- For other uses, see Search and rescue (disambiguation)
Search and rescue may refer to;*Search and rescue, the search and provision of aid to people in distress or imminent danger*Search and rescue dog, Dogs trained for search and rescue operations*Mounted search and rescue, a method of search and rescue...
.
Search and rescue (
SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.
Definitions of Search and Rescue
There are many different definitions of search and rescue, depending on the agency involved.
- Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
: "Search and Rescue comprises the search for, and provision of aid to, persons, ships or other craft which are, or are feared to be, in distress or imminent danger."
- United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of seven uniformed services. It is unique among the military branches in that it has a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency mission as part of its mission set...
: "The use of available resources to assist persons or property in potential or actual distress."
- United States Defense Department: "An operation normally coordinated by a Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) or rescue sub-center, using available personnel and facilities to locate persons in distress" and rescue is "An operation to retrieve persons in distress, provide for their initial medical or other needs, and deliver them to a place of safety."
History
One of the world's earliest well documented SAR efforts ensued following the 1656 wreck of the
DutchThe Netherlands is a country in Northwestern Europe, constituting the major portion of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east...
merchant ship
Vergulde DraeckThe Vergulde Draeck was a Dutch merchant ship of the seventeenth century. It left from Texel bound for Batavia , but on 28 April 1656 was wrecked off Ledge Point, 107 km north of what is now Perth, Western Australia...
off the coast of
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
. Survivors sent for help, and in response three separate SAR missions were conducted, without success.
Mountain Rescue
Mountain RescueMountain rescue refers to search and rescue activities that occur in a mountainous environment, although the term is sometimes also used to apply to search and rescue in other wilderness environments. The difficult and remote nature of the terrain in which mountain rescue often occurs has resulted...
relates to search and rescue operations specifically in rugged terrain such as mountains, desert and forest. Also referred to as wilderness search and rescue which includes areas such as sea, lakes, rivers or
cavesCave rescue is a highly specialized field of wilderness rescue in which injured, trapped or lost cave explorers are medically treated and extracted from various cave environments....
.
Urban search and rescue
Urban search and rescueUrban search and rescue involves the location, extrication, and initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in confined spaces. Structural collapse is most often the cause of victims being trapped, but victims may also be trapped in transportation accidents, mines and collapsed trenches...
(Also known as Suburban Search and Rescue as USAR Teams often relates to structural collapses and other
technical rescueTechnical rescue refers to those aspects of saving life or property that employ the use of tools and skills that exceed those normally reserved for fire fighting, medical emergency, and rescue. These disciplines include rope rescue, swiftwater rescue, confined space rescue, ski rescue, cave rescue,...
) operations are
Search and Rescue operations conducted in a city.
Combat Search and Rescue
Combat search and rescue is search and rescue operations that are carried out during war that are within or near combat zones.
Air-sea rescue
Air-sea rescueAir-sea rescue is the coordinated search and rescue of the survivors of emergency water landings as well as people who have survived the loss of their sea-going vessel. ASR can involve a wide variety of resources including seaplanes, helicopters, submarines, rescue boats and ships...
(ASR) refers to the combined use of aircraft and surface vessels to search for and recover survivors of aircraft downed at sea as well as sailors and passengers of sea vessels in distress.
Standards
With or without formal underlying foundations, numerous SAR organisations develop their own proprietary training curricula and operational protocols, which are available and applicable only to their own members.
In the
USThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
SAR standards are developed primarily by
ASTM InternationalASTM International , originally known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, is an international standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services...
and the
USThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
NFPAThe National Fire Protection Association is a U.S. organization charged with creating and maintaining minimum standards and requirements for fire prevention and suppression activities, training, and equipment, as well as other life-safety codes and standards...
which are then used by organizations such as the Mountain Rescue Association (MRA), the
USThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Association of Search and Rescue (NASAR), and the
USThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
NFPAThe National Fire Protection Association is a U.S. organization charged with creating and maintaining minimum standards and requirements for fire prevention and suppression activities, training, and equipment, as well as other life-safety codes and standards...
to develop training that will meet or exceed those standards.
Within
ASTM InternationalASTM International , originally known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, is an international standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services...
, most standards of relevance to SAR are developed by Committee F32 on Search and Rescue. Formed in 1988, the committee had 85 current members and jurisdiction of 38 approved standards.
