What’s SAR training?

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Search and rescue operations involve locating people who are lost and who may be injured, providing emergency medical treatment when necessary, and moving them to safety. While untrained volunteers can be helpful in these emergencies, most operations really benefit from having people who have received some search and rescue training. Some operations are dangerous for researchers, so advanced training is required, and highly specialized training programs are available for professionals in the field. Most offer certification, which must be renewed periodically.

In many communities, search and rescue operations are conducted by groups of volunteers, often affiliated with local law enforcement or emergency units. Basic search and rescue training for volunteers includes advanced first aid, compass and map reading, and search theory. Additional training may be required due to local circumstances. Volunteers often pay for their own training, but some groups have funding.

People can get lost anywhere, so search and rescue operations can be needed in any type of terrain and under any conditions. There are four basic categories of search and rescue: wild rescue, structural collapse rescue, air rescue, and water rescue. Each type requires advanced and specialized training.

Wilderness searches can take place in a variety of terrains, including mountains, deserts, and swamps. Searchers need advanced navigation and survival skills in the wild, as well as basic search and rescue training. Depending on the location, experience in climbing, caving or cross-country skiing may be required.

Structural collapse rescue is sometimes called disaster rescue or urban rescue. Due to the dangers that collapsed buildings present to investigators and victims, specialized training is required for people carrying out search and rescue operations in these locations. Rescuing victims buried in rubble without causing further injury requires specialized skills. Cadaver researchers are sometimes included in this category.

Air searches involve locating missing aircraft and can also be used to find people lost in the desert. Local flying clubs often provide volunteer pilots and aircraft for these surveys. A license and low altitude flying experience is required, as well as standard search and rescue training.

Water rescue involves searching for lost vessels or individuals who have fallen into a body of water. At sea, such searches are often carried out by the coast guard. Rescue efforts may involve the use of helicopters. Training for inland search and rescue often involves experience with canoes, boats and kayaks. Researchers may need experience with fast water, swamps and flooding.

Often, surveys are carried out with the help of highly trained animals. Mounted search and rescue is especially useful in the wild, and horses and riders need specialized training to be effective. Search-and-track dogs are also extremely useful in many situations, and they and their handlers require search-and-rescue dog training for these searches.

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