Gallery: Alaskan search and rescue: The US Coast Guard, Sitka Mountain Rescue and Sitka Fire Department
Petty Officer 2nd Class Melissa McKenzie and colleagues document the US Coast Guard, Sitka Mountain Rescue and Sitka Fire Department on a week-long search and rescue exercise in Sitka, Alaska
US Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Denman, Sitka Mountain Rescue and Sitka Fire Department participated in a joint search and rescue exercise in Sitka, Alaska, earlier this year. The exercise took a week to complete, during which crews performed a series of mini scenarios that included looking for lost hunters and avalanche rescues. The exercise ended in a ‘mass-casualty eventʼ where all the agencies coordinated in a joint response to a simulated scene with 40 survivors in distress requiring assistance.
Alaska’s geography is unique and varied. Rural and remote, Alaska is the largest US state by area, and its wilderness presents manifold challenges for rescuers. Further, Alaska has an extensive coastline, mountains, forests, glaciers, and lakes and wetlands, all with their own distinct difficulties and nuances regarding hazards and approaches.
The appearance of US Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
October 2023
Issue
Inadvertent entry into instrument meteorological conditions is still cause of accidents; safety management systems are needed for safer operations; older fleets are harder to maintain and compete with newer models, so a choice has to be made between upgrades or replacement; the EU is responding to wildfires in member and neighboring states with rescEU; and helmets are for safety, but when they are heavy and unbalanced, they can cause problems; and we have all of our regular content on top to keep you engaged with the experts and operators in the special missions sector across the globe.
Jon Adams
Jon is the Editor of AirMed&Rescue. He was previously Editor for Clinical Medicine and Future Healthcare Journal at the Royal College of Physicians before coming to AirMed&Rescue in November 2022. His favorite helicopter is the Army Air Corps Lynx that he saw his father fly while growing up on Army bases.