International Waters
International waters are divided into various regions according to the
SOLASThe International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea is the most important treaty protecting the safety of merchant ships. The first version of the treaty was passed in 1914 in response to the sinking of the RMS Titanic...
convention. See the map provided by the
IMO ocean atlas
Australia
AusSAR, which is part of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (
AMSAAMSA can refer to:* Advanced Manned Strategic Aircraft * Advanced Math and Science Academy* American Meat Science Association* American Medical Student Association* American Men's Studies Association* American Moving & Storage Association...
), provides a national search and rescue service.
AusSAR operates a 24 hour Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) in
CanberraCanberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth largest Australian city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory, south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
and is responsible for the national coordination of both maritime and aviation search and rescue. AusSAR is also responsible for the management and operation of the Australian ground segment of the
Cospas-SarsatCospas-Sarsat is an international satellite-based search and rescue distress alert detection and information distribution system, established by Canada, France, the United States, and the former Soviet Union in 1979....
distress beacon detection system. The service that spans the nation and covers 52.8 million square kilometres of the Indian, Pacific and Southern Oceans.
AusSAR's RCC is staffed by SAR specialists who have a naval, merchant marine, air force,
civil aviationCivil aviation is one of two major categories of flying, representing all non-military aviation, both private and commercial. Most of the countries in the world are members of the International Civil Aviation Organization and work together to establish common standards and recommended practices...
or police service background. The RCC also coordinates medical evacuations, broadcasts maritime safety information and operates the Australian Ship Reporting System (AUSREP).
State search and rescue
State PoliceState police are a type of sub-national territorial police force, particularly in Australia and the United States. Some other countries have analogous police forces, such as the provincial police in some Canadian provinces, while in other places, the same responsibilities are held by national...
in many states operate state-based search and rescue squads, such as the Victoria Police Search and Rescue Squad, which provides specialist expertise, advice and practical assistance in land search and rescue on most terrain including snow and vertical cliff search and rescue.
There are also state-based volunteer search and rescue groups such as the
Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue SquadThe Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Squad is a remote area search and rescue service in New South Wales, Australia. The Squad is made up of fit and experienced volunteers who donate their time as a service to the community. The B.W.R.S...
in
New South WalesNew South Wales is Australia's most populous state, located in the south-east of the country, north of Victoria, south of Queensland and east of South Australia...
and Bush Search and Rescue in
VictoriaVictoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales to the north, South Australia to the west, and Tasmania to the south, across the Bass Strait. Victoria is the most densely populated state, with over 70% of...
. These state-based groups draw searchers from bushwalking, mountaineering and specialist rescue clubs within their State. A few groups respond on horseback as
mounted search and rescueMounted search and rescue is a specialty within search and rescue , using horses for transportation and to search for missing persons. SAR responders on horseback are primarily a search resource, but also can provide off-road logistics support and transportation...
.
The State Emergency Service is also a volunteer based emergency organization that focuses on Storm and Water Damage, but in rural areas they have search and rescue accredited units.
Belgium
Search and rescue duties along the Belgian part of the
North SeaThe North Sea is a marginal, epeiric sea on the European continental shelf. The Dover Strait and the English Channel in the south and the Norwegian Sea in the north connect it to the Atlantic Ocean. It is more than long and wide, with an area of around...
are executed by the Belgian Air Component. From its
Koksijde Air BaseKoksijde Air Base is a Belgian Air Component facility in Koksijde, Belgium. 40 sqn operating 5 Westland Sea King Mk.48 helicopters for search and rescue duties. Also based at Koksijde Air Base are Aérospatiale Alouette III helicopters...
it operates 5
Westland Sea King Mk.48The Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British license-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. The aircraft differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines, British made anti-submarine warfare systems and a...
helicopters.
Brazil
Search and rescue duties in
BrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is a country in South America. It is the fifth largest country by geographical area, occupying nearly half of South America, the fifth most populous country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean...
are the responsibility of the
Para-SARThe Esquadrão Aeroterrestre de Salvamento known by its nickname Para-SAR, is a Brazilian Air Force airborne search and rescue squadron, based in the city of Rio de Janeiro....
, of the
Brazilian Air ForceThe Brazilian Air Force is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Army and Navy air branch were merged into a single military force initially called "National Air Forces"...
.
Canada
Search and rescue duties in Canada are the responsibility of the
Canadian ForcesThe Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
and
Canadian Coast GuardThe Canadian Coast Guard is the coast guard of Canada.It is the civilian federal agency responsible for providing maritime search and rescue , aids to navigation, marine pollution response, marine radio, and icebreaking....
in conjunction with provincial and municipal governments and private organizations. The Department of National Defence (DND) has overall responsibility for the coordinated search and rescue system. Authority for the provision of maritime SAR is assigned to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans by the
Canada Shipping Act and the
Canada Oceans Act.
