The growing popularity of sporting activities in rural areas (ATV and motorcycle riding, snowmobiling, swimming, diving, biking and rock climbing) brings an increase in the number of accidents and a growing need to treat and transfer victims to an ambulance-accessible road in a timely fashion. The idea of creating a group capable of providing such emergency services came to Mr. Alain Goyette, now president of Sauvetage A.G., after witnessing an accident in 1997.

Donation of two 2008 KYMCO MXU 500 ATVs to Sauvetage A.G.,a non-profit organization Sauvetage A.G. took place at R. Goulet Moto Sport, a KYMCO dealer in Sainte-Thérèse, North of Montreal. Pictured here (not in order) are, for KYMCO, Pablo Moncho, Sales Manager for Eastern Canada, and Sylvain Burguet, Manager of Technical Services; for Sauvetage A.G., Alain Goyette, President, Yves Croussette, Vice-President, Jean-François Major, Manager, Public Relations, and Julie Hénault, Instructor; for R. Goulet Moto Sport, Maxime Goulet, President, Stéphane Goulet, Vice-President, and Patrick Goulet, Manager.

Today, an elite group of some 30 volunteers delivers rescue services year round in the Lower Laurentians, year round. Using ATVs and snowmobiles with specially equipped trailers, these specialists locate the victims in dense backwoods, administer first aid and bring them to a contact point where ambulances can take over.

According to Mr. Goyette, "Sauvetage A.G. works with the various levels of government and police forces to carry out more than 30 complex rescues in a typical year." The group has also been appointed coordinator of searches for missing person throughout Quebec.

Sauvetage A.G. relies on partners to finance its activities, and KYMCO, the major manufacturer of recreational products from Taiwan, has donated two MXU 500 ATVs that will be used for rescue operations. In addition, R. Goulet Moto Sport in Sainte-Thérèse will provide maintenance for both machines. Mr Pablo Moncho, KYMCO Sales Manager for Eastern Canada, made the following statement at the press conference held on November 17 in honor the donation: "We believe in Sauvetage A.G.'s mission and volunteers, and we hope our contribution will help raise the level of safety for recreational activities in these areas." A sentiment that is undoubtedly shared by all the stakeholders in these activities.


Photo Credit : Luc Gagné