Penticton Search and Rescue's Helicopter External Transport System team is having a busy year so far.
Image Credit: Photo contributed
August 29, 2016 - 4:56 PM
PENTICTON - Penticton Search and Rescue is having another busy summer, and the team's helicopter rescue unit is particularly busy.
Search and rescue spokesperson Randy Brown says the last nine days included six callouts from the Provincial Emergency Coordination Centre involving a range of calls.
Three calls involved the Helicopter External Transport System team as they responded to medical emergencies involving injured ATV riders and hikers.
The helicopter team is normally used between six and 10 times a year, but this year the team has been called out 12 times already, with four months left in the year.
Brown says the Penticton search and rescue team regular task load is also running higher than normal with 38 tasks so far this year. He says the team could be on line repeat last year’s 55 events.
“Historically, we have seen 30 to 35 incidents a year, but the trend has been increasing with increasing outdoor activity in the region,” Brown says.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2016