The all-volunteer Icelandic Search and Rescue Units, were featured in the latest episode of CNN’s Great Big Story. The US based cable news network argues that the ICE-SAR volunteers help ordinary Icelanders survive the daily battle with the elements as well as rescuing travelers in distress: “Stranded on a Glacier in Iceland? Call This Number.”
Read more: Two foreign travelers, lost snowmobiling near Langjökull glacier, have been found
Assisting in all manner of emergencies
In the absence of a national army or a government force to help in the case of emergencies Iceland relies on volunteer search and rescue units. The fact that these are manned by volunteers and financed by voluntary donations from Icelanders captures the attention of CNN. Yesterday 180 members of Search and Rescue units from Reykjavík and South Iceland found two travellers who had gotten lost while on a snowmobile tour near Langjökull glacier during a heavy storm and blizzard. ICE-SAR also assists urban homeowners and farmers during violent storms. They are the emergency force which helps Icelanders and visitors survive the unpredictable elements and nature: They are even known to have assisted pet owners locate pets who get lost in the wild!
Read more Watch: N. Iceland search and rescue unit locates a lost dog with the help of aerial drone
An all volunteer force
Made up of a number independent units in every village, town and municipality, the ICE SAR units villages, the units are manned by volunteers from all walks of life: taxi-drivers, carpenters or university professors. What these people have in common is that they wish to help their community and are willing to venture out in any kind of weather to rescue people in distress: “You have to be a little bit crazy, but in a good way,” one ICE-SAR member tells CNN.
All in all Landsbjörg, the national association of search and rescue units, is made up of 99 individual regional search and rescue units, 70 different sea rescue units and 50 youth units.
The all-volunteer Icelandic Search and Rescue Units, were featured in the latest episode of CNN’s Great Big Story. The US based cable news network argues that the ICE-SAR volunteers help ordinary Icelanders survive the daily battle with the elements as well as rescuing travelers in distress: “Stranded on a Glacier in Iceland? Call This Number.”
Read more: Two foreign travelers, lost snowmobiling near Langjökull glacier, have been found
Assisting in all manner of emergencies
In the absence of a national army or a government force to help in the case of emergencies Iceland relies on volunteer search and rescue units. The fact that these are manned by volunteers and financed by voluntary donations from Icelanders captures the attention of CNN. Yesterday 180 members of Search and Rescue units from Reykjavík and South Iceland found two travellers who had gotten lost while on a snowmobile tour near Langjökull glacier during a heavy storm and blizzard. ICE-SAR also assists urban homeowners and farmers during violent storms. They are the emergency force which helps Icelanders and visitors survive the unpredictable elements and nature: They are even known to have assisted pet owners locate pets who get lost in the wild!
Read more Watch: N. Iceland search and rescue unit locates a lost dog with the help of aerial drone
An all volunteer force
Made up of a number independent units in every village, town and municipality, the ICE SAR units villages, the units are manned by volunteers from all walks of life: taxi-drivers, carpenters or university professors. What these people have in common is that they wish to help their community and are willing to venture out in any kind of weather to rescue people in distress: “You have to be a little bit crazy, but in a good way,” one ICE-SAR member tells CNN.
All in all Landsbjörg, the national association of search and rescue units, is made up of 99 individual regional search and rescue units, 70 different sea rescue units and 50 youth units.