The Canadian Forces has five assigned SAR squadrons:
- 103 Search and Rescue Squadron
103 Search and Rescue Squadron of the Canadian Forces Air Command currently operates the CH-149 Cormorant from CFB Gander, Newfoundland.-History:...
, CFB GanderCanadian Forces Base Gander , is a Canadian Forces Base located in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador. It is operated as an air force base by Canadian Forces Air Command and is home to air/marine search and rescue operations that cover a vast swath of the western North Atlantic and southern Arctic...
, CH-149 CormorantThe CH-149 Cormorant is the Canadian Forces designation for the AgustaWestland AW101 , a helicopter used for air-sea rescue in Canada...
- 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron
No. 413 Squadron RCAF is an air force squadron of the Canadian Forces. It was originally a flying boat squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War...
, CFB GreenwoodCanadian Forces Base Greenwood , commonly referred to as "14 Wing Greenwood" or CFB Greenwood, is a Canadian Forces Base located in Greenwood, Nova Scotia. It is primarily operated as an air force base by Canadian Forces Air Command and is one of two bases in the country using the CP-140 Aurora...
, CH-149 CormorantThe CH-149 Cormorant is the Canadian Forces designation for the AgustaWestland AW101 , a helicopter used for air-sea rescue in Canada...
& CC-130 Hercules
- 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron
No. 424 Squadron RCAF or 424 Squadron is a search and rescue/transport Squadron of the Canadian Forces and based out of Hangar # 9 with the 8 Wing at CFB Trenton.-History:...
, CFB TrentonCanadian Forces Base Trenton , is a Canadian Forces base located northeast of Trenton, Ontario. It is operated as an air force base by Canadian Forces Air Command and is the hub for air transport operations in Canada and abroad...
, CH-149 CormorantThe CH-149 Cormorant is the Canadian Forces designation for the AgustaWestland AW101 , a helicopter used for air-sea rescue in Canada...
& CC-130 Hercules
- 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron
435 Transport and Rescue Squadron is a Canadian Forces squadron based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.This squadron flies the Lockheed CC-130 Hercules tanker/transport in the airlift search and rescue roles...
, CFB WinnipegCanadian Forces Base Winnipeg is a Canadian Forces Base located in Winnipeg, Manitoba.Co-located at the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, CFB Winnipeg is home to many flight operations support divisions, as well as several training schools. It is also the 1 Canadian Air...
, CC-130 Hercules
- 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron
442 City of Vancouver Squadron is an Air Force unit with the Canadian Forces. Based at CFB Comox on Vancouver Island it provides Search and Rescue coverage for the West Coast of Canada...
, CFB ComoxCanadian Forces Base Comox , commonly referred to as CFB Comox, is a Canadian Forces Base located north northeast of Comox, British Columbia. It is primarily operated as an air force base by Canadian Forces Air Command and is one of two bases in the country using the CP-140 Aurora...
, CH-149 CormorantThe CH-149 Cormorant is the Canadian Forces designation for the AgustaWestland AW101 , a helicopter used for air-sea rescue in Canada...
& CC-115 Buffalo
Plus three Combat Support Squadrons with SAR roles:
- 417 Combat Support Squadron
No. 417 Squadron is an Air Force unit with the Canadian Forces. Based at CFB Cold Lake it provides helicopter support to the base operations. Since 1994, it has also provided Search and Rescue.-History:...
, CFB Cold LakeCanadian Forces Base Cold Lake , commonly referred to as CFB Cold Lake, is a Canadian Forces Base located adjacent to the city of Cold Lake, Alberta. It is operated as an air force base by Canadian Forces Air Command and is one of two bases in the country using the CF-18 Hornet fighter/interceptor...
, CH-146 GriffonThe Bell CH-146 Griffon is the Canadian military variant of the Bell 412EP, a multi-use utility helicopter. The CH-146 is used in a wide variety of roles, including aerial firepower, reconnaissance and aero-mobility tasks.-Design and development:...
- 439 Combat Support Squadron, CFB Bagotville
Canadian Forces Base Bagotville , commonly referred to as CFB Bagotville, is a Canadian Forces Base located west of Bagotville in the city of Saguenay, Quebec. It is operated as an air force base by Canadian Forces Air Command and is one of two bases in the country using the CF-18 Hornet...
