LVMPDSAR

North Loop Trail Rescue

2012-02-22T08:15:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, February 21 at approximately 1200 hours, LVMPDSAR received reports of a man who had gone snowshoeing up the south loop trail and decided to try to short cut the north loop trail until he ended up on the cliff bands below the ridge.

Two pilots and three Officers flew in the Huey to the area and located the uninjured victim at 1245.

One Officer was lowered via hoist to the ground where he was able to prepare the victim in the Bauman Screamer Suit for the hoist into the helicopter.

Once placed in the suit, the Victim and Officer were hoisted into the Huey where both were secured inside the aircraft. The Victim was then flown to a landing zone where U.S. Forestry and LVMPD Resident officers were waiting.

The victim was located within the vicinity of N 36 16.825, W 115 41.187 at 9600 feet

Two Person Lowers & Two Rescues

2012-02-21T09:11:00.001-08:00

Last weekend, our Air Unit and Mountain Rescue volunteers worked together to conduct a training session on the ridgeline of Calico 1 at Red Rock. The volunteers were split into 3 teams and were placed in separate locations. Each team worked on various raising and lowering techniques with both one-person and two-person loads.

Splitting the Unit into 3 separate teams does a couple of things. It gives our team the ability to work in a tight-knit group and it allows everyone to practice working at each station. As you know, it takes multiple people to conduct a rescue, so we strive to emulate real-world scenarios in our training sessions.

As the Unit was conducting its training session, the Sergeant received information on reports of a fallen climber in Calico II. Since the team was so close, the helicopter picked up two rescuers from Calico I and headed to the area of the fallen climber. After finding her and assessing the situation, it was determined that her injuries were minor. Fire crews completed the assessment and treatment as rescuers left the scene.

As Mountain Rescue volunteers left Sunday's training session, a second call came in from dispatch. This time it was reports of a hiker who had attempted to find a short cut down the mountain. He was attempting to get back to his car as the sun was setting, but instead of finding a short cut, he ended up stranded on a cliff face without a way of going up or down. A team of volunteers were flown about 70 feet above the hiker where they set up technical systems and lowered a rescuer to the ledge where the hiker had cliffed out. The rescuer placed a harness on the victim and the rest of the team raised both the rescuer and the hiker to a LZ where the hiker was flown out. No injuries were reported.

If you'd like to see what a one-skid helicopter pick up looks like, we've uploaded two new videos. Same pick-up, different vantage point. Enjoy!

New Items For Sale!

2012-02-17T23:46:00.000-08:00

We have a bunch of new inventory available and ready for purchase! Head to our store and check out new t-shirt designs for both men and women along with a new sweatshirt design!

Don't forget that all proceeds collected from online sales benefit our volunteers. We can't thank you enough for all of your support!

Mountain Rescue in a Minute

2012-02-09T09:28:00.000-08:00

Litter Operations & The International Sportsmen's Exposition

2012-01-30T07:47:00.000-08:00

This month's Mountain Rescue training was conducted at Red Rock and the focus was litter operations. It was the team's first big training session of the year, so it was time to shake out the cobwebs and get back to work. For the entire day, team members rotated through the numerous stations that it takes to conduct a mission. Main line, belay line, haul team, edge person, litter attendant, victim, etc. Volunteers rotated after every evolution, which meant that everyone had their hands on each station at least twice throughout the day.

Days like these are always fun. It gets the team working together. Skills are refreshed and so is team comaraderie.

Here's a shot of the entire team at work. The haul team can be seen on the far left with the main and belay stations located in the middle. To the right, the litter attendant is working his way over the edge transition with the help of edge people. Conducting technical rescue missions is no small feat!

Volunteers are securing a mock victim into the litter and attaching both the main and belay lines to the litter. Before the victim is sent over the edge, a safety officer runs through everything to ensure that everything is attached correctly.

Belay station attendant ready to start the operation.

Members of the Mountain Rescue Unit will be manning a booth at the International Sportsmen's Exposition this Thursday through Sunday. The Expo is being held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, which is located at 3150 Paradise Dr. Come down and say hello!

It's $12 to get into the Expo (free for children and military), however, here's a link to receive $2 off of the ticket price. Use the promo code BLACKDOG when purchasing tickets here.

We look forward to seeing you this weekend!

Not Enough Info!

2012-01-18T08:40:00.000-08:00

We do our best to keep this website updated with the latest and greatest at least once a week. However, sometimes we get really busy and convenience trumps a blog post.

Not to worry - we'll continue to post information here, but we thought that we'd clue everyone in on alternative sources of information.

If you're on twitter, follow us! If you're on facebook, like us! We tend to send out small bits of information that not only pertain to our activity, but the Search and Rescue community as a whole.

This information should have you doing a snow dance in no time. We sure are!

We Fly at Night

2012-01-14T11:41:00.000-08:00

Did you know that we are one of the very few teams that will conduct night-time rescue missions? Not only are our Officers and Volunteers ready to roll 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but so are our Pilots. We're able to support these types of missions because of the countless hours of training and dedication that it takes to make it happen.

In the last couple of weeks, we've responded to a handful of rescue missions that have occurred at night. From a woman falling 30 feet to a pair of climbers with their ropes stuck on a multi-pitch climb, we've been on scene. Most of these rescue missions have occurred while the sun was down.

Although we're trained to respond at night, we encourage everyone to be prepared while they enjoy the outdoors. There are instances where we're unable to respond in the dark for reasons like terrain challenges or bad weather. For that reason, get outside and enjoy this gorgeous weather, but take enough food, water, and clothing to spend the night in the outdoors in a worst case scenario.

2011 Year in Pictures

2011-12-27T07:54:00.000-08:00

Ice climbing and winter training in Ouray, Colorado:

Mission prep at Red Rock:

Arizona Vortex in action at Red Rock:

2011 Mountain Rescue Basic's Class:

Stranded Hiker Rescue at Mt. Charleston:

Technical Operations at Red Rock:

Avalanche training Mt. Charleston:

Team extraction at Red Rock:

Red Rock Mission:

Short Haul Training:

Fastrope Training:

Dive team at Lake Mead:

Black Velvet Rescue:

Air Support and Mountain Rescue featured in the Las Vegas Weekly and the Las Vegas Sun:

(http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/dec/20/wild-real-life-heroes-search-and-rescue/)

In the News - Las Vegas Weekly

2011-12-15T07:19:00.000-08:00

Photo courtesy of Las Vegas Weekly

Our Unit is featured in this week's Las Vegas Weekly. Thank you to Erin Ryan, the writer of this story. She spent countless hours with our team and was even fortunate enough to go on a rescue with us (timing is everything).

Pick up your copy today!

Helicopter Crash at Lake Mead

2011-12-08T06:36:00.000-08:00

Last night, all SAR officers responded to Lake Mead after receiving reports of a helicopter crash. The Air Unit fired up the Huey along with one of the smaller Bell's to respond. Although LVMPDSAR reached the scene of the crash within 45 minutes of receiving the call, Officers confirmed that all 5 passengers had died shortly after arriving to the scene.

One of the many news stories can be found here.

LVMPDSAR sends its condolences to all affected by the crash.

Lost Hiker at Mt. Charleston

2011-12-04T14:07:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday, Mountain Rescue volunteers were called upon to help with the search of a lost hiker at Mt. Charleston. The hiker had ventured to the area with his dog on Wednesday with the intent of spending the night and heading back home on Thursday. However, on Thursday morning, he woke to a large accumulation of snow that had fallen during the night. Because of the storms that had rolled in and a large amount of snowfall, the hiker was unable to find the trail and chose to call for help.

In this case, it wasn't a cell phone that helped the hiker. He was carrying a device that not only communicated a gps location, but also had the ability to send messages. On Thursday, he sent his first message asking for help.

As volunteers and officer headed to the area on Thursday afternoon, they were met with very extreme weather conditions, including high winds and heavy amounts of snow. The team was unable to utilize the Unit's helicopters as a result and resorted to a plan to hike in by foot.

Just as the sun began to set, the hiker sent out a message saying that he was ok and that he and his dog were prepared to spend another night on the mountain seeing as though they had the appropriate gear to do so. Instead of sending rescue teams out in the precarious environment, it was decided that rescue operations would cease for the day and resume on Friday.

On Friday, LVMPDSAR was able to locate the stranded hiker and extract both he and his dog by helicopter. The hiker was met by his family at the SAR hangar. No injuries were reported.

Rescue teams were able to access the trail head by vehicle, but the extreme weather conditions prevented the team from accessing the hiker by helicopter.

Volunteers and officers searching for the hiker on foot.

Busy Thanksgiving Weekend

2011-11-28T20:52:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving weekend is a very busy time of year for places like Red Rock Canyon, Mt. Charleston, Lake Mead, and other surrounding outdoor recreational areas. The more people that head outdoors to enjoy the 70 degree weather, the higher the potential is for rescues. This year was no exception as SAR Officers and Mountain Rescue volunteers participated in back-to-back (and sometimes simultaneous) rescues that spanned the entire Holiday weekend.

Over the course of the weekend, Rescuers responded to an ATV crash, a climber who had fallen 30 feet, and a hiker who had broken their leg. All victims were treated at the scene, extracted from their location, and delivered to waiting ambulances. Although each of these rescues were significant, the highlights of the weekend went to a 1,000ft technical rescue in Black Velvet Canyon and the rescue of 7 teenagers from rising waters near Goldstrike Canyon.

Black Velvet - Dream of Wild Turkeys Technical Rescue

On Sunday morning, November 27, at 0700 hours, we began a continuation of a rescue attempt from the previous night in Black Velvet Canyon where two females became stuck between the top of the 3rd pitch and above the 2nd pitch on Dream of Wild Turkeys (5.10a). They were located approximately 500 feet off of the valley floor and were stranded because their rope had lodged itself in a crack, making it unusable.

Pilots, Officers, and MR Volunteers attempted to access the victims on Saturday night, but due to winds, terrain, and other factors, the decision to leave them on a ledge/crack was ultimately made in order to complete the rescue in a safer and more efficient manner on Sunday. Before leaving for the night, one Officer was dropped off at the base of the cliff where voice contact was made with the climbers. It was confirmed that they were prepared to spend the remainder of the night in their current location.

On Sunday morning, Offers and Volunteers met at the parking lot located near Black Velvet where one SAR pilot met them with the Bell 500. At 0700, the team, along with gear, were flown to an area that was approximately 500 feet above the females. The ledge that the team worked from was the closest location to land since the wall was mostly vertical. A second team was placed at the base of the canyon to act as spotters and help the rescuer reach the climbers.

Once technical systems were set up, one rescuer was lowered to the females. Upon arrival, the rescuer assessed each climber and determined that both were medically sound. The rescuer was then lowered to the location of the rope. He was unable to free the rope, but was able to cut it in such a manner that a portion of it could still be used. The rescuer was then raised back to the climbers where he helped them rappell back down to the valley floor. As the climbers moved from one belay station to the next, the rescuer was lowered alongside each of them. Once all members had reached the ground, the officer and 2 climbers hiked out of the canyon.

Sauna Cave - Goldstrike Canyon Huey Extraction

On Sunday, November 27th at approximately 1830 hours, a call came in regarding 7 teenagers that were north of Gold Strike Canyon in Sauna Cave.

They were able to walk to the cave prior to the dam releasing water causing the river to rise and cover the area that they had walked.

After the water subsided, it was too dark for them to feel comfortable to walk back. Aside from being scared, one of the girls had fallen in the river and became cold causing her to not want to walk back.

One Officer and one volunteer flew from the hangar in the Huey. On their way to Goldstrike, they landed and picked up one Officer in Boulder City since it was faster for him to drive there than back to the hangar.

