ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WXIX) – Ohio LandSAR is in need of critical supplies that helps their volunteers who spend countless hours searching for missing people across the Tri-State.
The non-profit search and rescue team works with law enforcement to find missing people, crime victims, evidence and helps with disaster searches.
“We can get called out three days of the week, we can get called out for 30 to 60 days straight,” describes Ohio LandSAR Chief John Adams.
Adams buys a lot of the equipment that the volunteer search and rescue team uses.
He says they’ve responded to a high number of natural disasters and searches this year, using up more supplies than normal.
As of Friday, there was only one pair of gloves left, a few pairs of sunglasses and hardly any first aid kits in storage at Ohio LandSAR’s headquarters.
“We’re not completely out of first aid kits, but we’re running low on them… running low on them more than usual. This year alone, we probably went through 3 medic bags already,” Adams tells FOX19 NOW.
He says the shortage of supplies comes as they prepare for their busy season.
“Our own members get hurt at times and those supplies are critical to us,” he continued.
Chief Adams says they are often called to help with kids who have autism and are missing. They have special bags with items to help when the kids are scared, each of which costs about $65. There’s currently only one bag left.
“If there’s a child with autism we have a fidget or poppit – something of that nature we can give it to the child and it calms them down.”
It’s important to the organization that they help the community in more ways than searching, Adams says. They also volunteer as first aid responders for 5K races, teach safety courses for families and volunteer to help with traffic control.
“We don’t ask for anything… but the help from the public is really appreciated.”
For those interested in helping, you can reach out to the Ohio LandSAR at (513) 633-1230.
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