VSAR: Behind the scenes

The hard work and dedication of Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers is much appreciated by those who unfortunately may need their services.

However the public may not always be aware of the wide variety of tasks SAR teams are involved in.

Those at Vernon Search and Rescue are taking the opportunity to film some of the rescue missions they are called out on and produce videos to educate people on the volunteers' efforts.

Spokesperson Trevor Honigman said Vernon SAR has helped the community and the province, for more than 55 years.

“Since VSAR is a non-profit group composed entirely of volunteers, throughout the year we fundraise for our equipment, training, and operating budget,”  Honigman explained. “Recently we decided to create short informational videos to help raise awareness of our unit and to serve as visual tools to educate interested audiences.”

Honigman said the videos are the result of many individuals working together to gather, process and compile the pictures, video clips and information needed for production.

There are 65 volunteers on the VSAR team who respond to approximately 40 callouts annually.

The first video in the VSAR series follows volunteers as they search for a missing elderly woman who walked away from a care home on March 7.

Follow the series here.

Photo: VSAR