Search and Rescue team qualifies seven for swift water rescues

Seven members of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team on April 24 qualified as swift water rescue technicians just in time for the spring runoff.

Team members spent three days on the Truckee River learning new techniques and honing their swift water rescue capabilities. This included watercraft usage, throw line deployment, boat flip recovery, and many other swift water rescue techniques.

The team is regularly called out for out-of-bound skiers but doesn’t get that many swift-water rescue calls.

Volunteers support search and rescue operations throughout Douglas County and support larger operations in neighboring counties.

Over the last eight months, the team has put in an average of just under 1,400 hours a month, including support for wildfire evacuations, rescue for people stuck in the pine nuts and near Leviathan Mine, and multiple lost skiers rescue.

“They are a dedicated group and also train in rescue capabilities that include swift water, technical ropes, wilderness first aide, winter rescues and managing lost person incidents,” officials said.

The team is always looking for qualified volunteers. If interested, visit the team’s website at https://douglassar.org/ and follow the “join DCSAR link.”