Yes! If you enjoy pushing your way through thick brush in the middle of the night during an ice-cold rain, you may want to join a Search and Rescue team. Every year, lost and injured people rely on the life-saving services of volunteer and professional Search and Rescue (SAR) groups.
A person spending the night in sub-freezing temperatures will be glad to see an emergency responder in an orange shirt coming to their aid. It's also a good feeling to be the person doing that rescue. So, how do you join?
Though each team's application process differs, there are similarities in joining any team. This article provides tips on what skills you should know and how to become a SAR team member.
Types of SAR Teams
Though there are a few professional search and rescue organizations, most of these teams are volunteer. You may even be surprised that as a volunteer you'll probably have to invest much of your own money for training, equipment, and transportation. Your location determines the type and scope of search teams available to join.
Common Types of SAR teams:
Urban
Wilderness
Mountain
K-9
Horse
Dive
Mountain Bike
High-Angle
It is possible for large teams to consist of many components and specialties. For example, a primarily wilderness team of human searchers could have sub-teams for K-9, high-angle, and winter mountaineering.
Skills That SAR Teams Look For
Though most groups have excellent training programs, it is a great idea to have some sort of background prior to filling out the application. Most teams tend to attract outdoor experts: licensed guides, climbers, mountaineers, backpackers, and survivalists.
These are a few of the most useful skills on a SAR team:
Navigation
Radio Communication
Wilderness Survival
First Aid
Rope and Climbing Experience
Leadership and Teamwork
Experience Trekking in Harsh Environments
Wilderness First Aid Skills
Though every team differs, most require some sort of first aid and CPR certification in order to be a member. The most common certifications are Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness First Responder, and CPR for the Professional Rescuer.
The biggest difference between wilderness medicine and standard first aid is the remoteness of the incident. Sure, paramedics may be able to meet you on the road, but you have to figure out how to stabilize the patient and move them miles over rough terrain.
Please remember that first aid is a perishable skill and it must be practiced frequently to hone your abilities. Though most first-aid certs last two or three years, chances are you'll forget how to splint, bandage, and otherwise treat after only a few months.
It never hurts to pick up a wilderness first aid book now and then, and to incorporate a medical portion into each training session.
Take Free ICS Classes
Getting certified in Incident Command System procedures is a free and easy process. Achieve most of your certification classes online for free at the FEMA site. After completing an online training module you'll receive a professional printable certificate.
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