Secretary Wayne McKay highlight

Member Highlight: Wayne McKay

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Our Secretary, Wayne McKay, has spent most of his life in pursuit of two things: serving his community, and time in the great outdoors. He worked for Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service for 41 years and served in the Primary Reserve army for 30 years. When he retired in 2014, he knew he wanted to stay involved in the community, so he joined YSSR to volunteer his time and energy.

“Besides giving back to my community I get to meet and interact with other great search and rescue volunteers from various backgrounds. I enjoy my participation whether I am working as a searcher, a search manager-in-training or any other task that needs to be fulfilled.”

Notre secrétaire, Wayne McKay, a passé la majeure partie de sa vie à la recherche de deux choses: servir sa communauté et passer du temps au grand air. Il a travaillé pour Ressources naturelles Canada, Service canadien des forêts pendant 41 ans et a servi dans l’armée de la Première réserve pendant 30 ans. Quand il a pris sa retraite en 2014, il savait qu’il voulait rester impliqué dans la communauté, alors il a rejoint YSSR pour donner de son temps et de son énergie.

“En plus de redonner à ma communauté, je rencontre et interagis avec d’autres grands bénévoles en recherche et sauvetage de divers horizons. J’apprécie ma participation que je travaille en tant que chercheur, gestionnaire de recherche en formation ou tout autre autre tâche à accomplir.”

Hiking Snacks

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When our team is out in the woods we are always sure to take nutrious snacks so that we keep our bodies fueled and our energy up. If you’re planning to head out hiking or camping, you may be wondering what kinds of food to bring with you, and we have some recommendations.

How long you’re planning on being out will determine how much perishable food you bring with you; fresh foods like fruit and vegetables, along with cheese and dried meats, are great snacks, but have a limited period in which they can be safely consumed. Snacks that do not need to be refridgerated and have a longer shelf life, like nuts and nut butters, crackers and granola bars, and dried fruits and trail mixes, are great for longer hikes. If you’ll be camping or spending more than a few hours out in the woods and need to carry your food on you, there are lots of great packaged and DIY options available—”instant” items such as minute rice, freeze-dried beans, and boxed mashed potatoes make great bases for hot meals.

Overall, it’s best to focus on calorie dense and nutritious options so that you can carry enough food to sustain you without adding unnecessary weight to your pack. For more information, check out https://www.adventurealan.com/best-backpacking-food/

Lorsque notre équipe est dans les bois, nous sommes toujours sûrs de prendre des collations nutritives afin de garder notre corps alimenté et notre énergie. Si vous prévoyez de partir en randonnée ou en camping, vous vous demandez peut-être quels types de nourriture apporter, et nous avons quelques recommandations.

Combien de temps vous prévoyez de sortir déterminera la quantité de denrées périssables que vous apportez avec vous; les aliments frais comme les fruits et légumes, ainsi que le fromage et les viandes séchées, sont d’excellentes collations, mais ont une période limitée pendant laquelle ils peuvent être consommés en toute sécurité. Les collations qui n’ont pas besoin d’être réfrigérées et qui ont une durée de conservation plus longue, comme les noix et les beurres de noix, les craquelins et les barres granola, ainsi que les fruits secs et les mélanges montagnards, sont idéales pour les randonnées plus longues. Si vous campez ou passez plus de quelques heures dans les bois et que vous avez besoin de transporter votre nourriture sur vous, il existe de nombreuses options emballées et de bricolage disponibles—des articles “instantanés” tels que du riz minute, du gel- les haricots secs et la purée de pommes de terre en boîte constituent d’excellentes bases pour les repas chauds.

Dans l’ensemble, il est préférable de se concentrer sur des options riches en calories et nutritives afin que vous puissiez transporter suffisamment de nourriture pour vous soutenir sans ajouter de poids inutile à votre sac. Pour plus d’informations, consultez https://www.adventurealan.com/best-backpacking-food/

Vice President Dave Blanchard highlight

Member Highlight: Dave Blanchard

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Dave Blanchard, our Vice President, has an impressive service record that we’re proud to share with you today. He spent 20 years in the military in an armoured corp, and 10 more in life cycle management and equipment trials. He has 1000 hours logged flying in Helo as Navigation, OH58 (Jet Ranger).

Dave joined YSSR in February of 2017, and since then has devoted much of his time and energy to training, adminstration, and active searching—including being elected VP in 2019. He loves to help any way he can, and joined to give back to our community; we are truly luckily to have him.

Dave Blanchard, notre vice-président, a un dossier de service impressionnant que nous sommes fiers de partager avec vous aujourd’hui. Il a passé 20 ans dans l’armée dans un corps blindé et 10 autres dans la gestion du cycle de vie et les essais d’équipement. Il a accumulé 1000 heures de vol à Helo en tant que Navigation, OH58 (Jet Ranger).

Dave a rejoint YSSR en février 2017, et depuis lors, a consacré une grande partie de son temps et de son énergie à la formation, l’administration et la recherche active—y compris être élu vice-président en 2019. Il aime aider de toutes les manières possibles. et se sont joints pour redonner à notre communauté; nous avons vraiment de la chance de l’avoir.

President Bradley Parker highlight

Member Highlight: Bradley Parker

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Meet our current President, Bradley Parker. When he’s not running around the woods in orange, Bradley’s a security analyst at the IBM software lab in Fredericton.

“I joined the team to help out the community, I hated seeing events like Arthur or the 2017 ice storm impact the province and feeling like I wasn’t doing anything to help out. A lot of people don’t realize that we don’t just search, but people like EMO can call us out to help in other emergencies as well.

“Other than helping make a difference, it’s a great excuse to justify to my wife why I need more flashlights and gear,” he jokes.