Once the rescue crew was on board, they flew to the Colorado River near the mouth of Gold Strike canyon using Night Vision Goggles (NVGs). The victims were located by flashlights that they had turned on.

Crews landed 100 yards downriver from them on a sandbar where one Officer and one volunteer were dropped off. After making their way to the victims and insuring that no one was injured, an extraction plan was put in place. The first group contained 4 victims while the second group consisted of 3. Although some of the members complained of being cold, all 7 victims were uninjured and safely extracted from the area.

Rescue crews weren't able to capture pictures on all of the rescues, but were able to snap some shots of the 1,000 ft. Black Velvet rescue.

This picture was taken from the ledge that the team worked from. The rescuer was lowered from this location to the stranded climbers.

The LZ for this rescue was very tight. Our Chief Pilot successfully deposited and extracted rescuers and gear from this location. The Officer seen in this photo is guiding the pilot into a one-skid landing.

This is a view of the edge. The volunteer in this photo was the edge-person who was responsible for all communication between the rescuer and system operation team.

This is a snapshot from the edge-person's point of view looking up towards technical operations. The team managing the main-line can be seen here. The team managing belay are located on the left side of the picture, just out of sight.

Four volunteers and two officers managed technical operations above the stranded hikers. Here's the team in all of their glory. The team was happy knowing that the climbers could be safely extracted, were able to survive the chilly evening on the rock, and walked away with no injuries.

3 Stranded Hikers and an Injured Ankle

2011-11-20T18:56:00.000-08:00

Every year, the Mountain Rescue Volunteers undergo two tests. The first test insures that each member is sufficient in their technical rigging skills while the second is a physical test that measures each member's level of fitness. Our goal is to be the best that we can be and these tests serve as an internal check and balance system that measures whether or not we're on our game.

This year, the team conducted these tests at Red Rock. Normally our annual tests are predictable, however, this year proved to be a little different.

Just as half of the team finished with the skills portion of the test, a call came in with a report of 3 hikers who were stranded near the peak of Mt. Charleston. One of the hikers had fallen and severely injured their ankle. As the details came in, two pilots from the Air Unit quickly flew the Huey to Red Rock to pick up one officer and two volunteers to respond to the call.

The first attempt to reach the stranded hikers proved to be extremely challenging. Not only were they located at a high elevation, but they were in a spot that saw extremely windy conditions. After several attempts, the winds prevailed and the initial attempt to reach the group was postponed in hopes of improved weather. As the Huey flew the officer and volunteers back to Red Rock, it was determined that the entire team would potentially be needed to hike to the stranded hikers.

As the Huey landed at Red Rock, the Mountain Rescue team assembled and caravanned to Mt. Charleston. It was also determined that the 500, our smaller helicopter, may be more effective in the extreme weather conditions. Although the 3 hikers had cell phone reception and had communicated that they were preparing to spend the night, the goal of the rescue team was to get them off of the mountain before sundown.

After an approximate 2 hour delay, the 500 was able to successfully land close to the hikers, dropping off an officer to help. In the end, 3 hikers and one dog were extracted from the mountain with the only injury being an injured ankle. All of this was successfully accomplished before the sun set and temperatures plummeted near the peak of Mt. Charleston.

Here's the view of the trail as volunteers hiked White Rock Loop in full rescue gear.

A volunteer going through the skills test.

And the next thing you know, a call comes in. This is a photo of the first group en route to Mt. Charleston in the Huey. Erin, a Las Vegas Weekly reporter, came out to do a story on our Unit. Her timing couldn't have been better as she rode along in the Huey to get a glimpse of what we do first-hand.

The 500 at Mt. Charleston just before take off.

Mountain Rescue volunteers in full gear, ready to respond.

It goes to show that there's never a dull moment!

Dive Team in Action

2011-11-01T17:30:00.000-07:00

I guess it's a little more difficult to take pictures while diving, which explains why we don't post very many photos of our dive team in action. Our dive team is a small group of dedicated divers that train once a month and have extensive experience. This group is also on-call 24/7 and responds to various types of missions in support of rescue, recovery, and crime scene investigation activity.

Here are some pictures from a recent training session at Lake Mead. Enjoy!

Annual Short Haul & Fastrope Certification

2011-10-23T20:37:00.000-07:00

Each year, LVMPDSAR's pilots, officers, and MR volunteers either certify or re-certify for short haul and fastrope operations. This is a big training day for the Unit because of the teamwork and coordination that it takes to keep everyone trained.

Here's a picture of a tandem shorthaul:

And here's what it looks like in real time. This is a video of a volunteer being short hauled with a litter:

At the conclusion of the training session, all participants are certified to either fly or be involved in short haul and fastrope missions that are conducted by the Unit throughout the year.

Photos of the event can be found by visiting our Flickr page. Enjoy!

T-Shirt and a Tour Giveaway

2011-10-20T13:35:00.000-07:00

We have great news! We're going to be giving away a LVMPDSAR t-shirt and a tour of our hangar to five lucky recipients!

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for the giveaway, two things need to happen:

You must 'Like' our page on Facebook.
We must have at least 1,000 'Likes' by the end of the year.

What are the Details?

If #1 and #2 are met by 12:00am on January 1, 2012, we will randomly select 5 individuals from the pool of people who 'Like' us on Facebook as recipients.

What do you get?

Each recipient will receive one LVMPDSAR t-shirt and an invite to attend an exclusive tour of our hangar.

How will you be notified?

Recipients will be notified via a private message in Facebook no later than January 15, 2012.

How do you enter?

All that you have to do is log into your Facebook account, head to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Search and Rescue page, and click on the 'Like' button! Here's the link just in case you've never visited us before:

https://www.facebook.com/LVMPDSAR

Remember, we must have 1,000 Likes by the end of the year, so after you've clicked on the Like button, spread the word!

Thank you so much for your continued support!

Basic's Class 2011

2011-10-10T12:38:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year, we opened recruitment for our Mountain Rescue Unit and as our mid-July cut-off date approached, we had received over 120 interest forms. After hosting an orientation, physical fitness test, and in-person interviews, we chose 12 people to attend this year's Basic's class. This month, our Basic's Class members will go through rigorous training and testing with the ultimate hope of being selected as a volunteer.Here's the new group at work at Red Rock:

This year's class ends in November. If you notice a group of people in yellow rescue shirts out on the rock, you'll know that it's us!

Training, Training, and more Training!

2011-09-30T11:58:00.000-07:00

We've been awfully quiet lately and I'm sure that everyone is wondering why.

Remember the fundraiser that we held earlier this Summer? Those funds, along with funds that are so graciously given to us throughout the year, have been put to really good use in recent weeks. Our Unit conducts in-house training, however, it's always great to consider a new perspective every so often. In an effort to expand our technical knowledge of rescue operations, our Unit brought in an agency called Rigging for Rescue, who visited us here in Las Vegas and managed a 4-day seminar specifically tailored to the needs of our team.

Here are some pictures of the team learning new techniques:

And hey, if anchors aren't available, you can always build your own!

Not only was the seminar fun, but all volunteer participants will definitely agree that new knowledge is invaluable. We couldn't have done it without the support from all of you, so thank you!

Overton, Red Rock, and a Reprieve from the Heat

2011-08-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

When it comes to rescues, it's impossible to predict what's going to happen or where we'll end up next. Last week, we responded to Overton and Red Rock Canyon for separate missions. One involved an ATV crash and the other was a response to a stranded climber.

August 17th - ATV crash in Overton

Bureau of Land Management Officers were out conducting a cattle survey in the Area Northeast of Overton Beach. They conducted this survey using 4- wheeler ATV's and started around 1230 in the afternoon.

They came to an area where they had to drive up a wash area that went up approximately 60-70 feet. The first Officer made it to the top on the initial attempt. The second Officer followed suit and became stuck. After backing up and making several more attempts to make it up the hill, his wheel came off the ground and he lost balance. Unable to get off of the 4 wheeler, it rolled with the Officer several times down the hill stopping close to the bottom where it wedged against 2 scrub trees.

The Officer was wearing riding gear and a helmet, both legs were trapped underneath the 4 wheeler and he was face down. The first Officer was unable to lift the quad off his partner's legs, so he drove his quad to an area where he was able to get cell phone service and called for help. This area took approximately 1.5 hours to get to.

While his partner was getting help, the trapped Officer was able to deflate a tire and push with his freed leg to pull the other leg out.

Both subjects had run out of water, and per the details that were stated by the Officers, both were dehydrated, and one was hyperthermic.

Upon our arrival we had the first Officer go to Air 6 to be evalulated/hydrated. Our Unit helped to treat the injured atv patient who had visible minor burns on his right leg, no loss of conscious, pain to right ankle and pain in upper right quadrant and lower left quadrant. He was placed in a c-collar, back boarded, and his ankle was splinted. Some anti-nasuea medicine and water was also orally administered.

Due to the terrain, the injured Officer was hoisted approximately 60 feet into air 6. Both victims were flown to staged medical. The injured Officer was transported by mercy air to UMC, and the other Officer was transported to UMC by ground ambulance.

August 18th - Stranded Climber at Red Rock

At 1700 hours, two Officers and two Pilots were dispatched to the Calico 2 area of Red Rock Canyon referencing 3 hikers. One who was stuck on a ledge and unable to move for fear of falling 90 feet.

Upon arrival, Officers could see the 18 year old male victim in distress on a down sloping portion of a formation near the top of calico 2. One Officer was hoisted approximately 80 feet to a safe area above the victim. The victim was on a foot-wide area on a down sloping ledge that went vertical where he was located. He stated that he "couldn't feel his leg and he was going to fall." He was unable to move up or down from his position, but had wedged himself and had decent contact with the rock.

The Officer used his 30 foot 8mil rope, attached it to the victim harness and talked him through putting it on around his waist and one leg. After being secured, the Officer anchored himself and encouraged the victim to work his way toward him. Once in a safe spot, he was hoisted out and handed off to BLM and Metro Resident Officers. Air 6 then returned to collect the remaining two victims and Officer.

The victims stated they had began hiking around 2 pm, they started at sandstone and were unfamiliar with the area, ending up above calico 2 area. They said the stranded hiker had deviated from the others and had become stuck trying to work down to them.

Other than a couple of rescues here and there, we've made an attempt to take a reprieve from the heat by practicing some of our skills indoors rather than outside. In this picture, we're practicing knot passes on rappel and ascent with the help of our 6 ton crane and portable stairs.

Here's a shot of our Huey's at rest, but ready for rescue response.

Stay safe and hydrated!

Cold Creek and Mary Jane Falls Rescues

2011-08-11T11:34:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, August 7, two Officers responded to two different rescues:

The first rescue was a search for a man who was supposed to be hiking in Cold Creek. Trails were searched, including Wheeler Pass without locating the man. After flying the area and feeling confident that we did not miss him, we cleared from the call pending further information and investigation by ground units. The man later turned up somewhere in town.

The second rescue of the day was at Mary Jane Falls. A 10 year old boy had fallen 12 feet and sustained a back injury. As a result of the accident, he was unable to walk.

A rescue pilot flew one officer to the scene while the second officer drove to the Mary Jane Falls trailhead.

The helicopter was able to perform a two-skid toe-in at the base of the falls and the Offcer was able to get out and begin to treat the victim. Once the second Officer arrived, he was flown to the same location along with the litter and backboard.

Nevada Division of Forestry firefighters arrived and assisted the two Officers with placing the boy on the Miller Board and into the litter. The boy was then carried back to the LZ where the helicopter was able to land and pick them up. One officer flew with the victim to the trailhead parking lot and passed the victim off to AMR for transport to UMC trauma.

