The Charleston Grotto Issues Cave Rescue Fund Challenge

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The Charleston Grotto Issues Cave Rescue Fund Challenge

Postby George Phillips » Oct 28, 2007 6:58 pm

The Charleston Grotto Issues Cave Rescue Fund Challenge

In support and recognition of the recent efforts by Shavers Fork Fire Rescue (SFFR) to create a well-trained, equipped, and ready cave rescue resource and response team in Pocahontas and Randolph Counties, the Charleston Grotto is donating $100 to the SFFR Cave Rescue Fund, and challenges all grottoes and caving organizations in the Eastern Region - West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina - to match or exceed this donation.

The Shavers Fork Fire Rescue Department recently sponsored an ER-NCRC Orientation to Cave Rescue (OCR) training class in October 2007. This class was well attended by firefighters and EMS from the SFFR and Valley Head Fire Departments, law enforcement personnel, as well as local and regional cavers interested in learning or improving their basic cave search and rescue skills.

Lieutenant Kelly Bostian of the SFFR coordinated the OCR training course
with the ER-NCRC in an effort to create a local pool of trained cave rescue resources. Several of the SFFR staff have certified in NCRC Level 1 and Level 2 training.

The effort by SFFR to develop a local cave rescue unit has been in response to the recent number of cave rescue incidents in Pocahontas and Randolph Counties. These include several rescues at Sharps Cave and a large search and rescue operation at Simmons-Mingo Cave. Lt. Bostian's goal is to have an effective and operational cave rescue team that can respond to incidents, not only in the local area, but to any cave rescue in West Virginia or surrounding states.

SFFR is in the process of building its cave rescue equipment resources
including the purchase of a SKED, OSS, and Ferno stretchers. They are also planning to purchase a cave phone system that will be utilized to establish communications between the under-ground and above ground teams during a cave rescue incident.

Many of us enjoy caving in Randolph and Pocahontas Counties. Let's show our support of SFFR's efforts to create a dedicated, well-trained, and sustained cave rescue resource in central West Virginia. Hopefully, we won't ever need to utilize this resource but it sure is a comfort to know they exist.

If your group decides to take this challenge, please send your donation in
the form of a check made payable to "Shavers Fork Fire Rescue."

Please write "SFFR Cave Rescue Fund" on the memo line of the check, and please mail your donations to:

Shavers Fork Fire Rescue

c/o Lt. Kelly Bostian

PO Box 388

Snowshoe, WV 26209

Individual donations are also encouraged.

All donations to the SFFR Cave Rescue Fund will go to purchasing cave rescue equipment only.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact George Phillips at
304-553-4981 or phillipsg63@gmail.com

Please feel free to forward to other caving organizations / cavers in the
mid-Atlantic/Eastern Region.

Regards,
George Phillips
George Phillips
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Posts: 40
Joined: Jan 24, 2007 3:20 pm
Location: West Virginia
NSS #: 27623
Primary Grotto Affiliation: Charleston Grotto
  

Postby ljthawk » Oct 28, 2007 7:47 pm

Have the SFFR contact the Dogwood City Grotto and inquire about submitting a grant request. Do it quickly, in the past they usually decide in early December on what grants to fund.

L.J.
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