The New Mexico Search and Rescue Council Announces Annual Search and Rescue Conference.
The New Mexico Search and Rescue Council (NMSARC) will be hosting ESCAPE (Emergency Services Annual Preparedness Event), its annual training event for search and rescue volunteers on May 4-6 at the Buffalo Thunder Resort, Spa, and Casino in Pojoaque, NM. Over 200 volunteers from throughout New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Texas, will be attending to train in all aspects of effective search and rescue. The three-day conference also has a trade show, featuring the latest in search and rescue gear, communications equipment, and performance clothing. The event boasts 33 qualified instructors teaching over 50 search and rescue related courses.
Friday’s training programs will include safety, gear, and clothing for search and rescue volunteers, presentations from the Civil Air Patrol, the use of horses in search and rescue, introduction to technical rescue, basic search and rescue radio communications, the use of search and rescue dogs, and search techniques. The NMSARC and Buffalo Thunder Resort will provide an excellent buffet lunch to all registered participants.
Saturday will open with the annual business meeting and board member elections followed by planned training exercises in map and compass techniques, high and low angle rescue, field trauma medical training, amateur HAM radio class and licensure, and canine and horse training, to list a few. The NMSARC and Buffalo Thunder Resort will once again provide a fabulous buffet lunch in addition to an extravagant dinner for registered participants and guests. Special guest of honor, Secretary Gorden E. Eden, Jr. will give the keynote address to the assembly that evening. The topic will be “Search and Rescue in the 21st Century – A Positive Move Forward.” Representative Rhonda S. King will receive a special award for her work and dedication to the New Mexico Search and Rescue Community.
Highlights in Sunday’s program are scheduled to include the field certification exam, testing your gps skills with a geo-cache dash, operating around helicopters, a technical rescue scenario, and a complete canine field exercise.
John Gallegos, ESCAPE Chair, says, “This is a unique event where dedicated search and rescue volunteers from all over the region meet to improve their skills and knowledge, network, see old friends and make new ones, and have a great time.” Search and rescue volunteers love what they do and are committed to supporting their communities. In total, there are approximately 1,500 volunteers on 65 non-profit SAR Teams in New Mexico. In 2011, the teams participated in 81 missions and rescued 110 subjects.
For a schedule of events and more information see the ESCAPE INFO website.
Contact: Eric Hjelmfelt, NMSARC President, at 505-603-8682 or visit www.NMSARC.org.