The helicopter then returned to pick up the second Officer.

First Online Fundraiser

2011-08-01T12:58:00.000-07:00

Last month, we conducted our very first online fundraiser, aimed at raising funds for the volunteers that help support this Unit. Much of the equipment that is used to conduct rescue missions are purchased by the volunteers themselves. Money donated by members of the Community help to subsidize the cost of this equipment. As you can imagine, each volunteer is beyond thankful for every contribution that is made.

Total raised = $1,225

We'd like to thank the following donors:

Michael Perkins
Beebe Clark
Jeremy Wallace
John McConvill
Nicholas Canepa
Erin Pavlina
Danielle C.
Philip McKay
Thomas Lawlor
Justin Stafford
Jacqueline Wetzel
Matt and Stacy Waltz
Jerry and Linda Richardson
The Bluth Family
Erik Sandhu
The Richardson/Davis Family
Cheryl Tritley
Angie Paul
Andy Wallace
Amy Ling
Alan Pritchard
Wet Rat Consult
Patrick McCarrick

Thank you again for your kind contributions and support!

Show Your Support!

2011-07-30T08:50:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday afternoon, seven Mountain Rescue volunteers dropped everything that they were doing and headed to Mt. Charleston in response to reports of a fallen climber. It was early afternoon, so many left work. Others gave up their day off. Each volunteer climbed into their personal vehicle and used their own gear to drive to Mt. Charleston, hike to the location of the fallen climber, and help with the recovery. Nearly 6 hours later, each volunteer headed back down the mountain, back to their normal lives. This type of scenario selflessly occurs numerous times throughout the year.

These are the people that you'll be supporting when you make a tax-deductible donation. Our July fundraiser is wrapping up, so make a donation today to help subsidize the out-of-pocket expenses that are incurred by our volunteers. Every little bit helps!

Fallen Hiker at Mt. Charleston

2011-07-29T07:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning, SAR units were dispatched to an area above the Big Falls trail at Mt. Charleston in response to reports of three stranded hikers, one of which had fallen 70 feet. Two officers were initially flown in by Huey where they located one of the stranded hikers. While rescuing the hiker, they learned that one of the hikers was able to return to the parking lot on their own while the other hiker had fallen off of the cliff face in front of them after a branch that he had been hanging onto broke.

While conducting the rescue for the stranded hiker, winds in the canyon began to increase, making it difficult to use the helicopter. As a result, Mountain Rescue volunteers were called to the area to help with the hiker who had fallen.

Seven volunteers responded and joined one officer in hiking to the base of the cliff, just behind Mt. Charleston Fire Department personnel. The two officers who had helped to rescue the stranded hiker began making their way down the cliff face. The fallen hiker's body was initially discovered by fire personnel. Rescue teams estimate the actual fall to be upwards of 150 feet.

Trail to Big Falls - Hiking in

LVMPDSAR officers documented the scene and volunteers helped to extricate the fallen hiker. Because of the remote location, the body was lowered approximately 400 feet in the direction of the hiking trail that leads to Big Falls. By this time, winds had died down, so the 500 was called in to short haul the fallen hiker and rescue personnel out of the canyon.

Waiting for the 500 to arrive

500 coming in to short haul

LVMPDSAR sends its deepest condolences to family and friends of the fallen hiker.

Several local news agencies reported on the story:

GPS vs. LightSquared

2011-07-26T13:40:00.000-07:00

There's been lots of talk in the news lately about a new company called LightSquared, a business based out of Virginia that is planning on building the next open wireless broadband network. This new network will utilize satellites to provide 4G-LTE coverage to millions of broadband Users.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) also uses signals from satellites, along with algorithms, to determine location. GPS functionality has become commonplace for many people around the globe, including automobile and aviation navigation for drivers and pilots, smartphone users, hikers, and military personnel.

Why is there so much concern about the intent of this new company and current GPS technology?

According to PNT (Positioning, Navigation, Timing), LightSquared plans on transmitting signals "immediately adjacent to GPS frequencies". Because LightSquared's transmissions originate from the ground, the concern is that their signals will over-power GPS signals, which originate from space. Although LightSquared and GPS signals will travel on separate frequencies, it is believed that units will favor LightSquared signals over GPS signals because of frequency proximity and strength. This means that all electronics that currently contain GPS components and functionality have the potential to be compromised by LightSquared's signals.

Because this is new technology, LightSquared must achieve FCC approval before their network goes live.

If this is a debate that you're interested in chiming in on, there are a couple of days left to express your concerns and/or opinion. The FCC established a comment deadline of July 30, 2011. Check out the Public Notice for more information.

Either way, it's fun to learn how that little GPS unit that you depend on so much actually works!

Fundraiser and Feature Story

2011-07-25T07:41:00.000-07:00

Thanks to your overwhelming generosity, our July fundraiser has been a huge success! Because of the numerous donations that we've received, we upped our original goal from $1,000 to $2,000. As of this morning, we're at $1,105, so help us spread the word. We've got 6 days left to achieve our new goal! Our volunteers go out of pocket to purchase a majority of the equipment that's used for training and rescue missions. Your donations help to offset these costs and we couldn't be more thankful for all of the contributions that have been made. Visit our fundraising site to make a donation or click on the Donate button on this page!

Yesterday, Mountain Rescue volunteers were at Mt. Charleston conducting a training session to help hone the team's search skills. The scenario was a missing 14 year old girl who left her campsite after arguing with her parents. MR volunteers worked with Air Support and other agencies to find the girl, who had wandered from the Meadows area down one of the nearby canyons. After finding the girl, volunteers treated injuries and the Air Unit helped to extracted the patient by helicopter. Fox 5 News was on site and captured the following story:

Volunteers participate in 24 training sessions per year that total about 145. Volunteers are also on call 24/7 and respond to rescues in various areas of Southern Nevada. Community involvement is very important to us and we appreciate all of the support that we receive!

Knee Injury at Mt. Charleston

2011-07-17T20:09:00.000-07:00

Today, one Mountain Rescue Volunteer and two Officers responded to the Little Falls trail at Mt. Charleston. Initial reports indicated that a 39 year-old female hiker had injured her ankle and knee while hiking the trail.

Upon arrival, Fire and Ambulance Units had responded to the scene and reached the patient. In order to extract the patient, one Officer was lowered by hoist along with a litter. The Officer, along with Fire personnel, splinted the patient's knee and carried the patient about 200 yards down the trail in order to prepare for extraction. The patient was hoisted out of the canyon along with the Officer. The patient was delivered to a waiting ambulance who transported the patient to the hospital.

Fastrope Exercise

2011-07-12T15:51:00.000-07:00

Here's a video of a fastrope exercise conducted during one of our training sessions. All Officers and Mountain Rescue Volunteers are required to be certified each year.

Flash Flood Awareness Month

2011-07-11T07:52:00.000-07:00

According to the City of Las Vegas, July is Flash Flood Awareness Month. As Monsoon season rolls in, the City wants to remind its residents of the following:

Stay tuned to local weather broadcasts during severe weather. A flash flood watch means that a flash flood is possible in a particular area. A flash flood warning means that flash flooding is already occurring or will occur in a particular area.
If you suspect a flash flood is about to happen, immediately climb to higher ground.
If on foot, do not attempt to walk through floodwaters. Turn around and go directly to higher ground.
Never let children or pets play near floodwaters, storm drains, washes and sewers.
If you are in a car, drive away from flooded areas -- never try to drive through them. Even though vehicles in front of you have passed through the high water, you may not be so lucky. Plan alternate routes to get to and from your destination. Only a few inches of floodwater can wash your car off the road.
If your car stalls, immediately abandon it and climb to higher ground.
Flooded areas are not safe for recreational boating.
If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. Follow recommended evacuation routes.
Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flash floods.
Do not let children or pets play near flood control channels or detention basins.
Do not camp or park your vehicle near washes or channels.

To access current flood emergency information:

Call 38Alert (382-5378)
Visit http://www.lvalert.com
Tune to KCLV cable Channel 2

Additional information on the Clark County Regional Flood Control District can be found here.

During the past couple of weeks, several severe thunderstorms have dumped inches of rain in a matter of minutes. Remember to stay away from standing or moving water on roadways and stay out of flood channels. Stay safe this monsoon season!

Q2 2011 Mission Detail

2011-07-03T07:47:00.000-07:00

The following activity was reported for Q2 of 2011:

Big Stuff Happening in July

2011-06-30T16:31:00.000-07:00

July is a huge month for our Unit. We have two major events going on at the moment that are both very exciting!

The first event is our recruitment initiative. We are currently looking for new volunteers for our Mountain Rescue team! If you are interested in volunteering, fill out our interest form and submit no later than July 17th.

July 2011 also marks our first annual volunteer fundraising event. We've never hosted an online fundraising event before, so our goal this year is to raise $1000.00 during this hot summer month. All donations are tax-deductible and proceeds help support our volunteers. There are two ways to submit your donation and we appreciate any support that you may be able to provide:

Click on the Donate button located on our website
Visit our official fundraiser page!

If you have any questions about either of these events, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Have a happy and safe 4th of July!

It's Hot in Iraq, so Drink Lots of Water!

2011-06-27T10:42:00.000-07:00

The 10 day weather forecast for Baghdad, Iraq:

The 10 day weather forecast for Las Vegas, NV:

Sure does look similar, doesn't it?

Our troops are exposed to the same type of heat that we experience in Southern Nevada during the summer months. Our troops are in the elements, carrying mass amounts of equipment, and have a very important job to perform. In all of this, the most important job for them is to take care of themselves. It goes without saying that in order to accomplish this, hydration is key.

Most of us can agree that being at war has its negatives. However, war also produces new studies, knowledge, and technology that can only be learned in times like these. Because our troops are at work in an environment much like Southern Nevada, we are able to pull new and vital information on how to better survive and work in a desert environment.

Reasons why hydration is so important:

Body heat management
Increased endurance
Cognition improvement
Maintain proper water balance in the body's tissues
Keeps you alive

As temperatures in Southern Nevada continue to increase and stay in the triple digits, don't forget to hydrate. Do it often and do it well!

Here are links to a couple of studies that have come out of hydration lessons learned while at war:

Prevent Dehydration and Improve Performance (Military.com)
Water Requirements and Soldier Hydration (Downloadable .PDF)
Work out, stay hydrated longer (4 products that may increase endurance via hydration)

Thank you, Troops, for everything that you do!

What It Takes

2011-06-09T10:30:00.000-07:00

If you haven't heard yet, our Mountain Rescue team is recruiting! We are looking for Las Vegas residents who are willing to volunteer their time in order to help others. We have received a number of questions from people who are wondering - what exactly does that mean?

To give you an idea, our current MR team consists of people just like you.

Insurance Agent/Owner
Firefighter
IT Professional
Chiropractor
Analyst
Personal Trainer
Neurosurgeon
Paramedic/EMT
Teacher

Each one of us has a regular job and probably lives a life very similar to yours. The big difference is that each one of us has a passion for each other, for learning, and for helping others.

The most important thing that we look for in a new recruit isn't a hardcore enthusiasm for the outdoors, a military background, or rock climbing experience. Knowledge like this is helpful, but the most important characteristic for us is dedication. Our Unit trains extensively. We do this because there is a level of danger associated with this job. We want to be trained above and beyond any rescue situation that we find ourselves in so that when we're in it, we're prepared. Not only are new recruits expected to attend training sessions, but often times, team members must spend extra time practicing knots, mechanical advantage systems, or other technical rope techniques. A majority of our recruits have never been exposed to the rescue environment, so the learning curve in the beginning is large. We want to bring on people who are willing to put in the time and effort that it takes to conduct rescue missions in a safe and professional manner.