, CH-146 GriffonThe Bell CH-146 Griffon is the Canadian military variant of the Bell 412EP, a multi-use utility helicopter. The CH-146 is used in a wide variety of roles, including aerial firepower, reconnaissance and aero-mobility tasks.-Design and development:...
- 444 Combat Support Squadron, CFB Goose Bay
Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay , is a Canadian Forces Base located in the town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador....
, CH-146 GriffonThe Bell CH-146 Griffon is the Canadian military variant of the Bell 412EP, a multi-use utility helicopter. The CH-146 is used in a wide variety of roles, including aerial firepower, reconnaissance and aero-mobility tasks.-Design and development:...
Some municipalities have their own SAR units:
- Toronto Police Service
The Toronto Police Service , formerly the Metropolitan Toronto Police, is the police service for the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
Marine Unit
- HUSAR
Heavy Urban Search and Rescue or HUSAR is a joint unit of Toronto Fire Services, Toronto Police Service and Toronto EMS created to deal with search and rescue operations in the City of Toronto...
- TorontoToronto is the most populous city in Canada and the provincial capital of Ontario. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. With over 2.5 million residents, it is the fifth most populous municipality in North America...
There are also volunteer non-profit associations that conduct SAR in Canada:
- Civil Air Search and Rescue Association
The Civil Air Search and Rescue Association or CASARA, is a Canada-wide volunteer aviation association dedicated to the promotion of aviation safety, and to the provision of air search support services to Canada's National Search and Rescue Program.*...
- North Shore Rescue
North Shore Rescue is a non-profit organization dedicated to wilderness search and rescue around Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It consists of a team of approximately 40 volunteers who perform approximately 90 search and rescue operations each year, mostly in the rugged, steep, and thickly...
, British ColumbiaBritish Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is famed for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . In 1871, it became the sixth province of Canada.The capital of British Columbia is Victoria, the 15th largest metropolitan region in Canada...
.
- Québec Secours, Québec
Quebec is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking identity and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
.
- River Valley Search and Rescue, New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only constitutionally bilingual province in the confederation. The provincial capital is Fredericton...
Denmark
Search and Rescue operators in
DenmarkDenmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe and the senior member of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries; southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and it is bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark borders both the Baltic and the North Sea...
are primarily:
Danish air forceThe Royal Danish Air Force is the expeditionary air force of Denmark with capability organised to support both international operations and homeland security.-History:All military aviation was prohibited during the Nazi occupation, 1940-45...
Squadron 722, Danish navy air squadron, naval home guard and the Danish Maritime Safety Administration, coordinated by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, operated by the navy and air force in the
Danish Naval CommandsAdmiral Danish Fleet is two things:* The English name of Søværnets Operative Kommando , the operationally supreme organisation of the Danish navy.* ADMDANFLT as a person is a kontreadmiral who is the chief of naval operations in Denmark, and as such the...
facilities near
AarhusAarhus, or Århus , is the second largest city and the principal port of Denmark, situated on the peninsula of Jutland. Aarhus is the seat of the council of Aarhus municipality with 303,318 inhabitants and claims the unofficial title "Capital of Jutland"...
. Internationally the Danish works mainly with
GermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium,...
,
NorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a country in Northern Europe occupying the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, as well as Jan Mayen and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard under the Spitsbergen Treaty...
and
SwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe...
. With the two latter, the annual exercises
Baltic SAREX and
Scan-SAR are conducted.
SAR-services in Denmark started in 1957 with seven Sikorsky S-55s. Their piston engines produced only and they had limited fuel capacity, so their operational range was short. To increase the operational area,
PembrokeThe Percival Pembroke was a British high-wing twin-engined light transport aircraft built by the Percival Aircraft Company, later Hunting Percival.- Development :...
twin-engined fixed-wing aircraft were employed for search. These aircraft would localize the
distressThe word distress has various meanings:-*Distress occurs when an individual cannot adapt to stress. See also fetal distress, respiratory distress.*Distress is a kind of suffering....
ed person(s) and the S-55s would then rescue them. The SAR-service was started for respond to fighter-plane crashes as 79 aircraft crashed, with 62 dead, in the period 1950-1955., but civilian SAR-duties are also conducted.
