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Show 16 ST. GEORGE — For the week of November a” 2008 NEIGHBORHOODS The Spectrum — www.thespectrum.com Patrol rescues hiker during simulated emergency By JEN WATKINS West Side: Your community For St. George Neighborhoods HURRICANE — Cadets from the St. George and Cedar City Squadrons of the Civil Air Patrol rescued an injured hiker during a simulated training exercise Oct. 25 in Hurricane near Sky Ridge. Lt. Col. G. Larry Eitel said the training exercise began when a_ simulated hiker failed to check in at a contact point near the Virgin River. The hiker had started at the water tank on the volcano to the Virgin River and was not allowed to walk through the subdivision. When he failed to check in, an aircrew was assigned to fly its CAP Cessna 182 aircraft from the St. George airport to the water tank, and then perform a creeping-line search pattern for a target 1,000 feet below ground. Eitel said the aircrew spotted the target, a simulated victim on a blue tarp, in the lava beds just west of the Sky Ridge subdivision within 15 minutes. The plane circled the accident site and transmitted the GPS location back to mission base at the . .St. George airport. Mission base dispatched the cadet | ground team who was given turn--by- -turn directions from the aircrew by air-to-ground radio comsmunication. Eitel said had the exercise been a real emergency, mission base would have coordinated with the Washington WU Ua NECESSARY — JUST nay Photo courtesy of Lt. Col. G. ae Eitel, JJr. Cadets from the Civil Air Patrol Ground Team provide area security around a simulated injured hiker near Sky Ridge in Hurri- County Sheriff's office and other local agencies. No local agencies were involved in this training exercise. CAP is the official auxiliary of the US. Air Force that conducts search and rescue services to aid counties in Utah and other states to save lives from: downed airplanes; lost hikers; disasters such as earthquakes, floods and cane on Oct. 25. CAP is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force that conducts search and rescue services to aid Utah counties. fires; and disaster relief that includes Home Land Security: tasks, Eitel said. “These volunteers represent a locally available talent and asset pool for municipal, state and federal governments to utilize as a costeffective aerial and group support resource, he said. Southern Utah has five squadrons of CAP mem- bers, including cadets ages 12-18 and senior volunteers. Volunteers conduct in emergencies. “Eitel said CAP aircraft have previously transported eSee RESCUE on pg. 17 * Natural Foods * Frozen Yogurt * Organic Products * Food Supplements ele Evie cele (tle Hours: - Fri. 8:30- 6:30 Sat. 9:00 - 2:00 NOW OPEN ANY LAB TEST NOW® provides thousands of standard lab tests to consumers and employers professionally. conveniently and cost-effectively. search and rescue for the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, he said. They can also assist local and state governments . |