Search and Rescue Basics
There are three types of search and rescue: Urban, Wilderness, and Water. Urban search and rescue (US&R) refers to the location and recovery of persons in collapsed structures due to natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornadoes. Wilderness search and rescue (W&R) is the locations and recovery of persons in rural and remote locations who are lost or injured. Water search and rescue (W&R) is the locations and recovery of persons in bodies of water.
What is search and rescue?
Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search is conducted over.
SAR operations are often conducted in response to the requirement of a person or group who has lost their way, or more offensively, were deliberately stranded; these incidents may occur in remote and often inhospitable regions such as mountains, forests, deserts, tundra, urban areas, or water (either due to access being limited or hazards such as floods, storms, shipwrecks, and drownings).
International co-operation on civilian SAR issues is conducted under the auspices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). ICAO has codified international conventions that commit nation states to cooperate on a humanitarian basis in order to save life regardless of nationality, race, religion or political persuasion. ICAO’ts primary vehicle for this commitment is contained in Annex 12 – SAR and medical evacuation plans which provides standardized procedures agreed by all nations for conducting SAR operations.
The three types of search and rescue
There are three types of search and rescue: land, air, and water. Each type of search and rescue has its own unique challenges and requires its own special training.
Land search and rescue is the most common type of search and rescue. It usually involves searching for lost hikers or climbers in remote areas. Because land search and rescue is so common, there are many volunteer organizations devoted to it, such as the Sierra Club or the Appalachian Mountain Club.
Air search and rescue is often used in cases where someone has become stranded in a remote area and cannot be reached by land. Planes or helicopters are used to search for the stranded person from the air. Air search and rescue can be very dangerous, especially in bad weather.
Water search and rescue is used when someone goes missing in a body of water, such as a river or a lake. boats are used to search for the missing person from the water. Water search and rescue can be very difficult, because it is often hard to see people in the water from above.
Ground Search and Rescue
Ground Search and Rescue (GSR) teams are deployed when it is known or suspected that a victim(s) is in a defined geographical area. The search area may be as large as several hundred square miles or as small as a few city blocks. The searchers may be looking for a specific victim(s), or they may be conducting a general search of the area for any victim(s) who might be present.
What is ground search and rescue?
Ground search and rescue (GSAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are lost or in distress on land or inland waterways.
GSAR teams are typically composed of volunteers, professional firefighters, paramedics, or police officers, although anyone with strong local knowledge may be valuable in certain situations.GSAR can involve searching for missing persons, providing medical assistance, and conducting rescue operations in a variety of terrain and environments.
The decision to initiate a GSAR mission is usually made by local authorities who deem the situation to be serious enough to warrant the use of specialized resources. Once a mission is underway, teams will often work together with local police or other first responders in order to coordinated their efforts.
The scope of a GSAR mission will depend on the specific circumstances, but may include activities such as:
- Conducting land searches using available resources such as ATVs, hikers, canines, and aircraft
- Providing first aid and medical assistance to those in need
- Coordinating with law enforcement agencies and other first responders
- Rescue operations in difficult terrain or hazardous conditions
- Mounting an evacuation effort in cases of severe weather or other imminent danger
How is ground search and rescue conducted?
Ground search and rescue (GSR) is the searching of an area for missing persons, typically involving land rather than water or air. It is a type of wide area search (WAS).
There are three main types of searches that can be conducted:
-Line search: In this type of search, team members line up shoulder-to-shoulder and sweep an area methodically. This is the most common type of ground search.
-Grid search: A grid search is similar to a line search, but instead of having one line of searchers, there are several lines that crisscross the area to be searched.
-Probability or sector search: In this type of search, the area is divided into sections (called sectors), and each sector is searched according to a set procedure based on the likelihood that the missing person will be found there.
Air Search and Rescue
The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is the United States Air Force auxiliary. Its three primary areas of operation are: aerospace education, cadet programs and emergency services.
What is air search and rescue?
Air search and rescue (SAR) is the military or civilian operation conducted to search for and provide aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. This can include everything from providing emergency medical care to evacuating people from dangerous areas.
SAR operations are typically launched in response to a distress call, but they can also be initiated proactively if there is reason to believe that someone is in danger. For example, if a plane is reported missing, SAR teams will be dispatched to try to find it.
SAR teams are typically composed of highly trained personnel who are equipped with the necessary tools and equipment to conduct operations in a variety of environments. This can include everything from helicopters and airplanes to boats and ground vehicles.
How is air search and rescue conducted?
There are a number of different methods that can be used for air search and rescue, depending on the situation. One common method is to use a searchlight to scan the area from the air. This can be especially effective at night or in low-visibility conditions. Another common method is to use infrared sensors or special cameras that can detect heat signatures, which can be helpful in locating people or animals who may be hidden from view.
Water Search and Rescue
Water search and rescue is a type of search and rescue that deals with searching for people who are missing in bodies of water. This can include anything from large lakes to small ponds. Water search and rescue teams are typically made up of trained volunteers who are familiar with the area.
What is water search and rescue?
Water search and rescue is the process of finding, rescuing and returning people who are missing or stranded in bodies of water. It can involve anything from searching for a missing swimmer in a lake to rescuing victims of a shipwreck.
Water search and rescue operations are typically carried out by trained professionals such as lifeguards, coast guard personnel or firefighters. In some cases, however, members of the public may also be recruited to help with the search. This is often the case in large-scale operations, such as those that take place after a natural disaster.
There are two main types of water search and rescue: active and passive. Active water search and rescue involves proactively looking for people who are missing or in trouble. This can be done by conducting searches of bodies of water or by patrolling areas where people are likely to get into trouble (such as beaches). Passive water search and rescue, on the other hand, involves waiting for someone to call for help. This is typically done by maintaining a watchful presence in areas where there is a risk of drowning or other water-related accidents.
How is water search and rescue conducted?
Water search and rescue is the process of searching for and rescuing people who are lost or in distress in bodies of water. Search and rescue teams use a variety of methods to find missing people, including boats, helicopters, dogs, and sonar.
Once a person has been found, rescuers must determine the best way to get them to safety. This may involve using a rope to pull them out of the water or providing medical care if they are injured.