In 1962 eight ship-based
Aérospatiale Alouette IIIThe Aérospatiale Alouette III is a single-engine, light utility helicopter developed by Sud Aviation and later manufactured by Aérospatiale of France. The Alouette III is the successor to the Alouette II, being larger and having more seating...
s were received. These were primarily meant for the ships patrolling the North Atlantic, but also supported the S-55s. In 1964 - 1965 the seven S-55s were replaced with eight Sikorsky S-61A helicopters. This helicopter was originally designed for
anti-submarine warfareAnti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
, but the Danish variant had the heavy dipping
sonarSonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels. There are two kinds of sonar: active and passive. Sonar may be used as a means of acoustic location and of measurement of the echo characteristics of "targets" in the water...
equipment removed and extra fuel tanks added, giving the helicopters longer range. In 1977
radarRadar is an object detection system that uses electromagnetic waves to identify the range, altitude, direction, or speed of both moving and fixed objects such as aircraft, ships, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The term RADAR was coined in 1941 as an acronym for RAdio Detection And...
was installed and in 1990 FLIR was added. Further
avionicsAvionics means "aviation electronics". It comprises electronic systems for use on aircraft, artificial satellites and spacecraft, comprising communications, navigation and the display and management of multiple systems...
and navigation systems, including GPS, have also been added over time.
In 1977 the naval air squadron was re-established as an independent squadron in the navy and had their Alouette IIIs replaced with
Westland LynxThe Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants, which went...
helicopters. Their primary operational area was still the North Atlantic, but they continued their support role, although this was reduced with the introduction of the S-61s. In 2006, the first of the S-61s was replaced by one of 14 new AgustaWestland EH101 Merlin helicopters.
In 2007 the Danish Defence held a public display in
HorsensHorsens is a Danish city in east Jutland. It is the site of the council of Horsens municipality. The city itself has a population of 52,518 and the Horsens municipality has 81,565 ....
, to raise awareness about rescue services and maritime safety. Maritime SAR is important because Denmark has a relative long coast line to its land mass..
In 2008 the SAR forces in Denmark were equipped with eight EH-101, one or two Lynx, 34 naval home guard vessels and 21 rescue vessels as well as the naval vessels at sea. The EH-101s operate from bases in
AalborgAalborg , sometimes written as Ålborg, is a city in Denmark. Its population, as of 2009, is 122,461, making it the fourth largest in the country after Copenhagen, Aarhus, and Odense. The earliest settlements date back to around 700 AD. Its location by the Limfjord made it an important harbour...
(EKYT), Skrydstrup (EKSP) and
RoskildeRoskilde is the main city in Roskilde Municipality, Denmark on the island of Zealand. It is an ancient city, dating from the Viking Age.Roskilde train station is a major stop between Copenhagen and the region of Denmark located to its west...
(EKRK). When the sea water temperatures are low a helicopter is also deployed to the island of
BornholmBornholm is a Danish island in the Baltic Sea located to the east of the rest of Denmark, the south of Sweden, and the north of Poland. The main industries on the island include fishing, arts and crafts like glass making and pottery using locally worked clay, and dairy farming...
(EKRN) in the
Baltic SeaThe Baltic Sea is a brackish inland sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and the...
. The Lynx operates from
KARUP (
EKKAEKKA can be one of the following:* The ICAO-code for Karup Airport.* National and Social Liberation , the Greek Resistance movement founded by Colonel Dimitrios Psarros....
). Maritime vessels are spread out through the entire coastline and on islands. The S-61s and EH-101s have a crew of six: Two
pilotsAn aviator is a person who flies aircraft for pleasure or as a profession. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887 as a variation of the French 'aviation', from the latin 'avis', coined 1863 by G. de la Landelle in "Aviation ou Navigation Aérienne"...
, a
navigatorA navigator is the person on board a ship or aircraft responsible for its navigation. The navigator's primary responsibility is to be aware of ship or aircraft position at all times. Responsibilities include planning the journey, advising the Captain or aircraft Commander of estimated timing to...
, a
flight engineerIn aviation, a flight engineer is a member of the aircrew of some aircraft. The flight engineer is responsible for monitoring and controlling many of the aircraft systems during flight.- History :...
, a
physicianA physician — also known as medical practitioner, doctor of medicine, medical doctor, or simply doctor — practices the ancient profession of medicine, which is concerned with maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease or injury...
and a rescue swimmer.
Estonia
The Estonian Border Guard (
PiirivalveThe Estonian Border Guard is the Estonian security authority responsible for the border security. It is a military organization, subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior. The Border Guard also assists with Search and Rescue missions. The Estonian Border Guard Aviation Corps provides air...
