for further treatment. The search and rescue task was stood down by 7 p.m.
Search manager Kelly Marsh described the response as a successful example of a joint unified command involving search and rescue and the fire department. The two organizations operate under different protocols, requiring responders to co-ordinate the operation while following the rules governing their respective agencies.
Marsh said responders received advance notice of the incident before the formal tasking.
“That allowed us to make some of the big decisions early so we could have a faster response time,” Marsh said.
He declined to provide further details about the injured hunter, citing privacy concerns.
The rescue came during what has already been a busier-than-usual year for KSAR. Marsh said the organization typically responds to six or seven calls annually but has handled nine tasks so far this year.
Fall is generally its busiest period, with calls involving river users, hunters and mushroom pickers. Marsh said he is not yet concerned the increase represents a longer-term trend.
“Hopefully we don’t get any more, but if we do, we’re ready,” Marsh said.
Marsh also cautioned backcountry users who rely on satellite-enabled smartphones for emergency communication to confirm their service is active before heading out. Rogers initially offered its satellite-to-mobile service through a free beta before moving most users to paid plans, while Bell and Telus are at different stages of testing and developing their own direct-to-device satellite services. Some smartphones also provide separate satellite emergency features through the device manufacturer.
“It’s definitely worth revisiting that if it’s your means of contacting people when you’re in the backcountry,” Marsh said.
Marsh urged backcountry users to prepare for the possibility of an unexpected overnight stay, even on day trips, by carrying extra clothing, food, water, a fire starter, a reliable communication device and a signalling device. He said helicopter resources are generally unavailable overnight, except in exceptional circumstances when a Cormorant search and rescue helicopter from Comox may be called.
For the Sept. 3 operation, KSAR acknowledged the assistance of Kitimat Fire Department, BC Ambulance Service and Quantum Helicopters in coordinating the rescue and transporting responders to and from the scene.