Along with the police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs who are sent on calls are rescue specialists.

The St. Louis County Rescue Squad has been a volunteer organization for 65 years. Their members do everything from wilderness search and rescue to underwater recover, traffic control, and emergency medical first response.

“Missing hunters, injured skiers, injured ATVers, canoeists stranded in the Boundary Waters, medicals in the Boundary Waters, trauma,” Captain Rick Slatten listed the types of scenarios in which they may be called to help. “A lot of out-of-town tourists. Locals tend to not get hurt.”

The rescue squad specializes in the wilderness and rural aspects that metro police or fire departments might not be as familiar with.

The St. Louis County Rescue Squad has a waiting list of 21 people who want to join. But Slatten said many local volunteer fire departments are hurting for help, so he suggested people start there.