603 INFORMER / WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
Search and Rescue Practice is what makes it possible STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARSHALL HUDSON
I
’m in the medical bay of a search and rescue helicopter hovering over Cannon Mountain. The pilot is doing an impressive job holding the Blackhawk in position as gusting winds bounce us around. The cargo doors are wide open and a rescued patient strapped in a litter basket is being hoisted off the ground and pulled in beside me. The patient is pale and unresponsive with a blank look on his face. From personal experience, I know how disconcerting the ride in the swinging basket up into the chopper can be. During the 1990-91 Gulf War, also known as Desert Storm, I succumbed to heat stroke and dehydration, and had my own ride in the litter basket up to a medevac chopper that whisked me off to a hospital. Looking at the patient we just pulled aboard, I am certain he won’t make it to the hospital.
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But this is only a training mission, and the “rescued patient” just winched off the ground is a crash-test dummy mannequin. Using a mannequin allows search and rescue personnel to practice loading their patient onto the helicopter without risking life or injury if something were to go wrong. Nothing goes wrong during today’s exercise, and the mannequin voices no objections or complaints about his rescue. About eight different search and rescue organizations totaling approximately 100 people are here today to practice or observe litter loading from a hovering helicopter cable drop. Many of the people here are volunteers who receive little or no monetary compensation for the hours spent in training or executing a rescue. In addition to volunteering their time, it is not unusual for them to also supply much of their own
A mannequin is hoisted to a Blackhawk rescue helicopter over Cannon Mountain.
gear and use of their personal vehicles. In some of the organizations, members must apply and qualify before being accepted as a volunteer. In addition to at least basic first aid knowledge, members must also have the physical fitness, mental toughness, tenacity and endurance traits necessary to carry out a rescue, along with a personality that fits with the rest of the team when all are working under stress. Also here today are about a dozen K9 search and rescue dogs being trained not to fear the noisy, whirring, hovering, strange machine kicking up gravel at them. Veteran dogs happily hop on board the helicopter ready to be airlifted to a remote area where they will begin their searching efforts. Novice dogs bolt in the opposite direction or lock up all four legs, expressing an “I ain’t going near that thing” attitude. New Hampshire Fish and Game is the state agency responsible for coordinating and conducting search and rescue missions throughout New Hampshire, and they are assisted by the many professionals and
