Wyoming Hoist Rescue

12/08/2024

This past week members of the Wyoming Hoist Team traveled to Cheyenne for a winter training with the Wyoming Army National Guard. Three days were spent refreshing hoist skills at remote training sites. Day one was spent refreshing basic skills on easy terrain with both the Stable Flight Bag, a type of litter used to lift severely injured people, and the Aerial Rescue Vest, a piece of equipment used to quickly and safely extract a subject with minor or no injuries. Days 2&3 transitioned into more technical insertion and extractions in mountainous locations. The Wyoming hoist team is comprised of an all volunteer group of mountain rescue professionals from around the state that include, Wilderness First Responders, EMT’s, Paramedics, Physicians Assistant and a Physician. We continually strive to maintain a high level of proficiency in all aspects of mountain rescue so that we can serve the people of our state and also all those who recreate in this beautiful place we call home. Once again, a huge thanks to the Wyoming Army National Guard for their support of this program and also to the dedication of our hoist team members for the many hours they dedicate to making this service possible.

08/02/2024

Another successful rescue with our partners at the Wyoming Army National Guard. So grateful for the teamwork again.

07/17/2024

Last week, 8-12 July 2024, 8 members of the Wyoming Hoist Team from Big Horn County, Park County and Natrona County traveled to Cheyenne to participate in annual hoist training with the WYARNG. Training consisted of annual recertification on day 1. The remaining time was spent doing different types of hoists using the Stable Flight Bag, a piece of equipment used to hoist a non ambulatory patient horizontally and a rescue vest that is used to hoist a patient with less serious injuries. These men and women are dedicated professionals who are selected based on a serious commitment to search and rescue who all have a minimum of 3 years experience in technical mountain rescue on their respective teams, hold a minimum of a Wilderness First Responder although many hold higher certifications with Wilderness EMT's, EMT Intermediates, Paramedics, PA's, MD's and IFMGA mountain guides and commit to stay current in these fields throughout their time on the team. The Wyoming Hoist Team is now in it's 5th year and has performed many successful rescues and also tied for 2nd place in the Army's annual DUSTOFF Association award ceremony for missions in 2023. This team is available to respond around the state anywhere a technical hoist rescue is needed. Pictures are from the training and from 2023 missions.

12/18/2023

Members of the Wyoming Hoist Team, comprised of a group of professionals from around the state who provide rescue services in the state of Wyoming, conducted winter hoist training in the Big Horn Mountains on December 15 & 16, 2023. The team operates using a hoist-capable helicopter, which allows them to access remote and difficult terrain. This is the only hoist capable helicopter in the state. The team includes rescue technicians, Wilderness First Responders, Wilderness EMT's, a PA, Dr, paramedics and IFMGA guides who possess expertise in ice, rock, alpine, and glacier rescue.
The Wyoming Hoist Team is a unique resource in the state, providing critical support during emergencies and rescues and bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the state. They are a vital asset to the state's emergency response capabilities, and their work is invaluable in saving lives. This year alone they have performed several mountain rescue hoist operations and saved SAR teams many hundreds of man hours to bring injured and sick people out of the mountains.
This is a special collaboration between search and rescue teams and the Wyoming Army National Guard out of Cheyenne that is now in it's fourth year. We are very thankful for the support of the service members that take the time to fly up and train with us. The trust that has been built between our teams is invaluable and we will strive to maintain this by continuing to train and grow as a team. We also want to thank all that support us with funding, donations and the families that let us leave to train. We would not be here today without all that support.

08/06/2023

Thanks again to WYARNG for their support. We have saved hundreds of man hours of ground team time this year alone because of this program.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Wyoming Army National Guard worked with a Big Horn County search and rescue team to evacuate an injured man stranded on Cloud Peak.On July 25 at about 7 p.m., the Big Horn County

07/31/2023

Another successful rescue in the books

07/28/2023

Without the help of a hoist capable Blackhawk and experienced crew, this mission would have taken a large ground crew many, many hours to get the injured subject off the mountain. Huge thanks once again to the crew who flew up to help out, to the state for offering this resource, to Wyoming Homeland Security for their help in getting this resource and for all the other pieces that work together to help on these missions.

07/07/2023

A huge thanks to our partners at the Wyoming Army National Guard for their dedication to this program!

06/11/2023

On Saturday, June 10, 2023, the Wyoming Hoist Team conducted summer training with two Blackhawks and aircrews from the Wyoming Army National Guard in Cheyenne. The Wyoming Hoist Team is comprised of 12 rescue techs from 3 different SAR teams with a variety of skills including technical mountain rescue and advanced medical life support skills. Weather was a factor with active thunderstorms around the area but we were able to get some quality training in with both insertions and extractions. Our team also completed certification training from Peak Rescue using the Petzl Lezard. The Lezard is a piece of equipment that allows our hoist rescue technicians to connect to a fixed anchor after being inserted into an area where, due to technical terrain, they must be tied off prior to disengagement from the helicopter hoist cable hook. The Lezard ensures that the helicopter is never hard tied to the anchor through the rescue tech and allows the helicopter to leave the scene at any time without the danger of dropping the rescue tech as they transition from the hook to a fixed anchor on the mountain. Thanks again to the WYARNG crews who bring this amazing resource to our state and for the dedication of our SAR team members, both rescue techs and other supporting members, who give thousands of hours each year in training time. Thanks also to Sherrif Blackburn and the other sheriffs who support us in training using this awesome asset. Without all the support we receive, we could not provide this service to all those who live in this beautiful place and also those that come to Wyoming to recreate in this awesome place we get to call home.

03/13/2023

The Wyoming Hoist Team conducted winter training March 9-11. The team is comprised of a specialized group of professionals who provide hoist rescue services in the state. We work in conjunction with the Wyoming Army National Guard using their aircraft, pilots and crew to support hoist rescue missions anywhere in Wyoming. We want to thank all the dedicated service people who take time away from their families to train with us and provide this service to the state as well as all the SAR members and others who give so much time and dedication to this program.

12/25/2022

Merry Christmas to all our friends and especially to the service men and women and all first responders who are working today to keep us safe!

08/31/2022