AB/BC cave diving emergency resources

[rjack321]

Not really in contact with many of the Vancouver Island folks diving Wet Dream - also not sure they are diving any of the other possible systems either. Be advised that IUCRR or any other volunteer rescue/recovery diving help is extremely limited. Any assistance is likely to be delayed even longer than you imagine by provincial bureaucracy. Anyway, if you could cross-post this issue to your relevant email and facebook groups etc. that would probably be wise. ABCCR = Alberta British Columbia Cave Rescue. To date nearly all of their call-outs have not involved diving, let's try and keep it that way.
Richard

Cave Dive Rescue Bulletin
Nov 2, 2021​

ABCCR Feels that the Cave diving community should be aware.

In the event of a cave diving accident or overdue party, western cave divers are being advised there are restrictions re: using volunteer divers for an emergency response.

The ABCCRS has done some logistical prep work by creating a callout list of trained cave divers and technical divers across Canada, and they have assembled maps for the major diving sites in western Canada. As well, the International Underwater Cave Rescue and Recovery Society (IUCRRS) is the recognized international umbrella cave diving rescue and recovery organization. It has members in BC and Canada, and if a major call goes out the Ontario-based coordinator is now on-board, and he will be a key person getting out-of-country experts to the rescue site.

Unfortunately, at present there is no formal agreement related to cave diving call-outs in BC or Alberta. Both provinces have policies forbidding the use of volunteers in diving situations, and the current ABCCRS agreement does not cover them. This means officially responses fall to the RCMP in BC – which has a surface supplied capability of 100 m of hose – and to a non-profit society in Alberta. They will be ineffective at best, and may be obstructive until they realize the gravity of a cave diving accident or missing party, and the expertise that is available.

The ABCCRS is trying to get a new agreement for these rare situations, but it may be some time coming as it is not deemed a priority by provincial officials.

So, the bottom line is simple - if you are caving beyond sumps or doing major cave dives, be as self-sufficient as possible. Have mitigations such as additional divers and equipment to be prepared to go back in and assess the situation so we know if it’s a fatality or a stranded party. This is key information given there may be delays in the ABCCRS / IUCRRS response. And you should still call 911 for any emergency.

We are still working with government to make sure we can respond as with other rescues, but at this time we want to let you know extra preparedness is needed.

ABCCR Provincial Coordinator
Cass Simpson

 

[Gareth J]

Somewhat surprised Canada doesn't have better co-ordination between specialist rescue groups.

The UK has volunteer rescue groups that are used by the emergency services across the country to provide specialised rescue skills, knowledge and equipment. in particular Mountain Rescue Teams and Cave Rescue Teams.

The cave rescue teams have just used 300+ volunteers over 3 days to rescue a caver in the Brecon Beacons.

Brecon Beacons: Rescued caver 'experienced and not frightened'

George Linnane is in hospital with multiple injuries after he was stranded in a cave for two days.

www.bbc.co.uk

Then you have groups like the cave diving rescue group that send volunteers all over the world to assist in rescues. - The Thai Cave Rescue.

 

[rjack321]

Somewhat surprised Canada doesn't have better co-ordination between specialist rescue groups.

The UK has volunteer rescue groups that are used by the emergency services across the country to provide specialised rescue skills, knowledge and equipment. in particular Mountain Rescue Teams and Cave Rescue Teams.

The cave rescue teams have just used 300+ volunteers over 3 days to rescue a caver in the Brecon Beacons.

Brecon Beacons: Rescued caver 'experienced and not frightened'

George Linnane is in hospital with multiple injuries after he was stranded in a cave for two days.

www.bbc.co.uk

Then you have groups like the cave diving rescue group that send volunteers all over the world to assist in rescues. - The Thai Cave Rescue.

This only applies to diving due to provincial policies about having volunteers breathing compressed gas underwater.

ABCCR has no problem supplying necessary expertise to a cave (dry) rescue or recovery. Pre-covid there was perhaps 1 call-out per year. To my knowledge only one of these was ever even quasi-diving related. A dry caver was stuck on the cave side of a rising sump about 10 years ago. They drained the sump and he was rescued - no diving involved.

 

[wedivebc]

Somewhat surprised Canada doesn't have better co-ordination between specialist rescue groups.

The UK has volunteer rescue groups that are used by the emergency services across the country to provide specialised rescue skills, knowledge and equipment. in particular Mountain Rescue Teams and Cave Rescue Teams.

The cave rescue teams have just used 300+ volunteers over 3 days to rescue a caver in the Brecon Beacons.

Brecon Beacons: Rescued caver 'experienced and not frightened'

George Linnane is in hospital with multiple injuries after he was stranded in a cave for two days.

www.bbc.co.uk

Then you have groups like the cave diving rescue group that send volunteers all over the world to assist in rescues. - The Thai Cave Rescue.

In spite of having over 1500 caves here on Vancouver Island, many of them underwater, there is little active cave diving going on here. The seasonal window is very narrow and most are quite remote.