You get what you give

We train, we hike, we climb, we fly in helicopters, and when we're called out on a rescue, it's hardly ever on a nice, sunny day. It's windy, rainy, cold, and it's probably 2:00 in the morning on a work night. The winds are blowing so hard that we're unable to use the helicopter. This means that we're hiking in and it's all uphill. We have to carry not only our personal gear, but team gear as well. We have to be physically fit enough to not only conduct the hike, but carry on a rescue mission once we reach our destination. This all happens while our friends and family are at home, sleeping, and we're on the rescue because that's where we want to be.

This experience isn't for everyone, and we understand that. We put all new recruits through a rigorous interview and physical fitness process in order to determine who may be a best fit. We look for character and dedication. We don't mind if you lack outdoor or rescue experience because we'll teach you. If you're willing to put in the time, attend all training sessions, and obtain your EMT-B certification within the first year of being on the team, we'd like to hear from you.

If you're interested in becoming a Mountain Rescue volunteer and would like to be considered for this Fall's Basic's Class, you have until July 17th to submit an interest form. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us!

If volunteering your time isn't for you, but you'd still like to support the Unit, send in a tax deductible donation by clicking on the "Donate" button. We appreciate any support that you're able to provide.

ATV Safety

2011-05-25T13:49:00.000-07:00

In the first quarter of 2011, our Unit conducted two body recoveries, both of which were ATV-related. The simple fact is that the number of ATV-related accidents that we respond to is astounding.

Last Sunday, one Officer and three Mountain Rescue volunteers responded via Huey to a dry lake bed located near Lake Mead. A 25-year-old female had been riding at speeds of 35-40 MPH when she attempted to make a quick turn, ultimately flying over the handle bars. She wasn't wearing a helmet and suffered severe head and neck injuries. As our Unit arrived, we discovered police, ambulance, and flight for life already on scene.

ATV riding is extremely popular in Southern Nevada with an abundance of recreational areas open and available for riders to enjoy. Unfortunately, there are many riders out there who do not follow general ATV Safety guidelines. Our Unit highly recommends that riders educate themselves on how to be safe while riding, take rider safety classes, and avoid riding in environments that are above the skill level of the rider. The ATV Safety Institute lists the following items as the Golden Rules of ATV Riding:

Always wear a DOT-compliant helmet, goggles, long sleeves, long pants, over-the-ankle boots, and gloves.
Never ride on paved roads except to cross when done safely and permitted by law - another vehicle could hit you. ATVs are designed to be operated off-highway.
Never ride under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
Never carry a passenger on a single-rider ATV, and no more than one passenger on an ATV specifically designed for two people.
Ride an ATV that's right for your age.
Supervise riders younger than 16; ATVs are not toys.
Ride only on designated trails and at a safe speed.
Take a hands-on ATV Course.

As mentioned before, our Unit responds to far more ATV-related accidents than we care to admit. If riders took basic precautions, most of these accidents could be avoided. Take the time to educate yourself today and stay safe while riding!

500 Feet

2011-05-22T13:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the Mountain Rescue Team conducted a big wall training session in Ice Box Canyon at Red Rock Canyon. The objective of the mission was to work in a high angle environment that required the team to make contact with a victim that was more than 500 feet below them.

Rescues that involve heights of 200 feet or more require more specialized skill and equipment management. In order to be prepared for any situation, the team trains above and beyond.

Here's a picture of equipment being short hauled to the upper Landing Zone:

The view of Red Rock from high above Ice Box Canyon:

A total of 6 Rescuers were lowered two at a time to help package and extricate the victim:

If you happened to be in Red Rock yesterday, you may have seen our helicopters in the Red Rock Overlook parking lot, just past Willow Springs. Not only were we conducting a training session, but a film crew was out taking video of our Unit in action. According to the film crew, a final version will be ready by the end of the year. We'll continue to keep you posted on progress!

Hypothermia vs. Hyperthermia

2011-05-16T09:25:00.000-07:00

Hypothermia vs. Hyperthermia - What to look for

Hyperthermia
Hyperthermia, or Heat Exhaustion/Stroke, occurs when the body's core temperature rises above 100F. In the outdoor environment, most of our patients experience elevated core temperatures when they are exposed to extreme heat. This often occurs in the summer months as temperatures in Southern Nevada rise well above 110F. In many cases, hikers are active in arid environments where they are exposed to direct sunlight and little shade. Minimal water intake and excessive perspiration are also contributing factors.

Signs and Symptoms of Hyperthermia
Red, hot, dry skin are all indicative signs of hyperthermia. If it's hot out and your body has stopped sweating, this is a major sign of dehydration, which may lead to heat stroke. This dehydration can produce nausea, vomiting, headaches, low blood pressure, dizziness, and even fainting. In extreme cases, the person may become confused and even hostile. Respiration and heart rate will increase as the body attempts to distribute as much oxygen as possible.

Hypothermia
If the body's core temperature drops below 95F, hypothermia sets in. In most cases, our patients become hypothermic when they do not carry appropriate clothing with them and are exposed to cold temperatures for a long duration of time. As the body's temperature decreases, the person is unable to replenish heat that is being lost.

Signs and Symptoms of Hypothermia
Shivering and an increased heart rate are initial signs, which are both the body's attempt to rise the core body temperature. As the core temperature continues to drop, shivering will become more violent and movement will become slow and labored. In extreme cases, patients will have problems speaking and will have great difficulty in moving about, will be disoriented, and even combative. If skin is exposed, it will become blue and puffy.

What's more Common?
In Southern Nevada, we treat patients with both hyperthermia and hypothermia. However, hypothermia is more prevalent. Although temperatures in this region tend to fall in the warm to hot range, the desert becomes very cold at night, especially when wind and minimal shelter are present. In higher elevations, temperatures often dip below freezing. Snow, rain, and wind are also contributing factors. In any case, it's important to carry appropriate clothing and fluids while exposing yourself to the elements. It's equally as important to know and recognize the signs and symptoms.

Snow in May?
One year ago, LVMPDSAR rescued two hikers who had lost their trail at Mt. Charleston as unexpected weather conditions caused freezing temperatures and snow! Read all about it here and stay prepared!

Recruitment is OPEN!

2011-04-25T09:59:00.000-07:00

If you're interested in becoming a volunteer for our Unit, now is the time to let us know. We will be holding a Basic's class this Fall for those interested in joining our Mountain Rescue team and are looking for dedicated individuals to apply.

Head on over to our Volunteer page for more information on what we're looking for in new recruits. The deadline to submit an interest form is July 17th.

High Lines

2011-04-18T09:49:00.000-07:00

When it comes to Search and Rescue operations, the biggest challenge is the environment that the team works in. There's no control over the location of the patient, or the weather, or the terrain. As a result, the Mountain Rescue team trains in every type of situation and/or terrain as possible. This training helps prepare the team for any type of situation that arises.

Last weekend, the Mountain Rescue Team practiced high line operations.

High Lines are very useful when the surrounding terrain contains a canyon of some sort. A canyon can be challenging for many reasons. The team may be unable to easily cross from one side to another, transporting gear can be tedious and draining, or the patient may be located at the bottom of the canyon where accessing the patient is a challenge.

Here's a short video of rescue personnel shooting a line from one side of the canyon to the other. This line is used to pull the high line rope across the canyon:

The end result once the high line is set up:

Rescuer being lowered into the canyon to retrieve a patient:

Go here to see more pictures of High Line training.

A Typical Rescue Scenario

2011-04-15T10:24:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, Mountain Rescue Officers and Volunteers rescued two stranded hikers from a cliff-face in Red Rock. It was a gorgeous day, they weren't hiking a challenging trail, and they only planned on hiking for a couple of hours. As they left their car, both hikers were wearing shorts and a t-shirt, tennis shoes, they grabbed a harness, and had about 4 liters of water between the two of them. As the pair hiked into one of the canyons and scurried up a cliff face, they found themselves in a precarious position. They could no longer climb up, they were nervous about climbing back down, and they were running out of day light very quickly.

This is the type of situation that our Unit sees far too often. Hikers leave their cars with only the best-case scenario in mind. It's a beautiful day, so what on earth could go wrong?

In the case of these two hikers, they did a couple of things right:

Before leaving for their hike, they told friends and family where they were going. They had a plan, they stuck to it, and someone else knew about it. This is good.
When the pair found themselves in a precarious position, they didn't attempt to do something that would harm them. They knew that down-climbing could potentially hurt them, so instead of trying anyway, they found a giant ledge and stayed put.
Both hikers carried a cell phone. In this case, they were able to get cell phone reception and call for help directly from their location.
They took water with them.

Since hindsight is 20/20, let's look at some of the things that this pair did wrong:

The only clothing protecting them from the elements were shorts and a t-shirt.
They didn't take food with them.
The amount of water that they carried wasn't substantial for an extended stay. In warm weather, hikers should consume 4 liters (or one gallon) of water in a day to avoid dehydration.
Both hikers had cell phones and both cell phones were turned on during the duration of the hike.
The hikers picked an easy trail, but deviated from that trail without knowing where they were going. They ended up scurrying up the side of a cliff-face without a plan to get down.
Neither hiker considered a worse-case scenario.

When these two hikers decided to pick a safe place to stay put and call for help, the sun was beginning to set. They made their first call at about 3:30pm. Rescue personnel didn't make contact with the pair until about 9:00pm and it took nearly three hours to conduct the straight-forward rescue. Although these hikers had cell phones and were able to get reception, it still takes time to get personnel and equipment to the location. While the hikers waited, temperatures plummeted and wind speeds accelerated. When rescue personnel finally reached the hikers, they were uninjured, but both complained of being very cold.

What would've happened if the pair needed to use their cell phones, but the batteries had died?
What would've happened if the pair was unable to get cell phone reception?
What would their night had been like if their calls for help were unsuccessful?

This story is being shared because this is a typical rescue scenario. Hikers and climbers leave the parking lots of Red Rock and other recreational areas around the valley every day without considering a worse-case scenario. Extra clothes, food, and water don't weigh that much. Stuff this extra gear in a day pack and throw it on your back. Carry a survival kit so that you're able to start a fire. This provides warmth and a signal for rescuers. If you're not using your cell phone, turn it off. Even though you're not using your phone, the battery drains quickly as the phone continually searches for a signal. Research the area that you'll be visiting. Familiarize yourself with the trail that you'll be hiking on along with the surrounding area. If you decide to leave the trail, have a back-up plan. Always know where you're going and how to get out. And most importantly, let people know where you're going, what your plan is, when you think you'll be back, and stick to that plan. It's difficult to predict whether or not things will go wrong, but if they do, it's good to be prepared.

Two liters of water weighs about 4.5 lbs.
Light-weight jacket weighs about 1 lb.
Pants weigh about 1 lb.
Food such as a sandwich, fruit, and energy bars weigh about 1-2 lbs.
Survival kit weighs less than 1 lb.
Researching a strategy and having a Plan B weighs nothing.

For additional safety information and survival tips, go here.

Recent Rescues

2011-04-13T15:34:00.000-07:00

Sunday, April 10th

On Sunday afternoon, two officers and two pilots responded to Calico I for an injured female with a possible broken ankle. The helicopter was able to perform a one-skid landing, which allowed one of the Officers to exit the helicopter and make his way to the patient who was with CCFD and BLM Rangers. She was placed in a litter, carried to the Landing Zone, and flown to the Charleston Overlook where she was transferred to medical.

On Sunday night, one pilot and one officer responded to a call in Sandy Valley to search for a suicidal subject after the subject's vehicle was located in the area. After extensive searching, the body of the subject was found and an additional officer was called out to help with the body recovery. The two officers were flown to the area where they collected evidence and transported the body to the Coroner.

