Don Uhler

 

Don has been involved with rescue work for the past 27 years. He has been an active member of the Saranac Vol. Fire- Rescue Department since 1983. Don has held many titles within the department and is currently the Chief, which he has held since 2001. He has been an EMT since 1988 and was certified as a Paramedic in 2004, currently the only practicing volunteer paramedic in the county. Saranac VFD formed a Technical Rescue Team in 2003. Their program has been exclusively trained through Rescue 3 International courses. Don completed the Rescue 3 instructor program in 2007. Saranac has recently formed a NIMS resource Type 1 Swiftwater team and Rope Rescue Type 1 team. Saranac VFD responds to all types of emergencies, to include fire, MVA’s, EMS and technical wilderness rescue. They cover a 120 square mile wilderness area in the northern Adirondack Mountains. Don was instrumental in assisting in the development of a 14 agency technical rescue program. He was appointed team leader in 2009 to present. The Adirondack Regional Technical Rescue Team has been called upon to assist in local, state and national disasters. Don is a member of the county Fire Advisory Board and the EMS Advisory Board.

 

Don has been involved with North Country Life Flight for the past 13 years. He serves as a volunteer paramedic with this aero-medical agency. He has assisted on medical transfers, MVA accident rescues and back country rescues. He has worked with NYS Forest Rangers, whom coordinate many of the back country rescues. He is also a national Senior Ski Patroller. He has volunteered at Whiteface Mountain since 1997. He is certified in Avalanche Advance Mountain Rescue.

 

Don has been involved with volunteer emergency rescue type work his entire adult life. He has also been involved with emergency management in his professional career. Don has been a security employee for the NYS Department of Corrections since 1984. He started as a Corrections Officer and has risen through the security ranks, currently holding the title of Deputy Superintendent of Security operations at NYS super max facility. He is charged with overseeing security and supervision of 1300 inmates and 380 security staff. Don has also been involved with the state’s Correction Emergency Response Team, CERT. He has responded to all types of facility emergencies to include large scale inmate disturbances. This work experience has prepared him to perform in stressful situations and environments.