Southern Vermont Technical Rescue

08/25/2023

🚨 To continue following the latest from the Southern Vermont Technical Rescue Team:

Like/Follow Rescue Inc.

08/09/2023

Check out VEMSA's website for more information. There is also a discount for taking both classes.

08/09/2023

This past spring members of our team attended an animal rescue course. This course allowed us to practice our skills and work with other teams from around the State. (all animals in these pictures are training props, not real)

05/18/2022

Members of the Southern Vermont Technical Rescue team assisted Putney Fire and Rescue and Rescue Inc. with a hiker who experienced a medical emergency while hiking on Putney Mountain. The hiker was extricated from the woods and evaluated by medical personnel.

05/09/2022

Brattleboro Reformer had a nice article on our training a few weeks ago. Although, Kris didn't mention that he joined us for some time on the water. Thank you to the Reformer for a nice article.

WINDHAM COUNTY — With laughs, smiles, and wearing (for the moment) nice dry suits, members of Rescue Inc., jumped into the cold waters around Windham County during a five-day swift-water

04/27/2022

The Technical Rescue Team was activated 4/27/2022 at approximately 1354 hours to assist the Vermont State Police locate a hiker who had become disoriented while on the Black Mountain Trail in Dummerston. The victim had a mobile phone and was able to contact 9-1-1 who obtained GPS coordinates for the person. The team was able to walk to the victim's location quickly. The victim made their way out of the woods under their own power and was transported to their vehicle.

04/14/2022

Rescue Inc.'s Technical Rescue Team held their annual swift-water training and refresher certification in Windham County.
The team covered topics including
• Safe operations around the water’s edge
• How to understand and “read” the hydrology of the water
• Swift-water entry and swimming
• Recovering victims via throw bag, wading into swift water, contact swim, raft, and power boat
• Searching for victims in swift and flood waters using raft and boogie board
• Understanding river flow to identify potential locations for victims when searching in swift and flood water
• Tethered raft operations for victim recovery in swift and flood water
• Recovery of victims stranded in swift water
• Safe setup and operation of highlines

Team members received both classroom and practical education in the field. Team members demonstrated proficiency in all skills with senior team members assisting with training, providing safety oversight, and honing their own skills. New members of the team who complete this course are well on their way to earning their swift-water technician certification.

This five-day training had the team based out of their “tent city” in Newfane and operating on the waters of the Stickney Brook and West River with the culmination in the challenging and very technical Sumner Falls in Hartland, VT.

Members of the team, who had completed the online portion of the Vermont Basic Search and Rescue certification, showed proficiency in land navigation. Neil Van D**e, the Search & Rescue Coordinator for the Vermont Dept. of Public Safety, was onsite to setup and administer the proficiency examination.

During the training exercises the team was activated three times giving them the opportunity to put their skills to the test. Two activations in Hinsdale, a hiker and canine companion who had fallen down a cliff and needed extrication, and a lost hiker in Pisgah State Park. One activation in Dummerston where the team was training in the West River and came upon a kayaker who advised they had self-rescued; however, their kayak was stuck in the river. To mitigate public concern (of a kayak with no visible occupant) the team searched for, located, and extricated the kayak and returned it to its owner.

09/07/2021

A great video featuring our brothers and sisters on the Medical side as well as a spot out to our tech team. Come and join us!!

09/05/2021

A sad outcome, but glad to be of service with Vermont State Police.

GAGEVILLE — Vermont State Police and personnel from Rescue Inc. recovered what they believe is the body of a New York City woman from the Saxtons River Monday afternoon, a

08/13/2021

We are SO pleased to have Josh as our Director! Thanks for all you do Josh.

"Being a part of the Tech Rescue team is one of my favorite things about working here. Training weekly prepares us for when we are actually called to action. Being able to make split second decisions and staying calm under immense pressure is key to a successful rescue."

-Josh Brooks, EMT & Director of Special Teams