Call for Nominations

The Higgins & Langley Memorial and Education Fund, working in conjunction with the Swiftwater Rescue Committee of the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR), is seeking nominations for the 2010 Higgins & Langley Memorial Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Swiftwater Rescue, the highest international honors presented for flood and swiftwater rescue.

In addition to individual achievements and swiftwater-flood rescue team efforts, those who have dedicated years of service to developing and implement­ing swiftwater-flood rescue training programs, as well as public safety media-education efforts, will be considered for nomination. Nominations for the 2010 flood and swiftwater incident awards may include those between January 1, 2009 and February 1, 2010.

The awards honor civilian rescuer, Earl Higgins, who lost his life in February of 1980 while attempting to save a child being swept away in the flood-swollen Los Angeles River, and firefighter/paramedic Jeffrey Langley of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, who lost his life in a helicopter accident in March of 1993.

Earl Higgins

Writer/Film Maker

1950-1980

Jeffrey Langley

Firefighter/Paramedic

1965-1993

The awards will be presented during the annual conference of the National Association for Search and Rescue at the end of May 2010.

The DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS is February 19, 2010.

All nominations must be postmarked no later than February 19, 2010. Read instructions with care to avoid having nominations disqualified for lack of completion.

There are several award categories, not all of which specifically recognize noteworthy technical swiftwater/flood rescues. Some recognize significant achievement in the development of swiftwater/flood rescue training programs, flood disaster preparedness and response, flood and swiftwater safety education programs, etc.

The Higgins & Langley Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Swiftwater Rescue

The Higgins & Langley Memorial Award is the premier internationally recognized Award for excellence in Swiftwater Rescue. It recognizes an intense dedication to the field and a genuine desire to benefit the larger community. Only one Higgins & Langley Memorial award is awarded in any calendar year.

Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award is reserved for those few individuals who make a significant and lasting impact in the field of swiftwater rescue. Consequently, lifetime achievement awards are awarded only occasionally.

Program Development Award
The Program Development Award recognizes agencies that make a significant commitment to swiftwater rescue programs in their area. This award profiles the education, training and resources to develop a successful swiftwater rescue program.

Incident Award
Occasionally, a specific Incident is recognized that clearly demonstrates outstanding skill and preparedness, as well as outstanding teamwork in swiftwater rescue.

Special Commendation Award
The Special Commendation Award recognizes the breadth of possible contribution in the field of swiftwater rescue. Awards of this type can be for media contribution, strategic planning, individual heroism or esprit de corps.

For more information, please contact:

Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards
c/o Fred “Slim” Ray, Treasurer
8 Pelham Rd
Asheville NC 28803
Email: slimray@gmail.com
Tel: 828-505-2917

Download Nomination Forms:

Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards in Swiftwater Rescue

www.higginsandlangley.org

Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards newsletter:
http://groups.yahoo.com/HigginsLangleyMemorialAwards

If you have any questions, please contact us: nominations@higginsandlangley.org

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Missoula Paddling Community Meeting

On November 11th, 6:30 pm, at the Break Espresso on Higgins, members of the local river community will be gathering to discuss the Blackfoot River Management Plan. For those of you who have yet to heard about this plan, we recommend that you visit the FWP website and read through it.

http://fwp.mt.gov/recreation/management/river/blackfootPlan.html


In essence, the proposed plan sets in place trigger points (40 launches a day) for the stretch between Harry Morgan and Russell Gates. If the proposed trigger points are surpassed, then a permit system could be set into place. After that, trigger points would be set for the next stretch from Russell Gates to Round-up. And again, if surpassed, a permit system could be set in place. This would continue to the next stretch and so on.

This is obviously an over-simplification of the plan, that is why you should read it yourself and decide how you feel. The comment period ends on November 16th.

Join us at the Break to discuss our options and what the paddling community should do to help better manage this great resource.

See you there!

Blackfoot River Recreation Plan Meeting: 6 pm Nov. 5th Holiday Inn Parkside

There will be a meeting on November 5th concerning the purposed Blackfoot River permit system. The Blackfoot, which is near and dear to many of our hearts, has seen recreational use grow exponentially in the past few years. Please read the purposed plan (http://fwp.mt.gov/recreation/management/river/blackfootPlan.html) and come to the meeting at the Holiday Inn Parkside in Missoula at 6 pm on November 5th. Now is the time for public comment. Don't miss your opportunity to provide input for the future management of this tremendous resource!

Higgins and Langley Award

WRI is pleased to announce that Cody has been elected to the Higgins and Langley Memorial Award Board of Directors. Cody said, "It is an honor and a privilege to be involved with this organization. I look forward to contributing what I can to further their mission."

The Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards in Swiftwater Rescue honor outstanding achievement in the technical rescue discipline of swiftwater and flood rescue. They are not heroism awards, but rather recognize preparedness, teamwork, and a job well done, sometimes under extreme conditions, where training is vital to the success of rescue missions, as well as the safety of rescue personnel.

The 2009 award was given to the Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department, who responded to a water main break on River Road in Bethesda, Maryland. To view video of this amazing rescue, click here. To read more about the river road rescue, click here.

The 2010 call for nominations will be coming out soon. Read more about the nomination process here.

Hands-on Education: An Interview with Dave McEvoy

Dave McEvoy, Director of Aerie Backcountry Medicine was kind enough to sit down and chat with us last spring. Below is a portion of this interview. Aerie provides high-quality wilderness medicine courses nationally and internationally. We, at WRI, are honored to be partners with Aerie and are looking forward to the Wilderness and Travel Medicine semester. It is always a learning experience working with such a great organization. For more info on the semester program, visit www.aeriemed.com. To view the full text of Dave's interview, click here.

Wilderness Medicine Semester in Costa Rica: Sign-up Today!

WRI and Aerie Backcountry Medicine are teaming up once again to offer the most comprehensive wilderness education program available. Join us for a semester in Wilderness and Travel Medicine! You will receive 15 University of Montana credits and travel to Costa Rica and the Swan Valley in Montana. This course will begin February 1st and continue until April 4th, 2010. While living at an organic farm in Costa Rica and a stunning homestead in Montana, students will earn certifications in:

· Wilderness EMT
· Swiftwater Rescue Technician
· Level 1 Avalanche
· Leave No Trace Trainer

Among other learning opportunities, the students will organize and run a free rural health clinic in Costa Rica and float the Pacuare River. Aerie alumni receive a $250 discount.

BNSF Swiftwater Rescue Course: Guernsey, Wyoming

On Wednesday, October 7th, WRI traveled to Guernsey, WY to work with Burlington Northern and its sub-contractors. This team, responsible for containment and recovery of derailed trains, is setting the standard for swiftwater awareness. With warm temperatures and enthusiastic participants, we were able to operate their 14' Jet Boat, deploy boom and practice rescue skills. Thanks to BNSF and Kennedy-Jenks Consultants for a great course!