Commander’s Corner
Summer is here, and suddenly at
that! It’s time to lighten up the pack so that we can carry more
water. As some of you already know, Jan and I are about to start
on a trip to Michigan to see our family. It’s been a year since
we’ve seen our son, daughter, four grandchildren, and our mothers.
That’s all the family I have left, and I need to spend some time
with them all. We will be leaving on May 26th and will
return in early July if all goes well. Meanwhile the Squad
business will be under the capable leadership of Vice Commander,
Dave Pirtle. I do have some regrets in leaving at this time. One
is that I won’t be here to hand John Boyles his 15 year service
certificate; that’s a milestone that not many achieve! We also
have 16 members who have completed a First Responder course and
will be receiving special patches at the June Meeting,
If the Forest doesn’t close and
there are no major fires, this could be a busy year for search and
rescue. We already are at a pace exceeding last year, but have not
had a major mission yet. The summer season kicks-off this weekend
(Memorial Day 3-day weekend) and a lot of our non-mountainous
neighbors from the South will be here to wander the forest, play
on the rocks and swim in the creeks and rivers. Be prepared!
One last item everyone needs to
know: on May 29th, Sgt. Hudgens’ wife, Retha, will be
undergoing some serious surgery. I urge all members to join me in
keeping them in our thoughts and prayers during this ordeal and
the associated recovery. Dave has promised to keep you all up to
date on this event in my absence.
See Y’all in July!
Jim
Don’t
forget; the meetings this month are Jun 10th for the
Board
and Jun 12th for the General Meeting.
John Boyles
15 years with Tonto Rim Search and Rescue Squad, Inc.
Although May was the
anniversary of Johnny’s entry into TRSAR, he certainly had plenty
of previous experience in the field. In Chugiak, Alaska he did his
tour as a firefighter and Chief where the Fire Department was in
charge of ground Search and Rescue, working with the Highway
Patrol and the Air Force. He was very active in the great Alaska
earthquake in 1964 as well as assisting where needed in multiple
other situations over many years. After moving to Arizona he was a
part of Metro Assist Posse in Maricopa County.
In 1984 he and Jane bought
property in Strawberry and started building a weekend retreat with
full time retirement in view for the future. When the house was
pretty much finished and he had more time on his hands, he joined
TRSAR in May 1988. At one time, he was part of Coconino County
Search and Rescue working with Val Pulaski and Jim Driscoll, the
Search and Rescue Coordinators. John helped instruct
tracking with a lot of the big multi agency training sessions
along with doing security patrol for Coconino Sheriff’s Department
in the wilderness subdivisions during active wild land fires.
John also serves on the Disaster Preparedness Team for the Pine
Strawberry area as the liaison for TRSAR.
His dedication, experience
and love of SAR have proven him to be a valuable asset not only in
the field but in administration and training. We are blessed to
have had a person of his depth and talent to assist and lead us
through many obstacles and challenges over the years. Johnny has
always been ready to offer his view of any particular situation
and in any case when he was out-voted, more than willing to go
along with the majority and keep the Squad functioning smoothly.
He has been a staunch supporter and advisor to the Commander,
always available to do whatever is necessary.
For those who might chide him
for being too out-spoken, consider that you always know where you
stand with Johnny. He is straight forward and honest, not driven
by hidden agendas nor talking out of both sides of his mouth. But
on the other hand, if he is unhappy with something or someone,
he’ll still support the mission of SAR and not let personal
differences impede that.
Let’s all put our hands
together for John E. Boyles, 510 (TR10 to the old-timers).
Thanks Johnny for all you do
and have done.
Legal issues in SAR
Jane
Boyles
Quoted from AZ Sheriff's
Search and Rescue Coordinators Academy Handbook.
There is an ever
growing concern over the issue of civil litigation involving the
response and actions of SAR agencies and resources under their
direction. Arizona Revised Statue 11-441b deals with Posse
Comitatus and states, the Sheriff MAY in the execution of his
duties command the aid of as many inhabitants of the county as the
Sheriff deems necessary.
The Arizona Division
of Emergency Management is responsible to the Governor for
supporting SAR operations of the State per ARS Title 26. The
division is responsible to coordinate activities to provide when
necessary- -All mission identifiers-official designation of a SAR
operation amongst others. With this identifier, the SAR
mission then falls under the Posse Comitatus designation and by
following the plan of action SAR units reduce the concern of
liability.
Because the Sheriff of
a county must by law make a response to a call for assistance in
the Search and Rescue efforts, the department and the responding
resources must be efficient in their operation. Efficient means we
are putting resources in the right area as far as our knowledge of
the situation at the time goes. Our actions then have to be
effective for we are searching the area assigned to us in the best
manner we know. This requires the resources to be
continually (along with the management team) evaluating our
efforts to determine that the things we are doing appear to be
working.
We must DO THE RIGHT
THINGS that are being effective, and DO THE RIGHT THINGS RIGHT. So
a couple of things to remember:
1. NEVER EXCEED YOUR
LEVEL OF TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE.
2. CAUSE NO HARM OR
INCREASE THE VICTIMS INJURY.
