eams compete for the top spot
History of
GSAR
GSAR Task Force Team 1 completes a wide area search scenario.
victim who had fallen into a well.
Because of the rope work and
training they learned during these
GSAR exercises, they were already
knowledgeable and equipped to
perform the rescue successfully.
“The rope exercises that we do,
simple things like tying knots, and
ladder work makes us more efficient
with our regular fire duties. We’ve
had a couple trench rescues in our
area, right around the time our
team started up,” recalled Dickson.
“We’ve also had a water tower
rescue that had to be performed
in the area. Our team didn’t
necessarily get to respond to it,
but they were stood up ready to
assist the locals.”
The type of maneuvers and
equipment they use to perform
these simulated and real world
rescues use ropes, pulley systems,
rollers and airbags.“Basically like
the way the Egyptians did it,” said
Register.
GSAR Task Force teams rely on
this annual training GEMA/
HS hosts and funds. All the
scenarios in the exercise
simulate real world situations
departments’ encounter in
their every day jobs. For
many members, this exercise
is a chance to learn to work
together as a larger unit,
not just within their own
departments.
Left: GSAR Task Force Team
4 members work to complete
a trench exercise. (Photos by
Uyen Le Schneider.)
The first GSAR exercise
GEM