Water rescue volunteers bracing for increased work load
Posted January 16, 2013 7:18 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The North Shore-based volunteers tasked with saving lives on local waters are expecting a doubling of rescue calls.
They’re saying it’s because of the spring closure of the Kitsilano Coast Guard Station.
Past President of the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, Randy Strand, says there’s a station at Horseshoe Bay and under the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge, each doing 30 to 40 rescues a year.
“We do everything from a boat sinking, medical emergencies on a boat or on land, or more mundane things,” he explains.
Strand admits volunteers aren’t looking forward to the extra work and didn’t ask for it, but they are ready to respond when asked to. “At this point, based on projections and expectations, they’re confident they can handle the extra volume.”
Strand expects more calls from English Bay once the Kits base closes and says there’s a policy of on-call volunteers getting to the station and rescue boat in 15 minutes, in case of an emergency.
Strand says their bringing aboard five more volunteers and training hard to deal with the anticipated extra volume.
