I will take a stab at answering your request for information, although I must point out that I am not currently active is SAR, and most of my experience dates from several years ago. <br><br>At least in the western US, search and rescue is generally handled on a local level, typically under the direction of the local county sheriff. Some National Parks, but not all by any means, may have their own organizations. Even these often depend upon volunteer imput.<br><br>For a start, check out www.mra.org. The Mountain Rescue Association is the umbrella organization for many, if not most, of the volunteer search and rescue organizations in the United States.<br><br>With the variety of terrain and circumstances, requirements and procedures vary considerably. I was active in southern Arizona and we did SAR in destert, mountain, cave, and river environments, about an operation a week. You would be amazed at how many people manage to drown in floods in the desert. I observed over the time I was active, about twenty-six years, that we became more skilled and knowledgable about dealing with the routine, repetitive kinds of incidents, and developed a broad base of expertise in coping with some of the more novel situations - group experience, and a mix of old hands and new blood usually worked very effectively. It took time to develop this ability, and I must say frankly that in the early years, the group, as the saying goes, "couldn't pour [censored] out of a boot if there was a hole in the toe and instructions on the heel." I mention this becasue as I read between the lines of your post, I suspect you are trying to develop this capability in your environment. It can be done, but it won't happen overnight.<br><br> Some units are entirely professional; othes are almost entirely volunteer. Many of both types have developed high levels of competency.<br><br>A classic source for training, although I suspect it is now somewhat dated in some respects, is "Wilderness Search and Rescue," by Tim J. Setnicka, published by the Appalachian Mountain Club, Boston - 1980. It is oriented to the mountainous western US - Setnicka directed SAR at Yosemite National Park when the book was written, but many of the general principles will apply in any environment.