Saskatoon Search and Rescue now has its own rescue truck, rather than having to pack up gear in the vehicles of its volunteers each time they respond to an incident.
Vice-President Kent Orosz says they are Saskatoon-based but as members of Search and Rescue Saskatchewan, they also respond in other parts of the province, so the volunteer rescuers would have to try to figure out what was needed to take with them, which takes extra time and with a rescue, Orosz says, minutes can mean the difference between life and death.
The truck means most of the gear is ready to go and it can transport their emergency command centre trailer when needed.
Orosz highlights a situation when they were responding to a missing person in the north and when they were loading up their truck the decision was made to add their traverse mule, which makes it easier to transport a person through bush and rough terrain.
They took it, and Orosz believes it helped in getting the person to safety more quickly and possibly saving his life.
Now, they don’t have to make that decision, because the traverse mule is already packed.
Saskatoon Search and Rescue is a registered charity. You can click here to access their website and to donate.