Scouts learn search and rescue

BYRAM — Last month, Venturing Crew 276 traveled to Camp Somers to meet members of the New Jersey Search and Rescue team to learn about search and rescue.

The program started in the camp’s health lodge where they learned about many different pieces of search and rescue equipment, search techniques, hazards encountered while doing a search, first aid, different types of search and rescue teams such as dog teams, mountain rescue teams, dive teams and more.

What is special about the NJSAR team is that in addition to being made up of volunteers, their service is free. They are also a dog team and mountain rescue team within their normal search and rescue team.

After some class time, the scouts headed outside to see their trailer and what was in it including a back board, used for traumatic patients unable to walk to safety. Instead of just being a typical back board with the straps and head support, they have a clear piece of plastic that protect the face of the victim. The back board can be detached into two pieces so that it can be put on two team members backs and can be easily hiked in to where the situation is.

This trip was great and the crew plans on helping train their search dogs by playing “Hide and Seek” in the future.

Venturing is a youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women who are 14 through 20 years of age.

Venturing Crew 276 meets monthly in Byram Township at the Lakeland Emergency Squad building.

For more information visit www.venturecrew276.com.