If coming to the rescue of those in distress is something you are interested in, Penticton Search and Rescue (PENSAR) may have a spot for you.
The volunteer group is looking at adding 10-14 recruits to their roster of 34, coming off one of their busiest years to date.
An open house on Sept. 5 at 251 Dawson Avenue from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. will show those interested the ropes.
“This year we’re looking for more volunteers because this past year has been our busiest year,” said Randy Brown, public relations officer for Penticton Search and Rescue.
On average, PENSAR is sent out on 30-32 operations or “task days,” this year crews have responded to about 45. The crews in Penticton also assist other teams in the Okanagan including Kelowna, Vernon, Keremeos and Princeton.
“The open house this weekend is to encourage people who are outdoor enthusiasts and want to join a team that’s dynamic if they have some time available to contribute,” Brown said.
Volunteers will assist PENSAR in medical evacuations in the backcountry areas of the Okanagan.
The open house will display the technical side of things relating to ground search and rescue, rope rescues as well as boat and helicopter rescue teams. Potential candidates will be given an overview of what PENSAR is all about and outline training requirements. Candidates will also be shown some of the basic equipment involved in PENSAR operations, and what they will have to provide themselves for equipment.
“The ideal candidate is somebody who number one has an interest and number two is committed to the training,” Brown said.
Those who are chosen out of the selection process will have to complete a 75-hour ground search and rescue course.
“We’re looking at somebody who is going to be committed to taking that training this fall,” Brown said. “It covers a wide range of things from survival to tracking, map and compass and rope rescue skills. There’s a wide range of areas that we teach people.”
Brown added they are searching for people with first aid training, however PENSAR will provide first aid training as well.
Another key trait PENSAR is looking for is availability, being able to spend the time on different tasks the crews take on, including helping with emergencies. PENSAR crews were recently tasked with aiding evacuation efforts in Oliver due to the wildfires.
“We do things like that, besides the basic search and rescue stuff we help out with evacuations or support local governments in times of emergencies,” Brown said.
Aside from the open house, PENSAR is also looking to recruit funding partners.
“A lot of people think that we’re 100 per cent wholly government funded. It’s not the case. We get a small grant from the Regional District, but our operation budget is $60,000-$65,000 a year to keep the doors open,” Brown said. “We’re really wholly dependent on community support and donations. It’s amazing how many people don’t know it.”
PENSAR is looking at maintaining sustainable funding throughout the community. Brown said hot dog sale-style fundraising efforts are not very practical for the volunteers who spend much of their time training and gaining qualifications.
“People don’t have a lot of time to do the fundraising traditionally,” Browns said. “I’d rather have people train, train, train and be ready to go.”
PENSAR is looking at small businesses to support their efforts with nominal fees, however the plan isn’t concrete as of yet. Brown said he would like a global community to support PENSAR, not just a select few.
Brown said that PENSAR is a positive addition to the community.
“If anybody gets injured they call us, we won’t charge you a fee or anything for it,” Brown said. “We just get out there and do it, so the police and ambulance really depend on us to respond with people who are well trained.”