We reduce the concern
of liability by training. The State SAR academy, which is
MANDATORY, is an entry
level minimum course for SAR volunteers in Arizona. By using
standardized techniques in both field operations and management,
we become more efficient when we come together and work for that
common cause to save a life. This is the primary reason not
to use the general public, family and friends. They have no
training and no knowledge is known of their capabilities.
In summary of the
above you, the SAR participant, are trained by those with
authority or those who
are deemed more proficient and experienced in a particular field.
You are covered by the Good Samaritan Act as long as you do not
exceed your own personal level of knowledge and training. Final
decisions regarding your participation are always governed by the
sworn deputy (representing the Sheriff) on scene. Remember
they will always have access to
available medical
personnel or if deemed necessary a DPS helicopter on
standby or present, weather permitting. DPS Rangers also
have medical on board. Going about your business in a thorough,
calm and professional manner, doing what you are supposed to do,
will go a long way towards keeping you out of trouble. Be as
well trained as possible, continually taking refresher and updated
advanced training. Make sure your training activities are
known to the training officer and are documented on the training
logs. Holding a certificate will not make you an expert.
Your training needs to continue to be proficient. It is only
one step in the scheme of things that make you a valuable and
experienced team participant.
Remember the
principle that you should do no harm. Practice your skill as
carefully as possible and thus avoid the mistakes which create the
potential for liability. For the individual responder, the
dedication to serve others, to do what is right will be heightened
by being a member of the finest response group around. Take pride
in your accomplishments as a Search and Rescue member. THAT OTHERS
MAY LIVE.
Website
Check out our site at
www.trsar.org
LOCAL WEATHER
Courtesy of Bill Pitterle 566
http://wjpitterle.mystarband.net/weather/wx.htm
FOR SALE
Advertising in the newsletter is effective! Rick
Heffernon was so pleased with selling his Ford Explorer through
our publication last month that he has made a donation to the
Squad to help with newsletter costs.
Thanks Rick, for that and all that you have
contributed over the years.
From an ad for
the Al and Hank’s Franks Drive-In;
Buy one hot dog
for the price of two and receive a second hot dog absolutely free!
Parrots in the Pines
Looking for somewhere to go for a change of pace? The Landmark
Restaurant and Saloon
June 13th & 14th is holding a Jimmy Buffett
Celebration with live entertainers, Ray Cody and Mark Mulligan.
A
portion of the weekend proceeds are to benefit TRSAR.
Changes
We have ONE new member
this month!
Dion
Loyd of Payson. Dion works at Chapman
Auto Center and has already been in some
trainings and shows a serious interest in SAR.
A Senior Moment
Jane Boyles
BEING PREPARED
A recent call out brought to mind some of the
old-timer’s teachings; a subject down on Fossil Creek trail with a
possible broken leg. Now Fossil Creek trail has a difficult
route into the springs from what is called the Upper Trailhead.
It is steep, rough, loose shale in places and very little shade.
Similar to the Grand Canyon trails, it descends into a very hot
canyon. While the thought of cool springs in the shade at
the bottom is enticing, the four plus miles getting there can be a
long rough trip if you are over weight, out of shape or ill
prepared. The bottom trailhead leads from the Irving Power
Plant mostly along the APS flume road almost to the springs.
There is no shade along it and it too is four plus miles.
Most hikers coming from the valley forget about the altitude along
the treacherous route. In the early days of Search and
Rescue in this area, it became a well known fact that we were
going to search for a Boy Scout or rescue his heat-exhausted
leader often on a weekly basis.
While APS will unlock the gate to let a couple
vehicles drive up to the diversion dam for the haul out, the
rescue or sometimes search always starts at the Upper Trailhead.
Call outs will tell you to go to the Upper Trailhead as radio
communications can be done pretty effectively from there with the
addition of the five mile repeater. Many times these call
outs will extend or start in the nighttime hours. Then you
will not only deal with darkness, but heat or extreme cold.
Here is where the advice of the old timers comes in. You
can’t carry enough water. Going down is easy, but you have
to come back out. Long pants and good high top hiking shoes
are a must. Unless skinning your knees doesn’t embarrass you. Sun
screen is essential, loose clothing a forgone conclusion.
And yes, rattlesnakes do exist.
Remember the subject you are after will probably
be a 500 pound gorilla by the time you get him carried up to the
top or down and across the creek boulders to a waiting vehicle.
If it is a rescue, you can pretty much count on the Pine
Strawberry Fire Department being available for medical assist.
Then you will be expected to be litter bearers and moral
supporters. If you didn’t get to go on this last rescue,
this old timer’s advice would be to take a day and a friend and go
explore the canyon. It is beautiful, but do consider it
dangerous and treat it with respect. When you stop to look
around, remember the senior Tonto Rim guys and gals once decided
to be dropped off on the north rim and hike 11 miles back to the
Upper Trailhead just to see what they could see. And they
did it in one day.
Thanks to all who
contributed to this issue of the newsletter.
Please continue to
share for the enlightenment of all.
Mike
