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Some decisions are really hard. Especially at the TCSAR hangar, where the team has an assortment of snacks and goodies to keep them Rescue Ready. There is also equipment for every kind of call out. But which one are you gonna use?
As we enter the final stretch of Old Bill’s Giving Season, watch this video to find out, and please consider making a donation to TCSAR Foundation through OldBills.org. We’ll make sure to keep the volunteers’ pockets full with whatever they need to be successful.
Whether it’s an all-night slog through woods to rescue a lost hiker in the rain, running a wheeled litter up a trail to a CPR in progress, or skiing through avalanche debris carrying a heavy pack and medical gear when every second counts, Teton County Search & Rescue volunteers are known for their physical feats.
But what really sets them apart are their soft skills: compassion and respect for patients and their families, applying psychological first aid in the field, and knowing how to navigate stressful situations that lead to positive outcomes.
It's this balance between the mental and physical demands of the job that helps the volunteers be Rescue Ready throughout the year. But it's not easy, and the volunteers gain strength from your generous support.
We are just three days away from Old Bill's Fun Run, and 10 days away from the close of Giving Season. Please help us get across the finish line in style!
“I want to make sure that when I’m out in the field, I’m 100 percent ready for that person, to be there for that person, and care for them.”
When operating around the helicopter, TCSAR volunteers follow this important mantra: Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.
“There’s a lot going on–lots of noise, wind and things move pretty fast–so it can be nice to slow things down,” says Ian Johnston, who joined the team just this past year and went through his inaugural helicopter training. “We don’t ever rush when we’re around the helicopter. Pilot Steve Wilson is as cool as a cucumber and will allow you to figure out what you need to do to complete the mission.”
Ashley Didion, another new volunteer, recalls how much her training came into play on her first heli mission.
We are about halfway to reaching our goal for providing a year's worth of training and equipment purchases for TCSAR volunteers! If you haven't donated yet, please know that all contributions are currently doubled and go directly toward TCSAR's emergency helicopter operations. Double your impact today!
"My first heli rescue happened March 13, 2021,” she says. “There were two lost skiers in the backcountry, unprepared to stay the night. It was this experience that relayed to me how strategic the team's training had been. I knew my gear, the steps to prepare for a safe flight, was prepared for communication with my helmet and radio, could enter and exit without hesitation, and knew the roles of my teammates. These skills of preparation and communication were already seeded and well rooted."
About 45 minutes before sundown, the team spotted the lost skiers from the air, landed nearby and flew them out of the backcountry so they might ski another day.
"I was boggled by how small they were," Didion says. "There is a skill in sighting a person from the air."
She stresses how much emphasis TCSAR places on collective team humility and understanding.
"There is no pride or shaming on this team, especially around the heli," Didion says. "We put ourselves at risk to save others, and this risk is never forgotten, it is never misunderstood. The pilot always says how many 'souls' he has on board. We put our souls into our training and rescues, and I love how it is never unrecognized by all on the team."
Thank you to everyone who has already donated during this Heli-Yes! campaign. Your contributions truly make a difference in people's lives.