) is the Estonian security authority responsible for the border security. It is the main support organisation for search and rescue missions in Estonia, and operates a small fleet of SAR vessels and helicopters.
Finland
In Finland the responsible authority for land and inland water SAR is the Fire and the Crisis and the Frontier Guard in the maritime area. These organizations alert and decide on the most suitable response for the location and situation. The country also has several volunteer organizations such as the volunteer fire department (VPK), the Finnish maritime rescue club (SMPS) and the Red Cross Finland (SPR).
Germany
Search and Rescue in German waters is conducted by the
Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Rettung SchiffbrüchigerThe Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Rettung Schiffbrüchiger or DGzRS is responsible for Search and Rescue in German territorial waters in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, including the Exclusive Economic Zone.The headquarters and...
DGzRS (literally translated: German Society for the Saving of Shipwrecked, more common: German Maritime Rescue Service GMRS) with air support by the Germany Navy and the
German Air ForceLuftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1933 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956.Schweizer Luftwaffe is also the name of the Swiss Air...
. All incoming requests are coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in
BremenThe City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A port city along the river Weser, about south from its mouth on the North Sea, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area...
. The DGzRS is a non-governmental organization entirely supported by donations .
Besides the offshore Search And Rescue services, the German Air Force provides such as well, using Bell UH-1D "Huey" helicopters.. Inland, there are mounted SAR groups affiliated with
Johanniter-Unfall-HilfeJohanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e.V. , commonly referred to as Die Johanniter, is a voluntary humanitarian organisation affiliated with the Brandenburg Bailiwick of the Order of St John, the German Protestant descendant of the Knights Hospitaller...
, an organization that provides road-based first responder services; these groups provide comparable services off road, usually at field sporting events.
Hong Kong
SAR operations are conducted by the Government Flying Service and before 1991 by the
Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air ForceThe Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force , was an auxiliary unit of the United Kingdom Royal Air Force, based in Hong Kong. In preparation for the transfer of sovereignty from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China, the unit was disbanded on 1 April 1993.Although technically an armed...
. Their fleet consists of nine aircraft including:
- 2 BAe Jetstream 41
The Jetstream 41 is a turboprop-powered feederliner and regional airliner, designed by British Aerospace as a "stretched" version of the popular Handley Page Jetstream. Intended to compete directly with 30-seat aircraft like the Embraer Brasilia, Dornier 328 and Saab 340, the new design eventually ...
- 3 Eurocopter Super Puma
The Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma is a four-bladed, twin-engine, medium-size utility helicopter marketed for both civil and military use. Originally designed and built by Aérospatiale, it is an enlarged and re-engined version of the original Aérospatiale Puma...
(Super Puma L2)
- 4 Eurocopter EC155 B1
The Eurocopter EC155 is a long-range medium-lift passenger transport helicopter developed by Eurocopter from the Dauphin family for civil aviation use. It is a twin-engined aircraft and can carry up to 13 passengers along with 1 or 2 crew, depending on customer configuration...
Mountain rescue operations are carried by the
Mountain Search and Rescue CompanyMountain Search and Rescue Company is a unit under Civil Aid Service in Hong Kong. The unit is responsible for rescuing task in mountains such as rescuing hikers who are getting lost....
of Hong Kong
Civil Aid ServiceThe Civil Aid Service or CAS in short is a civil organisation that assist in a variety of auxiliary emergency roles, including search and rescue operations in Hong Kong:...
in conjunction with the Hong Kong Fire Services Dept and the air support from the Government Flying Service.
Hong Kong Marine PoliceThe Marine Region of the Hong Kong Police Force, also known as the Marine Police. Its headquarter is located at Sai Wan Ho. Their 166 launches and craft, patrols some 1850km² of waters within Hong Kong's territory, including the Victoria Harbour and 244 outlying islands...
vessels and rescue divers from Hong Kong Fire Services Dept work with air support from the Government Flying Service to conduct maritime SAR within Hong Kong waters.
Iceland
Search and Rescue operations in Iceland are mainly handled by the Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue (Slysavarnafélagið Landsbjörg) which operates numerous vehicles and boats across the country, along with the
Icelandic Coast GuardThe Icelandic Coast Guard is the military service responsible for Iceland's coastal defense and maritime search and rescue. Origins of the Icelandic Coast Guard can be traced to 1859, when the corvette Ørnen started patrolling Icelandic waters. And in 1906 the first purposely built guard-ship...
which operates SAR helicopters and patrol vessels.
