Page 8 Congratulations Easstar Mine RescueCeam On Saturday, May 24, 1975 the Cassiar Mine Rescue Team travelled to Smithers, B.C. to take part in the Dept. of Mines Open Pit Mine Rescue Competition. The Cassiar Group put on a great performance and were awarded the 2nd place trophies. The first place trophies were won by Gibraltar Mines who narrowly edged out the Cassiar team. Cassiar scored high in Patient and stretcher hand1- ing, and team work. We were also the most colorful group in red hard hats and red coveralls. The problem was a very realistic one that could easily happen in this Area, and involved the use of a Jet Ranger Helicopter. The site was a large rock quarry near Smithers and suited the situation perfectly. The problem is as follows, accompanied by some spectator information. You and your rescue team are employed at a surface mine located in a remote part of B.C. Travel time by road from your mine to the nearest hospital is approx- imately six hours. e483 A helicopter supported exploration crew has been working 1 1/2 hours road time from your mine. The road to the exploration site is extremely rough. : The mechanic employed by the helicopter company has just arrived at the mine and reports that a geologist driving the exploration crews vehicle has driven over a rock bluff and your assistance is requested. The mechanic also advises you that the helicopter is expected back at the accident site in about one hour and forty-five minutes or about 15 minutes after you arrive there. His vehicle is equipped with a V.H.F. radio with which the helicopter can be contacted when it returns. Rescue equipment has been loaded into a van and the mechanic will drive you to the accident scene. Two members of the exploration crew will be avail- able to assist if required. Your job is to rescue the geologist and have him transported to hospital by the most convenient, fastest method possible. You will be judged on the basis of the efficiency of your rescue operation and your compliance with the principles of Surface Mine Rescue. . Time limit is 35 minutes and time will commence when your crew reaches the accident scene and emerges from the transport vehicle. -Time will end when the patient is dispatched to hospital and all rescue equipment has been returned to the van. The rescue team's problem is to remove the injured geologist from the vehicle, transport him up the steep embankment to a place where the helicopter can land. The patient must then be loaded into the helicopter and dis- patched to the hospital by helicopter. Before the casualty can be removed from the wrecked vehicle the vehicle must be properly secured so that no danger will exist to the people carrying out the rescue operation. The use of helicopters as aerial ambulances is be- coming more and more common in British Columbia and par- ticularly in remote areas where ground transportation is not readily available. The rescue crews must be con- scious of the hazards inherent in working around helicop- ters and they will be judged on the basis of this in the team work required to remove and transport the patient .from the vehicle to the helicopter location. Hh Spectator Information In today's problem a helicopter supported explora- tion crew which has been working near an open pit mine located in a remote area of B.C. has experienced an accident to one of their employees. A geologist travelling along a bush road has driven his vehicle over a bluff and the vehicle has come to rest in a precarious position on the edge of a bench above a steep cliff face. The nearest hospital is over seven hours drive from the location of the vehicle and the geologist who is in the vehicle is severly injured and must be removed to a hospital in the quickest possible way. The rescue crew is taken to the site and they are advised that the helicopter which is supporting the exploration work is due back on the site in about 15 minutes time. Radio communication is available between the rescue van and the helicopter. The teams and parent Companies are as follows: Wesfrob Mines Limited - Tasu, B.C. Granisle Copper Limited - Granisle, B.C. Cannex Placer Limited - Endako Mines Div. - Endako, B.C. Cassiar Asbestos Corp. Ltd. - Cassiar, B.C. Open Pit Mines Rescue: F. Venzi - Captain J. Forbes P. Clark J. Inch J. Hider W. Mayell C. Isidoro A. Borsato - Coach Utah Mines Limited - Port Hardy, B.C. Gibraltar Mines Limited - McLeese Lake, B.C. Noranda Mines Limited, Bell Copper Div. - Granisle, B.C. Transportation was by B.C. Yukon Kis Service by a 10 passenger Otter, and the flight along the Cassiar- Stewart Highway was beautiful. The only thing missing was washroom service. All in all the trip was very successful, very enjoyable and we can be proud of our Mine Rescue Team. Out of 4 Competions, Cassiar has one first place trophy and one second place and a strong determination for a first next year. eee eee nn A. Borsato, Safety Sup. Congratulations to the Mine Rescue Team for their second place (against very experienced and highly trained competition) at Smithers. How about No. 1 in 1976? | D.I.R. Henderson Inspector of Mines