Monday, April 11th

One pilot and two officers flew to Laughlin where a 20-year old female was hoisted off of a cliff. She had fallen down a slope and became stuck in a spot directly above a vertical cliff. Other than multiple abrasions, she had no significant injuries. After providing medical care, the woman was hoisted into the Huey and transported to medical.

Tuesday, April 12th

Four officers, two pilots, and nine MR volunteers responded to Red Springs to retrieve two hikers who had became stranded on a cliff face while hiking. As they continued to boulder up the side of the canyon, they eventually ran out of daylight and a clear trail to hike out. Neither hiker had appropriate clothing or food, but were able to get cell phone reception from their location. Because they were located in an area where the helicopter was unable to reach them, Rescue Personnel were flown above the hikers where technical systems were set up. Two Rescuers were lowered to the hikers where they were retrieved and eventually lowered to the bottom of the canyon. Neither hiker was injured.

There's an App for That?

2011-04-07T07:36:00.000-07:00

Numerous members of LVMPDSAR's Mountain Rescue Unit have attended CMC Rescue School's. In fact, every team member is supplied with a copy of the Rope Rescue Manual. We use this as a training and reference tool for all of the technical systems that are utilized by our team.

For those of you that are iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch owners, a consolidated version is now available as an application. Download the Rescue Field Guide App for free!

Q1 2011 Mission Detail

2011-04-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

Total YTD Missions for 2011: 114

For Q1 of 2011, LVMPDSAR recorded the following activity:

Mountain Rescue Missions:

32 missions
40 people rescued
15 people were injured
2 Fatalities – Both ATV Related
MR Volunteers involved in 6 missions
8 Missions Involving four- wheeling accidents or stranded folks
21 Missions involving lost or injured hikers
3 Missions involving stuck or injured climbers

Dive Team:

No missions first quarter.

Logistics:

No missions first quarter.

TEMS:

82 missions in support of SWAT
Volunteers were involved in all 82 missions

Missions of Interest:

On 3/12/11, SAR Officers along with two Mountain Rescue civilian volunteers conducted a technical rescue in Pine Creek Canyon on Dark Shadows (5.8). A male climber fell while leading pitch three and decked on the pitch two belay ledge. Other climbs still on the route were able to immediately assist the climber and his partner and make the emergency notification. The climbers on the route, along with several hikers and climbers at the base of the route assisted SAR personnel with the evacuation of the injured climber. (Pictures attached of Jason being helicopter in to the mouth of the canyon, for this rescue).

On 3/16/11 SAR Officers along with seven Mountain Rescue volunteers responded to Juniper Canyon with a report of two experienced climbers who were significantly overdue. The climbers were located on the Brownstone wall, approximately 20 feet off the canyon floor and approximately 600 feet from the top of the canyon wall. Due to high winds, helicopter operations were limited. Ultimately, the climbers were rescued unharmed after approximately 17 hours on a belay ledge. The climbers were prepared for the cool weather and were in excellent shape when the rescue team arrived at their location. This rescue started simply with a struck rope on rappel.

On 3/23/11 SAR Officers responded to Oak Creek Canyon for a report of two climbers stranded on the Solar Slab Terrace in an extreme spring storm which included rain, snow, temperatures in the low 30’s and wind gusts over 60 mph. The climbers were not prepared with wet weather gear and became hypothermic very quickly. Due to extreme weather, it took several hours to locate and get personnel to the climbers. Both climbers did a good job of self rescue and were able to get themselves off the technical terrain, but had become hypothermic to the point of incapacitation. Both climbers were evacuated by SAR personnel with the assistance of Metro Rescue Pilots. Core body temperatures were in the high 70’s to low 80’s. Proper equipment preparation is key to survival when things start to go wrong!

Survivor 2011

2011-04-01T16:08:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, University Medical Center Students participated in the third annual Survivor course that is put on by Officers and Volunteers of the Mountain Rescue Unit. The course, dubbed Survivor 2011, gives medical students who have an interest in the outdoors or injuries that occur in the outdoors the opportunity to see what it's like to be involved in rescue missions first-hand. During this 3-day class, Students learn how to rappel, build anchor systems, and work with one another on various rescue scenarios.

Here's a shot of a UMC student rappelling at Red Rock:

The group reviewing technical systems:

Building and managing technical systems:

The students also got the opportunity to witness how our rescue pilots and Mountain Rescue personnel work closely to accomplish missions:

As with previous years, this year's class was a huge success! We want to thank all of the class participants for an outstanding time and look forward to 2012.

A complete set of photos can be found here.

One Skid Toe In

2011-03-31T15:41:00.000-07:00

Picture of the day. Ok, maybe the year.

One of our Rescue pilots is performing a one skid toe in, which requires precision flying. The Rescuer moving from the helicopter to the rock is one of our Mountain Rescue volunteers.

All in a day's work!

Snow in Las Vegas

2011-03-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

It's mid-March and the mountains surrounding Las Vegas are covered in snow! Many people have a hard time believing it, but winter conditions, which include snow-fall, is one of the major elements that the Mountain Rescue Unit works in. Because of this, the Unit heads to the mountains once a year to review avalanche conditions, rescue techniques, and Winter survival.

Here's a picture of what an avalanche chute looks like, including broken trees and other debris. This is clear evidence that many avalanches have occurred in the area:

The team reviewing information on avalanche conditions:

Digging out and looking at snow pack:

One example of how to build a shelter using Team equipment:

This is a picture of the team digging after a probable probe hit:

Setting up an anchor for extrication:

Patient extrication:

Team photo:

March Madness in Full Swing

2011-03-18T09:12:00.000-07:00

So far, the late Winter season has been very busy for the Mountain Rescue Team. With weather reaching the 70's during the day, more people are heading outside to enjoy the recreational areas that surround Las Vegas.

On Tuesday, February 22, a 32 year-old male hiker was hiking with a group on a trail in between Calico II and Sandstone Quarry at Red Rock Canyon. While on the hike, he decided to separate from the group to be "more adventerous". At the conclusion of the hike when the hiker failed to meet the rest of the group, Search and Rescue was dispatched at about 7:00pm to help locate the missing hiker.

The Air Unit, two Officers, and five Search and Rescue volunteers responded to the call. The hiker was located and a system was set up for retrieval purposes. A Rescuer was lowered about 50 feet to the hiker, who was uninjured. After connecting the hiker to the system, the team raised the hiker and Rescuer back to the top. The hiker was ultimately flown to Sandstone Quarry where LVMPD Resident Officers were waiting with the friends of the victim.

On Saturday, March 12th, reports of a climber who had fallen in Pine Creek Canyon came in. Two volunteers and two officer's responded via air to Dark Shadow, a climb located in the area. The climber sustained a back injury after falling just above pitch two. After locating the victim and providing medical care, the team extricated the victim and delivered him to an ambulance who transported him to the trauma center.

On Tuesday morning, March 15th, Mountain Rescue volunteers were called out at about 2:00am to assist with two climbers that had become stranded on the Brownstone Wall in Juniper Canyon. Upon arrival, Rescuers discovered that the weather was very bad with high winds. Around 3:00am, a small window opened where the helicopter was able to deliver equipment and 7 rescue personnel to the top of the climb. When winds picked up again, which grounded the helicopter, the team set up technical systems and lowered the stranded climbers nearly 1,000 feet. After reaching the bottom, both Rescuers and the uninjured climbers hiked out.

Getting In and Getting Out

2011-03-10T15:38:00.000-08:00

Getting in and out of a helicopter doesn't sound like something that's too difficult. You walk up to the helicopter, climb in, and off you go, right?

Well, the Mountain Rescue team will tell you otherwise. For this Unit, getting in and out of a helicopter is not only tricky, but it also requires practice.

Here's a picture of one of our helicopter's on its way to pick up two volunteers at a location in Red Rock:

Helicopter on final approach:

Just about to land. Notice the small landing zone and group of Rescuers waiting for the helicopter's arrival:

Before entering the helicopter, the Rescuers carry about 50 pounds of their own gear along with 50 - 100 pounds of additional equipment required to conduct rescue operations:

The first Rescuer is in the ship while the second Rescuer loads the remaining equipment and climbs in:

With everyone on board and an all clear, the helicopter takes off with Rescuers and gear on board:

As you can see, conducting this type of operation becomes a little more difficult given the environment and gear involved. Last night, Mountain Rescue Volunteers practiced these steps with an additional element added. They practiced getting in and out of the helicopter at night.

All of a sudden, the environment at Red Rock looks like this:

LVMPDSAR conducts a night-time training session once a month so that the Team has the opportunity to practice in the dark. As you can see from the pictures above, turning the lights out on a rescue mission drastically changes things. Pilots use night-vision goggles to fly and Volunteers use headlamps to move about. Because of this, night-time sessions are a critical component of the training regime.

FUN FACT:

LVMPDSAR is one of the only Units in the world that will conduct rescue missions at night. Most Units wait until day break, but because of the level of training that is conducted and resources that are available, this Unit is ready to respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Ice Climbing Photos

2011-02-28T15:36:00.000-08:00

Here are various pictures from this year's ice climbing adventure in Ouray, Colorado. Enjoy!

Group Photo

2011-02-22T08:26:00.000-08:00

Mountain Rescue - February 2011

Patient Pick-Off's

2011-02-20T21:58:00.000-08:00

The weather looked like this as the Mountain Rescue Team drove to Red Rock for training this morning:

It was raining in the Valley and snowing in the mountains, but just like a real rescue, the team wore appropriate clothing and carried what they needed to spend a day in unpredictable weather such as this.

For today's training, the team practiced patient pick-off's.

A patient pick-off is a technique that is used often by our team. We get numerous call-outs a year with reports of people who find themselves stuck on the side of a steep cliff for one reason or another. Whether they've injured themselves or not, it is our responsibility to get a Rescuer to them and get the Patient out of their predicament as soon as possible.

In order to accomplish a patient pick-off, a Rescuer is sent over the edge with an extra harness and helmet. They are lowered to the Patient, make contact, and as soon as they are able to do so, the Rescuer places the harness on the Patient. Once the harness is in place, the Patient is securely attached to the system and a medical assessment is immediately performed. The Rescuer and Patient are raised or lowered from there, depending on the situation.

Although this task seems straight-forward, it takes practice attaching a harness to a Patient mid-face. Each Mountain Rescue Volunteer practiced this technique today. Luckily for us, the rain subsided and it turned into a gorgeous, sunny day at Red Rock. Here are pictures of the team in action:

Ice Climbing

2011-02-15T14:38:00.000-08:00

Ice Climbing? In Vegas?!?

Well, we wish.

Because of the lack of climbable ice in and around Las Vegas, members of the LVMPSAR Mountain Rescue team travel to Ouray, Colorado every year to partake in Ice Climbing activities and enjoy time in the Colorado Mountains. Not only does the team climb on the ice at The Ouray Ice Park, but they also go over snow and ice rescue techniques, survival skills, and participate in general team building activities.

This is always a fun trip for members who are able to make it. If you've never traveled to Ouray to try out a little ice climbing, we highly recommend it!

Practice Makes Perfect

2011-01-25T11:14:00.000-08:00

You know the saying - practice makes perfect. Since there are always new things to learn on the Rock, our Mountain Rescue Team trains twice a month to keep skills current. We rarely get the same rescue twice, so we're constantly training in new environments along with unique scenarios. In last week's training session, our simulated rescue involved an injured hiker who had been crushed by a rock. In the pictures below, the patient is medically treated, packaged, and carried out by the team. Enjoy!