The unique thing about Iceland Association for Search and Rescue is that it is operated almost solely on volunteer's contribution. The rescue units are more than 100 in total and are located in almost every part of the country. All the units contain groups of specially trained individuals.
Ireland
SAR services are provided by a civilian body, the
Irish Coast GuardThe Irish Coast Guard is part of the Department of Transport. The Irish Search and Rescue Region, which includes most of the Republic of Ireland and parts of Northern Ireland is the area over which the coast guard has authority...
. It has responsibility for the Irish Search and Rescue Region.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution RNLI provide the waterborne element of Search and Rescue around the coast of Ireland from 43 lifeboat stations including inland stations at Enniskillen and Lough Derg. In addition, there are community rescue boats at eleven stations: Cahore, Tramore, Bunmahon, Bantry, Derrynane, Banna, Ballybunion, Kilkee, Schull, Limerick City, Corrib/Mask. The coastguard also has inshore rescue boats around the country.
Italy
Search and rescue is the responsibility of the Guardia Costiera.
Malta
The responsibility for SAR at sea in the Malta Search and Rescue Region falls under the
Armed Forces of MaltaThe Armed Forces of Malta is the name given to the combined armed services of Malta. The AFM is a brigade sized organisation consisting of a headquarters and three separate battalions.-Organisation:-Headquarters, AFM:...
(AFM). It is carried out by maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters and vessels under the co-ordination, command and control of the Rescue Co-ordination Centre.
The AFM, in close collaboration with the US Coast Guard, also runs a Search and Rescue Training Centre for International Students
http://youtube.com/watch?v=fL7oPxdqvbM in Maritime SAR Mission Co-ordination and Planning. To date more than 30 foreign students from 15 countries including Albania, Cameroon, Croatia, Equatorial Guinea and Kenya have attended these courses.
Malta is also in talks with
LibyaLibya , officially the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya , is a country located in North Africa...
about enhancing SAR cooperation between the two countries.
Netherlands
SAR responsibility in the Netherlands is held by the Royal Netherlands Coast Guard, carried out by vessels and aircraft from various organisations among which the
Koninklijke Nederlandse Redding MaatschappijThe Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution is the voluntary organization in the Netherlands tasked with saving lives at sea. For that purpose, it maintains 39 lifeboat stations along the Dutch coast of the North Sea and Wadden Sea and on the IJsselmeer...
, the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management and the
NavyThe Koninklijke Marine is the navy of the Netherlands.-Bases:The main naval base is Den Helder, Noord Holland.Secondary naval bases are in Amsterdam, Vlissingen, Texel and Willemstad...
and
Air ForceThe Royal Netherlands Air Force , Dutch Koninklijke Luchtmacht , is the military aviation branch of the Netherlands Armed Forces. Its ancestor, the Luchtvaartafdeeling of the Dutch Army was founded on 1 July 1913, with just four pilots...
.. The Navy has No. 7 Squadron which flies the SAR and utility version of the
LynxThe Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants, which went...
maritime helicopter. The
RNLAFThe Royal Netherlands Air Force , Dutch Koninklijke Luchtmacht , is the military aviation branch of the Netherlands Armed Forces. Its ancestor, the Luchtvaartafdeeling of the Dutch Army was founded on 1 July 1913, with just four pilots...
has a specialized SAR unit, 303 Squadron, which is equipped with Agusta-Bell AB 412s and based at RNLAF Leeuwarden.
New Zealand
New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa, commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud...
's Search and Rescue Region extends from the
South PoleThe South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is one of the two points where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects the surface. It is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth and lies on the opposite side of the Earth from the North Pole...
to the southern border of the Honolulu region, including Norfolk, Tonga, Samoa, and
Cook IslandsThe Cook Islands are a self-governing parliamentary democracy in free association with New Zealand. The fifteen small islands in this South Pacific Ocean country have a total land area of 240 square kilometres , but the Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone covers 1.8 million square kilometres...
.
Smaller searches are controlled by the local
policeThe New Zealand Police is the national police force of New Zealand, responsible for enforcing criminal law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout New Zealand...
, who call on LandSAR for land-based operations, such as for lost
hikersHiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking have been confirmed in studies...
, and the
Royal New Zealand CoastguardThe Royal New Zealand Coastguard is the civilian volunteer coast guard of New Zealand, the primary search and rescue organisation for the nation's coastal waterways and major lakes...
for coastal maritime incidents. Larger maritime search and rescue events, as well as reports of overdue aircraft, fall under the control of the National Rescue Coordination Centre, based in Wellington, which coordinates response from local coastguard, helicopter operators, merchant marine, air force and naval resources.
