Valley Search and Rescue upgrades underwater gear
CAMBRIDGE — Valley Search and Rescue is now better equipped to handle underwater location and recovery calls.
The underwater camera system on display at the team’s annual open house in Kings County on Saturday has been in use for several years, but a new component, a grappling claw, has recently been added.
The equipment now consists of three black and white search cameras and one colour camera that work in conjunction with the remote-control claw for recovery. A special hook can also be attached.
John Chambers, with the team’s special services division, operates and maintains the underwater system.
“The cameras are equipped with infrared lights, so the system works very well, even in the dark,” Chambers said.
The location camera connects to the end of a pole. When a lost item is located, the recovery camera and claw are sent down for retrieval.
“If it is a bigger item, we can attach a rope and a hook and lift objects that weigh as much as 150 pounds,” Chambers said.
The search team will not move or retrieve an item until they get permission from the search leader or police. This is to avoid compromising evidence if there is a crime involved.
“It’s a neat system,” Chambers said. “We had to do a few modifications and we can add more attachments in the future.”
The cameras run on battery power.
Through the national search and rescue network, other teams can request access to the equipment and an operator.
“It could be anywhere in Canada,” Chambers said. “If another team calls, we’ll go.”
The 86-member Valley Search and Rescue team is stationed in Cambridge, Kings County. Formed in 1971, it was one of the first search and rescue teams in the province. All members are volunteers.