Jasper National Park’s visitor safety team and initial attack (fire) crew, as well as other supporting staff, recently participated in a fire and rescue training scenario to hone their heli-sling skills.
This annual heli-sling training exercise is coordinated in conjunction with a helicopter company that has Parks Canada approved rescue pilots. The exercise ensures that all rescue staff are familiar with current protocols and techniques, and enables JNP to meet Canadian Air Regulations.
The training begins with a classroom session in which staff review the equipment, procedures, and legalities associated with conducting helicopter operations for mountain rescue work. Following the classroom session is a field session, where participants conduct live heli-sling operations, usually as part of a rescue scenario.
JNP’s visitor safety team uses the heli-sling rescue technique to access technical mountain terrain quickly for the purpose of search, rescue and recovery. Specifically, this technique is used when landing the helicopter at the site is not possible.
Visitor safety training is on-going throughout the year, and resource conservation staff that contribute to search and rescue operations are all involved. Other training includes terrestrial travel (glacier, climbing, skiing), water (swift water, open water, and ice rescue), and the provision of first aid in a backcountry environment.
Parks Canada
Special to the Fitzhugh
