Happy 2023 everyone! Another year has gone by and it's time for us to recap our 2022.
Your volunteers at RMES answered the bell 389 times in 2022. If number of calls for service can be seen as a bellwether for how the world is doing, things seem to be recovering. Obviously it's not great that people are needing our help more than in the past couple of years, but getting out and doing things is always a good idea - we just need to do it as safely as we can.
As per usual, medical calls took up the largest share of response types, counting for 48% of those 389 responses. RMES continues to have a robust team of medically-trained responders and equipment to help care for you when you need it.
Rescues of varying kinds were second most common in our calls in 2022, at 28%. This includes everything from motor vehicle collisions to backcountry rescues and varying other situations.
Fires made up 18% of our calls for service, and while that is continuing a downward trend over the past few years, we do still need to remain vigilant in all aspects of fire safety, both in the home and outdoors. All it takes is one brief spark to ruin your day!
Hazmat (hazardous materials) calls were only half a percent of our call totals this year, and the remaining 5.5% of calls were 'other' or uncategorizable assistance calls.
We've had some very unique responses over the past year, being requested for 'mutual aid' assistance a number of times - where outside agencies are specifically requesting either our unique equipment or unique skills on a scene. Our two longest responses in 2022 - each over 100km - involved taking our UTV (side-by-side all-terrain-vehicle) to perform a backcountry rescue and to assist at a large wildfire in difficult-to-access terrain.
As always, thanks to all of you for your support and for giving us room to work in an emergency, and thanks specifically to our families and friends for understanding when we have to abruptly take leave when the tones go off. We appreciate everything you do in our support!
Here's to a safe and happy 2023!