Pour débuter, voici notre président, Bradley Parker. Lorsqu’il ne court pas dans les bois en portant la couleur orange, il est analyste en sécurité au laboratoire de logidiels IBM à Fredericton.

“J’ai joins l’équipe afin d’aider la communauté, je détestais voir les évenemenets comme Arthur ou la tempête de verglas de 2017 avoir un impact sur la province et avoir l’impression de ne rien faire pour aider. Beaucoup de gens ne réalisent pas que nous ne sommes pas seulement responsable pour rechercher les personnes perdues, mais que les gens au bureau des mesures d’organisation d’urgence peuvent également nous appeler pour aider dans d’autres situations d’urgence.

En plus d’aider à faire une différence, c’est une excellente excuse pour justifier auprès de ma femme que j’ai besoins de plus de lampes de poches et d’équipement,” plaisante-t-il.

tick life stages

Blacklegged (Deer) Ticks: What You Need to Know

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With the warm weather, all kinds of critters are coming out to explore the world, and while we’re happy to see the bees and hear the birds singing, there’s one little creature we’re less happy to see: ticks.

There are a few different kinds of ticks in New Brunswick, but the one to watch out for is the blacklegged tick, also known as the deer tick. Blacklegged ticks are common in NB, and can carry Borrelia—the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease—meaning, if you are bit by an infected tick, there’s a chance you could be exposed. Tick season in NB runs from April to November, and are typically found in areas that have long grass, brush, or are wooded. Be sure to wear full-coverage clothing and bug repellent if you’re planning to be out in fields, in the woods, or on trails to prevent exposure. When you come home, check your clothes, yourself, and your pets for any hitchhikers, especially in creases like behind the ears, in armpits, between the legs, and behind the knees, as well as in and around hair.

If you do find a tick, don’t panic! Remove the tick safely and completely, with pointed tweezers, a tick removal kit, or the “straw and string” method (for more information. After that, reach out to your local health authority or https://www.etick.ca/ for testing. With Etick.ca, you can take a photo and upload it to be connected with an expert who will work with you to identify the tick, any possible health risks, and provide guidance on next steps. This is a great resource that provides the public with accessible tick information and assistance, and uses the data submitted to better predict tick numbers and movement.

CanLyme tick kit

Lyme Disease Awareness Month

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May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month, a time to spread information on how to prevent Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. In our next post, we’re going to talk a little bit about blacklegged (deer) ticks, which carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, but today we’re going to share some information about Lyme itself.

Cases of Lyme disease in Canada have been rising over the last 10 years, and has been especially bad in Nova Scotia. Lyme disease is particularly hard to track because there are a wide range of varying symptoms so Lyme is often misdiagnosed as something else. You’re likely familiar with the classic “bullseye” rash, but there are actually over 100 identified symptoms! There are three stages of Lyme: early, spreading, and chronic infection. Lyme disease is most treatable during Stage 1; after that, symptoms worsen and diagnosis and treatment become more difficult.

The best thing you can do is decrease your risk of infection by educating yourself about Lyme disease and taking preventative action. Check out our next post for more information!

recommendations to avoid heat illnesses

Beat the Heat!

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I think we can all agree, New Brunswick’s weather can be all over the place. A few weeks ago, we had snow, and this past week we had extreme heat warnings! It’s important to be prepared for NB’s climate whenever you’re outside, and in the summer, that means being aware of the health risks that come along with heat and humidity.

Heat-related illnesses are caused by being over-exposed to extreme heat and/or over-working yourself in that heat. They can come on quickly and can lead to more serious issues such as long-term health problems or even death. Heat illnesses include heat-induced edema (swelling of hands, feet, and ankles), rash, muscle cramps, fainting, exhaustion, and stroke. Avoid these illnesses by keeping an eye on the forecast, staying cool with air conditioning, fans, and appropriate clothing, and keeping hydrated. Plan outdoor activities, such as exercise, hiking, picnics, or yard work for cooler days or cooler times of day, such as in the morning or evening, to avoid exposure to extreme heat. Pay attention to your body and to those around you, and if you see or experience any symptoms of heat illnesses—such as dizziness/fainting, nausea/vomiting, headache, rapid breathing/heartbeat, or changes in behaviour such as irritibility or sleepiness (especially in children)—get to a cooler place and drink some cold water.

When you get as much snow as we do, you want to make the most of the hot weather; just be sure you’re doing it safely!

poison ivy leaves

Poisonous Plants to Watch Out For in New Brunswick

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Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac grow in wooded or marshy areas throughout North America. They actually aren’t really poisonous—they produce a sticky oil called urushiol that causes an itchy, blistering rash after it touches your skin.

You may have heard the saying “leaves of three, let it be”—poison ivy has three shiny leaves, one in the middle and two on either side. Poison oak looks similar, but the leaves are grouped in threes, fives, or sevens, and are larger, more rounded, and have a hairy surface. Poison sumac grows as a shrub or tree, and its leaves grow in clusters of seven to thirteen leaves, with one by itself at the end.

You can avoid coming into accidental contact with posion ivy, oak, or sumac by wearing long-sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves, and closed shoes. If you’ve gotten any of the plants’ oil on your skin, wash it right away with warm soapy water or use alcohol wipes to remove it.

You may see a red rash appear in 24-72 hours and last up to three weeks. Over-the-counter medicine can provide relief from itchiness, as can cool compresses and oatmeal baths. Luckily, the rash isn’t contageous! Seek medical attention if the rash is close to your eyes or is widespread over your body, and go to the emergency room if you experience nausea, fever, shortness of breath, extreme soreness at the rash site, or swollen lymph nodes.