Do not be alarmed if you see some overhead activity near the Yancey County Rescue Squad building on West Main Street in Burnsville. The Rescue Squad recently purchased a drone. The drone has thermal imaging, a speaker and a spotlight. Thermal imaging tracks heat sources and will allow rescuers to see potential victims who may be lost or injured in the woods from the sky. The drone can cover a much larger area than rescuers can on foot. It will be a valuable asset for Search and Rescue events and a host of various scenarios like surveying natural disasters or assisting law enforcement. Various members are currently completing training and FAA certification to fly the drone so there are more pilots in the department.
Yancey Rescue has also been able to purchase a LifeLine Arm mechanical CPR device. Performing high quality CPR is paramount to a successful outcome from Cardiac arrest. While providers strive to perform the best CPR, they eventually get tired as performing good CPR is physically demanding and in some cases is performed for 30 minutes or more. This device will never get tired and will consistently perform high quality CPR. The unit will be placed in service next week once members are trained in its use. Financial support from the community has allowed the Yancey County Rescue Squad to purchase this equipment to better serve the citizens of Yancey County.
