Hasty Team has year of rescues, accomplishments

The year 2008 has been a memorable one of rescues and accomplishments for the Camp Sherman Search and Rescue Hasty Team.

"What impressed me the most was their training," said Tori Hall, who was rescued last September after becoming lost in the woods of Camp Sherman. "They worked as a team, each taking over a part of my care. One person held my head, another kept me warm. They were communicating with the ambulance team as to their whereabouts. It was a big weight lifted off my shoulders. After 12 hours I couldn't fight any more. It was a relief."

The feeling of safety and confidence experience by Hall has no doubt impressed others rescued by the Hasty Team. They have completed about 10 rescues this year, not all in Jefferson County.

One lost snowmobiler dug a snow cave under his snowmobile to survive. He was rescued within hours.

In another rescue, a woman broke her leg on the trail. Her family walked to their car, drove to where they could get cell coverage and called in their location. Rescuers hiked in to assess her situation. There were medical technicians on the team able to assist with her fracture.

Sheriff Jeff Jones, of Jefferson County, is in charge of Camp Sherman Search and Rescue. Jefferson, Linn and Deschutes counties often work in tandem.

"Everyone works to help each other. There's not a line on the ground defining territory," said Dave Blann, coordinator of Search and Rescue.

"A lot of people who are helped donate money or equipment. There is a non-profit arm of the team to handle donations so they are tax deductible. Things wear out in training and in projects, so there is a constant need for things like ropes, swift water equipment and fire gear."

Blann continued, "The volunteers also have a huge financial burden. Packs, boots, clothing are all expensive. My hat goes off to them for what they contribute."

The Hasty Team draws people from all walks of life.

"People come to us with specialty skills," said Blann, who is also a Deputy with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department. "Everyone learns the basics. Seventy hours of training in First Aid and Wilderness Survival Skills are required for the basic certificate. There are 30 certified members on the team representing 1,600 training hours this year of which 11 of the members are new. Some people have been on the Hasty Team for 15 or 20 years."

Blann offers advice for avoiding trouble in the wilderness.

"Let someone know you're going in. Be prepared to take care of yourself. Search and Rescue will assist you, but we have to know you're in trouble. The Forest Service maintains permit boxes at the trail heads where you should report who you are, when you went in and when you are coming out. We have contacted the Forest Service to see if people have filled them out. The important thing is to tell people where you're going and when you're coming back. Remember, you can walk a hundred yards from your vehicle and be lost."

Modern rescue technology is now more available to the general public. Newer vehicles contain GPS systems and colleges offer courses in their use. Most cell phones now have GPS as well. Blann recalls a family who called in lost. They had a GPS in their car, and with Blann's help over the phone were able to be directed back to the main roadway. He was able to rescue them and didn't have to leave his desk because they had the necessary tools to recover from what could have been a dangerous situation.

Hall, who spent a night lost in the woods near her house, also commented on the team's follow-up with her after the initial rescue.

"Granted, some of that is just report taking, but all the members of the team who were there that day have asked me how I was doing. They're all my heroes," she said.