09/13/2026
🥾 Wilderness First Aid: Training for the Real World
Wilderness First Aid training was the final training for 2026 new member cohort to become mission ready and begin responding to searches, and they finished strong! We now have more than 30 additional searchers available to assist with missing person searches throughout western Pennsylvania.
After a morning of lectures and hands-on skills taught by AMRG's emergency physicians and paramedics, members put what they learned to the test in a mock scenario. Of course, Mother Nature decided to add a little excitement to the challenge with wet and slippery conditions. But that’s the reality of Search and Rescue — conditions don’t always cooperate!
Our members did a great job caring for the patient, keeping him as dry as possible, and safely carrying him out through the challenging terrain. 💪
The hands-on learning didn’t stop there. Members also practiced using the Team’s vacuum mattress, another important piece of equipment we may rely on during a real mission.
Training is also an opportunity to inspect our equipment. With all the gear we use during trainings, we can identify damage, wear and tear, and anything that may need attention. Because when it’s time to use that equipment for real, that’s not the time to discover something needs to be taken out of service.
And it wasn’t all work and no play! After drying off, members headed over to Herman Community Day at Herman Volunteer Fire Department to spend some time doing public relations and connecting with the community.
A HUGE THANK YOU to the Herman Volunteer Fire Company for allowing us to use their building and surrounding property for our training!
Another day of learning, practicing, preparing, and building the skills needed when someone needs our help. 🚨