Little Lights on Lone Mountain

2011-01-13T14:33:00.000-08:00

If you happened to see a bunch of little lights on Lone Mountain last night, don't worry, it was just the headlamps of the Mountain Rescue Team conducting a training session.

At 6pm, two teams began their ascent up the mountain. On the way up, each team was given a surprise medical scenario, one was a bee sting with an anaphylactic reaction while the other was a fallen hiker with a broken wrist. Both teams addressed each ailment and continued up the mountain.

Once at the top, the two teams worked together to build a technical system that lowered two rescuers to a victim that had fallen 50 - 70 feet. The two rescuers attended to the victim, who had suffered head injuries, multiple cuts and abrasions all over the body, and complained of neck pain. Rescuers attended to the patient's injuries, packaged the patient, and were raised back to the top of the mountain. From there, the team worked together to carry the patient down the mountain.

Here's a picture of the view from the top:

More A&E Nostalgia

2010-12-28T12:00:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, we published a link to part 1 of an old A&E special that highlighted our Unit. Although Part 2 is missing, here's part 3, 4, and 5.

Investigative Reports - Part 3
Investigative Reports - Part 4
Investigative Reports - Part 5

If you run across Part 2, let us know!

Have a Happy New Year!

Echo Canyon Evacuation

2010-12-23T21:29:00.000-08:00

Today, seven Mountain Rescue volunteers and four officers responded to Echo Canyon, located near the Mt. Charleston lodge. The objective of the mission was to go door-to-door to determine which residents were still in their homes, which chose to stay, and which chose to evacuate.

The reason for the voluntary evacuation was the report of multiple slides in the area along with an avalanche warning that remains in effect. Rescuers climbed through 5-6 feet of snow to check each home, ultimately taking one man to an established emergency shelter. Rescue teams also helped residents retrieve medications and other personal supplies from their homes and checked in on one man who chose to stay in his residence. The door-to-door evacuation took about four hours.

Multiple news agencies were in the area covering the story. One of the stories can be found here.

Pictures of the day's events:

31 Years of Service

2010-12-20T09:29:00.000-08:00

Last week, a 31 year veteran of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department celebrated his retirement. While serving as a Police Officer for LVMPD, Sgt. Mike Petricka was a member of the specialized and highly acclaimed Canine and Air Support Units, ultimately serving as Chief Pilot for air patrol and search and rescue. Mike's unparalleled leadership and piloting skills left an unforgettable impression on anyone who had the pleasure of working with him.

It goes without saying that Mike will be sorely missed by all Officers and Volunteers that have worked with him over the years. We wish you the best in all that you do!

From the Archives - A&E Investigative Report

2010-12-14T09:06:00.000-08:00

A number of years ago, A&E aired an investigative reports special on our Unit. Although personnel and equipment has changed, one thing has remained the same - the dedication and passion of this Unit is insurmountable.

Enjoy the footage!

2010 Year in Pictures

2010-12-09T10:23:00.001-08:00

Colorado River - Air Search

Mt. Charleston - Fastrope Training

Red Rock - 800' Lower

Hangar - Medical Training

Middle of Nowhere - Land Navigation / Patient carry-out

Mt. Charleston - Fire

Mt. Charleston - Search / Canine Huey Insertion

Lake Mead - Huey Penetrator Training

To see more SAR pictures, visit our Flickr site.

Happy Holidays!

Unit Overview

2010-12-04T14:08:00.000-08:00

A little taste of what we do:

Thanksgiving Day Rescue - Update

2010-11-30T12:24:00.000-08:00

The 42-year-old female climber that was rescued on Thanksgiving Day was identified as Heather Gray of Vancouver, B.C. It is reported that Heather died on Monday.

LVMPDSAR sends its deepest condolences to friends and family.

An article outlining the latest news can be found here.

Thanksgiving Day Rescue

2010-11-27T15:05:00.000-08:00

On Thursday afternoon, Mountain Rescue Volunteers were called to the Red Rock Canyon Overlook in response to initial reports of a fallen climber in Oak Creek Canyon.

Two SAR Officers were flown to the scene and were hoisted to a ledge approximately 400 feet off of the canyon floor. From there, the Officers extracted the 42 year old climber from a crack where she had landed after falling what was estimated to be 45-50 feet. The climber was hoisted out of the canyon and delivered to flight, who transported the victim to the hospital.

The female climber had been climbing with a friend and suffered from multiple skull fractures, cervical fractures, and massive brain swelling as a result of the fall. Rescue personnel took less than an hour to respond and extract the injured climber from the the area that she was located.

News Channel 13 was on scene. Their report of the incident can be found here.

Snow and Freezing Temperatures are Here!

2010-11-24T15:30:00.000-08:00

If you haven't dusted off your winter gear yet, this weekend is the time to start unpacking!

Five reasons why this is a task that you should accomplish this Holiday weekend:

This morning, many people reported snow flurries in various parts of the Las Vegas Valley.
Temperatures are expected to dip below freezing tonight.
The Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort is scheduled to open this Friday, November 26th.
Last weekend it snowed on the Mountain Rescue Team during training.
You'll need something to do after eating all of that turkey!

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving weekend!

2010 Mountain Rescue Basic's Class

2010-11-23T07:09:00.001-08:00

Congratulations to this year's Mountain Rescue Basic's class. Thirteen people finished the class strong last weekend in cold weather, wind, and even snow! A great time was had by all and we look forward to including this group in our volunteer program.

Human Remains found in Red Rock

2010-11-16T13:04:00.000-08:00

Last week, SAR officers responded to Black Velvet Canyon in Red Rock where human remains were discovered by multiple hikers.

See news reports here.

The investigation is currently ongoing.

Busy Weekend at Red Rock and Mt. Charleston

2010-11-08T08:48:00.000-08:00

With temperatures lingering in the low to mid 80's, outdoor enthusiasts headed for the hills to enjoy the wonderful weather this past weekend. The 13-mile loop that provides access to all that the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area has to offer was packed with cars and people.

Basic's Class

Saturday morning started out with the Basic's Class at Red Springs. For the past month or so, the class has spent numerous hours learning and practicing rescue techniques in the classroom and on the tower. It was time to remove the class members from the controlled environment and plant them in an area that we conduct a large majority of our rescues. The class practiced raising and lowering with a loaded litter as well as passing a knot on rappel. Here's a picture of class members setting up an anchor system:

Mt. Charleston

At about 1:00 in the afternoon, the Mountain Rescue Team received its first call of the day. It was reported that a hiker was lost after leaving a marked trail at Mt. Charleston. Two SAR Officers and one Mountain Rescue volunteer boarded the Huey from Red Springs and headed to Mt. Charleston. The male hiker was found, and with the help of rescue personnel, was hoisted out by helicopter. He was uninjured.

Red Rock Canyon - Olive Oil

On Saturday night at 10:30pm, the Mountain Rescue volunteers were called out to Red Rock Canyon. Three climbers, two of which were in their late 60's, were caught in bad weather while climbing Olive Oil. Although all 3 climbers were uninjured, one climber was suffering from flu-like symptoms, which had caused their initial delay. With approximately 300 feet left to climb, the climbers chose to hunker down on a well-defined ledge to protect themselves from the storm. They were fortunate to be able to make a call for help using their cell phone.

By 11:30pm, the rain and wind storm began clearing up. Four volunteers and five SAR Officers were transported to the top of Olive Oil by helicopter where the team set up technical rescue systems. One rescuer was lowered to the victims where they were medically assessed. The climbers were raised to the top of the climb one by one and were extracted by helicopter. The climber that was experiencing flu-like symptoms was transported by ambulance to the hospital while the two remaining climbers were able to drive home on their own. The entire rescue took about 5 hours to accomplish with rescue personnel leaving Red Rock at 3:30am.

Got Gore-Tex?

2010-11-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

The weather is starting to cool down (finally) in the Las Vegas Valley. This means that it's time to start pulling out your winter gear. For most desert dwellers, those Gore-Tex jackets spend most of their time stuffed away in a closet somewhere. On the rare occasion that they're actually pulled out to do their job, most owners will find that their outer wear isn't doing what it's supposed to do. Why isn't the Gore-Tex jacket that you've owned for 10 years no longer keeping you dry?

Most people would do the next most sensible thing - go out and buy a new jacket. And hey, why not?

I know that I'm about to squash your reasoning for buying the latest and greatest jacket, but the truth is that Gore-Tex is actually a type of fabric. Over time, those Gore-Tex fibers are compromised. Not on purpose, but just from normal wear and tear. It's really easy to restore the fibers so that they go back to protecting you from the elements - just wash your garments using powdered detergent and throw them in the dryer under medium heat. The time spent in the washer will clean the dirt and grime from your jacket while the heat from the dryer repairs those compromised fibers. Ironing your garments using medium heat also works! So, if you find that your Gore-Tex garments aren't doing the trick any more, try these simple steps to keep yourself dry during those cold and wet days spent in the desert.

For more specific information about how to care for your outdoor apparel, visit the Gore-Tex Care Center.

Short Haul & Fast Rope Training

2010-10-26T10:03:00.000-07:00

Every year, the Mountain Rescue Team along with the Air Unit take to the skies to practice short haul and fast rope techniques. Since everything that these Units do take practice, this session serves as an annual certification to all Officers, Pilots and Volunteers.

This year, Hau Ngo came out to photograph the events of the day. View the entire set here.

A Flash Flood Safety Reminder

2010-10-21T17:17:00.000-07:00

It's been an incredible week in the Las Vegas Valley for rain and thunderstorms, which makes this the perfect time of year to read all about flash floods and keeping yourself safe. These types of storms are common in the desert in and around our City, so if you hear of flash flood warnings in the area, be cautious. The best thing to do is to stay in doors.

Here's an article from 2003 of a rescue that our Unit performed during a flash flood storm. Our rescue personnel and helicopters plucked numerous people from the top of their cars, including a Las Vegas Firetruck, as flood waters consumed their vehicles. Don't let this happen to you!

Basic's Class in Full Swing

2010-10-02T10:55:00.001-07:00

This year's Mountain Rescue Basic's class is in full swing! Fourteen people were selected out of our initial interview process to attend this class, which will run until the end of November. Future volunteers will be selected from the participants who successfully complete the class.

During the Basic's class, attendees learn fundamental mountain rescue techniques that are used by the Unit to conduct its missions. The first is being able to physically do the job. Here's the class participating in a PT session.

Once PT is complete, the class typically hits the classroom where they are exposed to the lesson of the day.

After a specific topic is covered, attendees head outside where they have the opportunity to learn hands-on techniques. In this picture, the group is building an anchor system:

And finally, the reward. Here's a picture of one of the class members rappelling off of the tower.

So far, the class has learned how to tie essential knots, including the water knot and the family of figure-8's. Class members have also been exposed to the rescue equipment that is used by the Unit, anchor systems, raising and lowering systems, and have had the opportunity to rappel using both low and high anchor points.

Missing Teen Hiker Found

2010-09-28T18:45:00.000-07:00

This morning the body of missing Henderson hiker, Shane McNeil, was found near Boy Scout Canyon, located south of the Hoover Dam.

The Search and Rescue Command Post was staged near the Lake Mead Marina. Searchers covered hundreds of miles of rugged terrain by land, water, and air, including all canyons and areas located both west and east of the Colorado River.

LVMPDSAR would like to thank the National Park Service as well as all search participants for their tireless effort the past 3 days.

Click here for the latest news and video coverage.

Search for Missing Teen

2010-09-27T22:44:00.000-07:00

The Mountain Rescue Team was called out early Sunday morning to help search for a missing Henderson Teen. The teen, who had plans to hike from Henderson to the Arizona side of the Hoover Dam, was last heard from at 7:00pm Saturday night. As of today, the search continues.

