Anyone out there working with an overland Search & Rescue outfit that would be kind enough to share their experience and knowledge? We don't really have a dedicated Seacrh & Rescue outfit here but I'd sure love to learn from the experts out thre! What is the standard procedure for an overland SAR in the US or Canada? What equipment does a foot SAR party carry? Is there a website that's dedicated to SAR...land and water?

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.

I am active in a SAR unit in Illinois, and I would agree with HIKERDON, most generally it is the local sheriff who is in charge. The key is to get into a good working relationship with the Sheriff. <br><br>With regards to equipment, it really depends on the type of search you are doing; we are called for a variety of searches anywhere from a door to door search for missing children to a more remote search in State parks. Most of the time members use a fanny pack to carry their equipment, Our STSAR "Special Tactics Search and Rescue" Team wears a multi-pocketed vest only. This reduction in equipment serves their need to be a Rapid Intervention Team. But I must tell you that this team is highly trained, and can work effectively with less equipment. <br><br>If you are interested I could email you with a more detailed equipment list. But this list may only serve the needs of a SAR team in our type of wilderness. I would most definitely change the contents if I were in HIKERDON's area of Arizona. <br><br>There are many web sites dedicated to SAR, I would suggest a GOOGLE search on "Search and Rescue". Our site is down for a brief time but the URL is www.co.vermilion.il.us/ema/VCSAR.htm <br><br>If you have any more questions email me at fisher_ted22@hotmail.com, I would be glad to help. <br><br>Thanks <br>Ted Fisher <br>VCSAR Coordinator<br>

We dont have a bona fide Jungle SAR here - its just a collection of the fire & rescue dept, local police or army, forest rangers and the local people. Its easy to conduct a Jungle SAR but one has to be very careful in organising the resources as they just seemd to invite anyone available in numbers without actually stressing on the right kind of people with the right kind of equipment & experience.<br><br>I would like to use AND create our team's own guideline while injecting the jungle tracking skills learned and practised during the PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER. insurgency days. It has to start somewhere and Id like to see how a protocol and procedure is put on paper.<br><br>Thanx for responding... much obliged<Learned this word from a John Wayne movie!!!>

Is that your correct email address.... fisher_ted22@hotmail.com My emails have bounced back!!!! Need to talk 2 u! write to me at ubat@putra.net.my

I sent you an email so you can get the address.<br><br>With our Special Tactics SAR team we use a combination of military tracking and K9 techniques to find the subject(s). It takes time to build a SAR team, It took us 6 years to train and assemble the right people for this special team.<br><br>Thanks<br>Ted Fisher<br>VCSAR Coordinator

It looks like your political and social situation is similar to what we have in the USA, even though the natural environment is quite different. The political "jungle", in my experience, was often much trickier than any of the actual SAR operations. If people cooperate, the mix of organizations can be quite effective. Usually the military is avalable in the US - nice for helicopters and remote sensing. In Southern Arizona, the Border Patrol often provided trackers, and they conducted classes for those of us who were interested in adding that to our skills - really worthwhile.<br><br>Offer your skills and training ability to whomever has the ultimate responsibility for conducting SAR. Unfortunately, the most opportune time for this is after a ckearly unsuccessful SAR operation. This was the case for us in Pima County, when a totally mismanaged search for three lost Boy Scouts, found dead three weeks later when the snow had partially melted, got the community to wake up. This was 1958, and improvement was slow, but it ws steady. I would say that change will not happen quickly, people being people, so buckle down for the long haul. Good luck!

I am currently active in SAR in Eastern North Carolina. Mostly surburban and rural searches. The longest we would normally be away from command post would be 6-8 hours. Most area searches are 2-4 hours and then sent out again to a different quadrant.<br><br>Technically speaking in the US either the Sheriff or the Coast Guard is offically in charge. They can and often do assign the task to some other local agency. The most common in our area is either Emergency Management or Local PD.<br><br>Our team uses Mantrackers and K9. Most of the members have completed either Fundamentals of SAR (FUNSAR) and/or SAR Tech II certifications offered by the National Association of Search and Rescue (NASAR). They have a website where they sell books and offer training. <br><br>NASAR has a packing list which they recommend for a 72 hour pack. Most of our team members started with a 72 hour pack and quickly determined that we were carrying lots of gear for a two hour hike through peoples back yards. Most of us have trimmed down our packs to a military style vest with firestarting, water, signaling, flashlights, raingear, knife, compass, and other stuff. Our team recommends that new members reveiw the NASAR list and adapt as necessary.<br><br>Our team members are offered Mantracking courses. The K9 handlers train at least once a week but typically more often to keep their dogs up to speed. <br><br>We also use Thermal Imaging, Night Vision Goggles, GPS, and two way radios in combination with the Mantrackers and K9. We have a PC with the tographical maps for our state on CD. We have some software that allows us to enter a GPS coordinite into the software and it displays the point centered on the monitor with the topographical map all around. We can plot points, layout lines indicating search areas, and then print on the attached color printer. We then lamintate the map and give a dedicated 8"x11" map to each search team. <br><br>The GPS is put in continous record mode when we send out a team. When they return, we download the GPS to the PC and plot their actual track on top of the topographical map, and then print a copy for documentation purposes and turn over to command as part of the debriefing.<br><br>We are an all volunteer SAR team and have been around for about 12 years. We are also a technical rescue team. You can stop by our website at www.redsteam.com.<br><br>Search varies widely depending on your area of response and your training. SAR in the western US in wilderness areas is a different set of demands from surburban/rural on the east coast.<br>

We, like a number of the other replies have similar arrangements for SAR. In our area, the sheriffs department generally takes the led for a lost person search. However, both state and federal park officials generally are the responsible agency, if the lost person search takes place on park properties. We have available, two volunteer dog teams for searches. Our team generally does not take an active role in the search phase, but is responsible for the actual rescue, whether it is a technical, overland, water or other terrain. We have similar equipment that others have listed. We also work with Maryland State Police and the U.S. Park Police helicopters, with their associated equipment. Pete