During the May Long weekend Cochrane Search and Rescue volunteers assisted RCMP and Alberta Conservation Officers near McLean creek.

Even with wet weather many dedicated campers headed to the area for the weekend, President & K9 Handler with Cochrane Search and Rescue, Andy Potton says, thankfully it was still a quiet weekend.

"Nothing big, we were able to run many OHV patrols," he says. "Just heading out, meeting with campers, letting them know where our main base of operations was in case they needed help, or if they had a first aid emergency."

The team was out helping with communications, First Aid, preventative education as well as search and rescue response. Potton says there were only a few injury incidents over the weekend.

"Just a few minor first aid issues which our OHV patrols caught, and one serious burn to a hand where someone had fallen into a fire the night before. We were able to do first aid right on the trails and let people go on their way."

This is the first year the team has gone out. Potton adds, they wanted to be a more approachable source for help than what was already avalailable.

"Having a non-RCMP or Conservation Officer presence out there allows people to feel a little bit safer to approach us, and let us help them, rather than them feeling that perhaps they could get into trouble."

The Search and Rescue team will be out again next year. Potton is hopeful for better weather, as camping in the rain for three days was a little disheartening.