News coverage of the search can be viewed by clicking on the links below.

Channel 13

Channel 8

Channel 5

Guide Line Training

2010-09-20T12:23:00.000-07:00

Guide lines are a useful tool to use when there is a need to move an object from a high point to a low point while avoiding multiple obstacles. Last weekend, the Mountain Rescue team headed to Willow Springs to practice using a guide line to lower a Rescuer and patient from a high point to a low point.

Here's a shot of the team setting up the high-point systems:

Rescuers placing a victim into the litter and attaching to the main and belay. Once the Rescuer and victim are securely in the system, they will be attached to the guide line (white rope):

Rescuer moving the patient over the edge with the help of an edge person:
Continuing to move the patient over the edge:

The Rescuer and victim have transitioned the edge. The guide line is the white rope running from the high point to the low point. In this case, the anchor used as the low point is a Unit truck.

After multiple evolutions using and fine-tuning the guide line application, the team hiked the White Rock Loop, a 6.5 mile hike that begins and ends in Willow Springs. It was a perfect day to be outside!

Two New Rescue Pilots!

2010-09-16T22:21:00.000-07:00

It takes thousands of hours of flight time and hundreds hours of training missions to become a rescue pilot with LVMPDSAR. This week, two pilots successfully completed their final night-time operation missions in order to make it official. Congratulations to our two new rescue pilots!

2010 Mountain Rescue Recruitment

2010-09-12T17:41:00.000-07:00

The 2010 Mountain Rescue Recruitment started out with a bang yesterday! We had numerous people come out, run our physical assessment course, and participate in our interview process.

We'd like to thank each and every one of you that submitted an interest form and participated in the first step of our recruitment efforts. Everyone came out and gave 100%, which we love to see!

This year, we received nearly 75 applications and are in the process of choosing around 15 people to attend our Basics course, which will teach each student basic mountain rescue and technical rope rescue techniques that are used by our Unit. This competitive process potentially gives each class attendee the opportunity to become a member of our Mountain Rescue Unit. Without your interest and dedication, we wouldn't be able to fill open positions, so thank you again! We look forward to an exciting recruitment season!

Helicopters Need Rest, Too

2010-09-08T09:03:00.001-07:00

Here's a shot of the mural that's painted on the floor of our hangar:

And here's a shot of our rescue helicopters at rest:

Here's to hoping that the high's we experienced over Labor Day Weekend have come to an end for the Season!

Have a Fun and Safe Labor Day Weekend!

2010-09-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

An Excessive Heat Warning has been issued for the Las Vegas Valley this weekend. Continue to prepare for hotter than normal temperatures and stay hydrated!

LVMPDSAR would like to wish everyone a fun and safe Labor Day weekend!

Rescues at Red Rock and Mt. Charleston

2010-08-23T09:29:00.001-07:00

Last Thursday evening, the Mountain Rescue Team was called out to Red Rock Canyon. A hiker had found himself lodged in a crack with no way of climbing up or down. Rescuers were inserted above the stuck hiker where anchor systems were set up. One rescuer was lowered to the victim, a harness was placed on the victim to secure them into the system, and the rescuer and victim were both lowered to the ground. The victim suffered no injuries and was extracted via helicopter.

Yesterday, a call came in from a hiker who had found himself lost while hiking the Loop Trail at Mt. Charleston. Instead of staying on the loop trail, the hiker inadvertently veered onto the Griffith Peak Trail, ultimately finding himself on the Harris Saddle Trail located in Lovell Canyon. The lost hiker, after running out of water and food, was able to get cell phone reception and call for help.

The Huey, along with one LVMPDSAR Officer and two Mountain Rescue volunteers, flew to the area to locate the hiker. Unfortunately, high winds prevented the Huey from being able to perform hoist operations, so the three rescuers were inserted about 3 miles from the hiker. Rescuers hiked in, located the hiker, and walked him to Harris Springs Rd. where all members were driven out by a Resident Officer.

Big Wall Training

2010-08-23T08:25:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, the Mountain Rescue team was inserted via fast-rope into an area located North of Pine Creek in Red Rock Canyon for this month's weekend training mission. The scenario consisted of reports from a climber who was able to get cell phone reception and call for help. His climbing partner had fallen and had been injured in the process.

As Mountain Rescue volunteers arrived, anchor systems were set up and a plan was put in motion. The scenario included a lower of about 800 feet that would place the rescuers at the location of the patient. After systems were set up, two rescuers were lowered along with the litter and medical pack that would help them provide patient care.

Here's a picture of two rescuers being lowered to the patient:

Rescuers nearing the bottom of the descent:

Rescuers providing patient care:

Because initial reports were so vague, the rescuers discovered that the climber had fallen about 60 feet, suffering from wounds to the face, lower right arm, and right femur. Rescuers addressed each of the injuries and packaged the patient.

Rescuer starting an IV:

The patient was extracted by hoist to complete the training mission.

Successful Orientation

2010-08-14T21:29:00.000-07:00

2010 Recruitment is in full swing! Sixty-one people showed up to our orientation session today. After a Unit overview, a preview of what this year's Mountain Rescue Class itinerary and schedule will be, a question and answer session, and a tour of the hangar, 53 of those people who showed up today expressed interest in moving on with the process. This type of interest is very exciting! LVMPDSAR would like to thank everyone who attended today's session!

The Mountain Rescue Unit typically consists of 20-30 volunteers, depending on need. With these types of numbers, it makes for a fairly competitive recruitment process. Next steps are to conduct interview sessions and a physical fitness test. Out of the 53 people who go through this process, about 20 are chosen to attend our Basics Training Class.

The LVMPDSAR Basics Class lasts about two months and doesn't require previous mountain rescue knowledge or experience. People who are invited to attend this class are taught basic mountain rescue techniques and are required to display appropriate physical fitness standards. Although all invited members go through the entire class, it does not guarantee anyone a position on the Volunteer Unit. Once the class is complete, LVMPDSAR officers and volunteers choose who they feel will be a good fit for the team.

If you missed this year's recruitment, feel free to submit your interest at any time. We will contact you as soon as recruitment opens again in the future.

Volunteers Come In All Sizes

2010-08-12T13:05:00.000-07:00

All members of the Mountain Rescue Team are required to obtain an EMT-Basic Certification at a minimum. In order to maintain this certification, the team conducts continuing education sessions throughout the year. Last night we had a special visitor come in to help the team practice providing medical care to patients that we seldom see - Children.

Here's a picture of one of our SAR Officers demonstrating a primary assessment.

This is the team in action, practicing a patient scenario. Rescuers waited outside while Officers staged the patient and environment. In order to simulate a real-life scenario, Officers turned out the lights and pumped smoke into the room to emulate a night-time storm. Rescuers, without knowing what to expect, entered the room and treated the patient as if it were real.

Miller Board practice.

And finally, a picture of the team with a potential future volunteer!

Thank you!

2010-08-10T11:11:00.001-07:00

We would like to take a brief moment to thank all of those individuals that expressed interested in joining our Unit! We received numerous submissions from various people in the Las Vegas community and appreciate everyone's willingness and desire to help make a difference. This year's recruitment effort is sure to be a great success!

As a general rule, the LVMPDSAR Unit recruits once every 12 to 24 months, based on need. We retain all submitted interest forms and contact those individuals once the selection process opens again. So, all of you who missed this year's deadline, don't hesitate to submit your interest form at any time. We'll contact you the next time the recruitment process begins!

Recruitment Deadline Fast Approaching

2010-08-03T13:24:00.000-07:00

This Sunday is the deadline to submit interest for the 2010 recruitment with the Mountain Rescue Team. Complete the form online here!

Land Navigation

2010-07-26T09:04:00.001-07:00

Every month, the LVMPDSAR Mountain Rescue team participates in two training sessions. One session occurs on a weekday night and the other session occurs on a weekend day. We train often for a number of reasons, but primarily because we thrive to be over prepared for any situation that we are called upon to help with and because just like most things in life, if you don't use it, you lose it.

Because of the technology that is available today, all of our team members carry GPS devices and utilize other battery-powered gadgets to determine location, elevation, slope, weather, and any other type of environmental information that you can think of. All of these devices are extremely accurate and helpful, however, what if our team was put in a situation where all of those luxuries were missing? What would we do if those devices failed to work or if the batteries ran out?

As a result of the worst-case-scenario train of thought, our team went back to the basics in this weekend's training session, put our electronic equipment away, and pulled out our maps & compass. Our scenario was an airplane crash where teams of 5 were picked up by the Huey and inserted to an unspecified location via fast-rope. Each team was given a map, coordinates of the location of the plane crash, and were instructed to bring enough food and water to be able to withstand a day in the 111 degree desert heat.

Each team was inserted into a unique location where they were required to decipher their whereabouts using surrounding terrain and map association. From there, each team determined the best route to take in order to get to the location of the plane crash. As each team navigated their way to the crash site, two victims were discovered. Both had sustained injuries from the crash. Here's a picture of the first victim as volunteers began medical and eventually packaged the patient for extraction.

If you look at the picture above, you will notice that there is a road in the distance. Once both of the patients were located and medically treated, the team extracted the patients, ultimately carrying them to the road that is seen in the picture.

As the team approached the road, the Huey was called in to extract both patients and rescue team members. In the picture below, the Huey has located the team and is looking for the best landing zone (LZ).

Once the Huey landed in the LZ, Rescuers continued to carry the patients to the helicopter. Once the patients were extracted, the rest of the team was extracted.

In its entirety, the training session took a little over 5 hours to complete. Each team successfully fast roped into an unspecified location, determined their starting point, located the crash site, conducted appropriate medical treatment to each patient, and extracted both patients and team members to wrap up the day. All of this without the use of electronic equipment of any kind!

Recruitment Submission Deadline is Sunday, August 8th

2010-07-23T11:25:00.001-07:00

If you're interested in becoming a volunteer for our Mountain Rescue team, the cut-off date for this year's recruitment is Sunday, August 8th.

Visit our recruitment page for more information on how to become a volunteer and to fill out an interest form.

Survival Information

2010-07-22T11:12:00.000-07:00

Here are some survival tips to help you prepare for spending time outside. What's the main motto here? BE PREPARED!

Don't forget to hydrate often during these hot, summer months!

Excessive Heat Warning in Effect through Saturday

2010-07-15T09:44:00.000-07:00

An Excessive Heat Warning has been issued for the Las Vegas Valley. Temperatures are expected to reach 112 to 115 degrees from now until Saturday evening.

If you have plans to spend time outdoors, take the time to prepare yourself or make new arrangements.

Drink plenty of fluids!

One Mile South of Willow Beach

2010-07-05T19:28:00.001-07:00

The body of the drowning victim was found one mile south of Willow beach late last week. The story, reported by the LVRJ, can be found here.

If you missed the original blog post containing details of this search, click here!

Mt. Charleston Fire

2010-07-03T10:26:00.001-07:00

On July 1st, a fire broke out near the Mt. Charleston lodge in Kyle Canyon, located just outside of the Las Vegas Valley. In the event that the fire spread to areas where campers or hikers were located, LVMPDSAR launched a support team containing the Huey, SAR officers, and volunteers. Because the fire department was able to contain the fire, rescue efforts were not needed.

View of the fire from the cockpit of the Huey:

Fire from the air:

Spot fire:

The Sauna at Goldstrike Canyon

2010-06-24T12:08:00.001-07:00

This morning, two volunteers from the Mountain Rescue Unit, two PJ's from Nellis AFB, and one SAR Officer responded to the Colorado River located just below the Hoover Dam. It was reported that an 18 year old male had hiked to the bottom of Goldstrike Canyon with some friends to enjoy a well-known hot spring known as The Sauna. Witnesses reported that the 18 year old had decided to go for a swim in the Colorado River and had been swept away by the current. He was last seen about 200 yards down stream of The Sauna hot spring.

An air search was conducted by LVMPDSAR using the Huey while additional search teams utilized boats and jet ski's to scour the river. Pictures of the air search can be found here.

As of this afternoon, the search for the missing swimmer continues.

Escaping the Heat

2010-06-23T11:13:00.000-07:00

It's officially Summer and the temperatures in and around Las Vegas definitely reflect the season. In an effort to escape the heat, the Mountain Rescue Team headed to Robbers Roost at Mt. Charleston to conduct their monthly weekend training session. The scenario was a fallen climber who complained of neck, back, and leg pain.

The team started the day by talking to a witness walking down the trail who reported the location of the injured party and confirmed initial complaints. The team continued up the trail and hiked to a location above the victim where systems were set up. One Rescuer was lowered with a litter to the victim, treated the injures, and called for additional rescuers in order to help with the evacuation. Three additional rescuers rappelled to the location of the victim, helped to package the patient, and helped in the evacuation. The remainder of the team cleaned up the systems and rappelled to the bottom of the canyon. The entire team helped to carry the victim to the road while providing appropriate patient care.

Here's one of the Officers making the 150 foot rappel into the Canyon located on the Robbers Roost trail:

Ice Box Canyon Rescue

2010-06-23T10:59:00.000-07:00

On June 12th, the Mountain Rescue Team responded to a rescue at Ice Box Canyon where an adult male and his ten year old nephew had become stuck approximately 30 feet above the pond. Upon arrival, it appeared as though the ten year old began climbing and became stuck. The Uncle then tried to climb after him, ultimately getting himself stuck in the same predicament.

Because of the location of the two stranded individuals, the Rescue team hiked in approximately 500 feet above them and lowered a Rescuer to both parties. The Rescuer was able to reach each of them and secure both to the rock using harnesses. In order to get both the Uncle and the ten year old to safety, they were lowered another 80 feet to the bottom of the canyon. The rescue took approximately 5 1/2 hours to conduct, but both parties left with no injuries.

Drowning Victim and a Broken Ankle

2010-06-07T14:57:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, LVMPDSAR experienced numerous call-outs to various parts of the Valley. After wrapping up the search for the missing hiker at Mt. Charleston on Saturday, the Dive Team responded to reports of a drowning victim at Lake Mead.

The 23-year-old victim had been swimming from one side of Morning Star Cove to the other when it was reported that he went under. His body was recovered by Dive Team volunteers around 6:30pm Saturday evening. An article on the incident can be found here.

Yesterday afternoon, three SAR officers and one Mountain Rescue volunteer responded to a hiker who had broken her ankle while hiking in Fletcher Canyon at Mt. Charleston. One SAR officer and one volunteer were lowered to the victim by hoist. Rescue personnel splinted the victim's ankle, hoisted her out of the canyon, and delivered her to a waiting ambulance where she was transported to the hospital.

Here's a video of a Rescuer being hoisted out of Fletcher Canyon after the victim was treated:

Canine Hoist & Heat Advisory

2010-06-05T20:11:00.000-07:00

Today, the Mountain Rescue and Logistics Team spent the day at Mt. Charleston conducting a search for a missing person. Three teams of Mountain Rescue members fast-roped into an area near the peak of Mt. Charleston and worked their way down the loop trail. Two members of the LVMPD Canine Unit were utilized in the search.

Here's a picture that you don't see every day- one of the Canine Units being hoisted onto the LZ from the Huey.

See all Canine insertion photos here.

Be sure to bring lots of water with you while hiking and spending time outdoors! The Las Vegas Valley is experiencing a Heat Advisory Warning through the weekend. Although the area has experienced mild temperatures this Spring, it's time to start thinking about the importance of hydration as the Summer months approach.

Happy Hiking!

Mt. Charleston Rescue & Snow in May

2010-05-24T06:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the Mountain Rescue Team responded to a report of two stranded hikers located somewhere near the peak of Mt. Charleston, which lies nearly 12,000 ft above sea level. During the Winter months, Mt. Charleston and its surrounding areas experience normal Winter conditions, including plenty of snow. However, most people don't believe that it can snow near Las Vegas in May.

The two hikers who were rescued yesterday began their day with the objective of reaching the Summit. By the end of the day, a storm had come in, ultimately disorienting them. They were able to get cell phone reception and called EMS for help.

Rescuers who responded to the call were prepared to hike in, which would have taken 3-4 hours. However, a break in the weather enabled Air Support to utilize the Huey to conduct the rescue. As a result, the stranded hikers were retrieved from the mountain and horrible weather conditions in under an hour. The hikers were wearing shorts and tennis shoes and hadn't anticipated the Winter-like conditions.

This type of story has been told countless times. Hikers who predict a gorgeous day end up finding themselves in a precarious position. Who would've thought that they'd find themselves in 3 feet of snow in Las Vegas in May?

Before heading out on any type of hike, LVMPDSAR suggests the following:

Familiarize yourself with the area that you'll be hiking in by studying and carrying along maps
Let others know where you'll be hiking along with estimated departure and arrival times
Check the weather forecast before your departure
Take along plenty of water and food
Carry extra clothes
Prepare for the worst

The rescue on Mt. Charleston was featured on Channel 13 News.

Beating the Wind

2010-05-22T19:01:00.000-07:00

The wind in Las Vegas has been atrocious the last couple of days. Because of this, the Mountain Rescue Team was bound and determined to start our monthly weekend training early in an effort to beat the high winds that were expected to arrive this afternoon. Although we don't always use our helicopters on training days, we had planned to utilize one for today's session in order to reach a secluded section of Red Rock on a traditionally busy Saturday. With wind speeds reaching 5-10 MPH, we began flying the team into the designated training area around 9:00am. We used the landing zone at the Red Rock Overlook as our staging area:

Here's a picture of where the team was dropped off:

The objective of today's training was to get our systems set up, get rescuers to the victims that had been staged approximately 300 feet below our anchor systems, and extricate both the victims and rescuers in a timely manner. Although the team had incentive to beat the wind today, we treat our training missions just like real rescues, so safety and efficiency are always at the fore front of our minds. The scenario for today's training included two stranded climbers. One had fallen, injuring their arm and leg while we received word of no injuries for the second climber.

After setting up our anchors and systems, we lowered a rescuer with a medical pack and litter down to the victims. Shortly thereafter, we had 3 additional rescuers rappel to the victims in order to help facilitate medical as well as aiding in the exit strategy.

This is a picture of the team as they lowered the initial rescuer to the victims below:

The remaining rescuers rappelled to the victims:

Because the team at the bottom were able to find a landing zone for helicopter pick-up, they packaged the injured patient and helped the uninjured patient to the landing zone where they were extricated via helicopter.

By the end of our training session, winds began to increase to 15MPH with gusts reaching 20MPH. Our highly trained pilots were able to get the entire team off of the mountain before the wind had a chance to increase even more.

Here's a picture of the team gear ready for short haul:

Triage Training

2010-05-18T11:02:00.000-07:00

Most of the search or rescue situations that the Mountain Rescue Unit responds to involves one, maybe two injured people at the most. Because of this, it's always good to practice a scenario where a large number of people are injured at one time. In this photo, Rescuers are training for a situation where lightning has struck nearby, ultimately injuring a large number of people. In this situation, it's the responsibility of uninjured rescuers to help those that have been injured.

What would you do as a Rescuer if you experienced something like this?

Rock and Ice Article

2010-04-30T13:50:00.000-07:00

On December 1st, 2009, our Unit received word of a fallen climber at Rainbow Wall in Red Rock. At the time, it was reported that the climber had fallen approximately 140ft while conducting a solo climb on the Original Route. Our Air Unit, along with two Officers and two Mountain Rescue volunteers, responded to the call. They provided the necessary medical care and transport to get this climber off of the rock and on their way to the ER.

In the June 2010 issue of Rock and Ice, the story of what actually happened on this day is revealed. Although our rescue efforts are not outlined in the article, it's great to know that Creasser is doing well given the circumstances of his accident.

Video links have been posted!

2010-04-29T12:36:00.000-07:00

A couple of video links have been posted! Visit the video page from the menu at the top of the page. Enjoy!

Feature Story and the Arizona Vortex

2010-04-25T15:08:00.000-07:00

If you missed the article in the Las Vegas Review Journal that was written about our Unit as well as our upcoming golf tournament, read it here. A huge thank you to the RJ for writing about our cause! Our 3rd Annual Golf Classic will be held on May 3rd at the Canyon Gate Country Club. Even if you're not a golfer, come out and help support the Unit!

All of us are pretty convinced that the cold weather is now behind us here in the Las Vegas Valley. We are gearing up for the busy season and getting ourselves acclimated to the warmer weather. Today we spent the day training at Red Spring in Calico Basin. It was a gorgeous day, which is always nice to have on training days.

Here's the team, preparing to set up our systems.

And here's a picture of our haul team in action. We spent the day using the Arizona Vortex for raises and lowers, a piece of equipment that we use as often as possible. In this picture, it's the tri-pod that you see in the distance.

If you see us out and about on training days, feel free to stop by and say hi! We hope that you are enjoying this gorgeous weather as much as we are!

Announcing Friends of Metro 3rd Annual Golf Classic!

2010-04-14T12:56:00.000-07:00

The Friends of Metro Annual Golf Classic serves as the primary fundraising event for LVMPDSAR. This year, the tournament will be held on May 3rd at the Canyon Gate Country Club. This event is very special to us, so your participation is greatly appreciated! In addition to golf, there will also be some fun activities as well as a raffle!

If you're interested in participating, your prompt response is appreciated as this Friday, April 19th, is the cut-off day for registration. Drop us an Email at lvmpdsar@yahoo.com and we'll follow up with details on how to submit payment.

For those that wish to golf:
Foursome(s) @ $1,000
Foursome and Tee Sign @ $1,250
Individual Golfer(s) @ $300/golfer

For those that wish to support with or without golfing:
Presenting Sponsorship(s) @ $10,000
Gold Sponsorship(s) @ $5,000
Silver Sponsorship(s) @ $3,000
Hole Sponsorship(s) @ $600
Green Sponsorship(s) @ $500
Tee Sponsorship(s) @ $250

All contributions are tax deductible!

We appreciate all of your support and look forward to seeing everyone at the tournament!

Survivor 2010

2010-04-13T10:15:00.000-07:00

The University Medical Center of Southern Nevada is utilized by many Las Vegas residents for a variety of medical reasons. In addition to providing patient care, UMC is also home to medical students who participate in the University of Nevada School of Medicine residency programs. In recent years, LVMPDSAR has partnered with UMC to offer medical students who are interested in Wilderness Medicine the opportunity to spend time with some of our Officers and Volunteers to learn basic outdoor rescue and survival techniques.

The course is appropriately named, "Survivor 2010".

On day one, students spent time in the classroom reviewing basic techniques and knots. By lunch-time, these go-getters were already in full swing, rappelling off of our tower - some of them for the first time!

After students were able to practice the basics in a controlled environment, they headed to red rock on day 2 to see what it was like to rappel on real rock.

This group had no problem adapting to the new environment and spent the next two days learning basic lowering and raising systems, litter management, wilderness medicine techniques, practiced their rock climbing skills, and even conducted their own mock rescue!

Here's the group in all of their wilderness glory!

This was the second year that LVMPDSAR participated in this program. We enjoyed our time with the 2010 group and look forward to 2011!