Norway
Norsk Selskab til Skibbrudnes RedningThe Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue was founded on 9 July 1891...
, also called the Redningsselskapet (English: Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue (NSSR)), is Norway's maritime rescue service. They have 43 search and rescue boats based from Oslo in the south to Båtsfjord in the north. Thirteen of these boats are operated by volunteers.
The NSSR was founded on 9 July 1891, with a clearly defined goal – to save lives at sea. The NSSR is a humanitarian organization aiming at saving lives and recovering property at sea. Maintaining rescue services along the Norwegian coast, and neighbouring sea areas where such services may be necessary. The NSSR also runs an information service and educational programs designed to improve safety for boaters. The first rescue boats, the
Colin ArcherColin Archer was a naval architect and shipbuilder from Larvik, Norway. He was born of Scottish parents who emigrated to Norway in 1825....
-class, were introduced in 1893. They were powered by only by sails and oars. NSSR’s boats and crew have saved over 6,200 people. More than 500,000 people have received assistance.
The search and rescue helicopters are operated by the
Royal Norwegian Air ForceThe Royal Norwegian Air Force is the air force of Norway. It was established as a separate arm of the Norwegian armed forces on 10 November 1944. The RNoAF's peace force is approximately 1,430 employees . Six hundred personnel are also serving their one-year national service in the Air Force...
(RNoAF), who fly 12
Westland Sea KingThe Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British license-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. The aircraft differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines, British made anti-submarine warfare systems and a...
s. These are scheduled to be replaced by the
NHI NH90The NHI NH90 is a medium sized, twin-engine, multi-role military helicopter manufactured by NHIndustries. It has been ordered by several nations, and entered service from 2007.-Design and development:...
.
Norwegian Red Cross Search and Rescue CorpsThe Norwegian Red Cross Search and Rescue Corps was created in 1932 as a support for civil society in the event of war, and particularly with terms of gas attacks in other cities....
(Røde Kors Hjelpekorps) have a large number of local SAR teams spread across the country. These are all manned with volunteer SAR workers. With 13,500 members in 320 local teams, this is by far the largest SAR organisation in Norway. Missions include assisting the police searching for missing people in woodlands and the mountains, search and rescue in lakes, rivers and at sea, and finally assisting skiers and holiday makers in the mountains during winter time. All volunteers have an extended First Aid education and certification, most are certified on HeartStart machines and trained in search techniques. Many of the local teams also operates ambulances and have crews trained for this.
The
Norsk LuftambulanseStiftelsen Norsk Luftambulanse is a Norwegian non-profit foundation that promotes and implements measures to provide emergency medical assistance...
-group (
Norwegian Air AmbulanceThe Norwegian Air Ambulance is an aerial ambulance service in Norway organised through the government owned limited company Luftambulansetjenesten...
), and the company
LufttransportLufttransport is a Norwegian helicopter and fixed-wing airline that operates primarily air ambulance helicopters and planes for the Norwegian and Swedish governments...
provides medical evacuation services throughout the country.
South Africa
The South African Search and Rescue Organization (SASAR), is a voluntary organization that functions under the auspices of the Department of Transport. SASAR is responsible for responding to aviation and maritime incidents. Its main role is to search for, assist and carry out rescue operations for the survivors of aircraft or vessel accidents.
Depending on the nature of the accident, the RCC's (ARCC or MRCC) coordinate the search and rescue missions. These operations are carried out by other government departments, non governmental organizations, commercial/private organizations and voluntary organizations.
Switzerland
REGAThe Rega is the air rescue service which provides emergency medical assistance in Switzerland, notably in mountains but also in cases of life-threatening emergencies elsewhere. They will also return a patron to Switzerland from a foreign country if they are in need of urgent medical care. Rega was...
(Schweizerische
REttungsflugwacht /
Garde
Aérienne /
Guardia
Aerea) is the air rescue service which provides emergency medical assistance in
SwitzerlandSwitzerland , officially the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 states named cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities...
, notably in mountains but also in cases of life-threatening emergencies elsewhere. They will also return a citizen to Switzerland from a foreign country if they are in need of urgent medical care. Rega was established on 27 April 1952 by Dr. Rudolf Bucher, who thought that the Swiss rescue organisation needed a specialised air sub-section.
United Kingdom
In the
UKThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
, maritime search and rescue is coordinated by
HM CoastguardHer Majesty's Coastguard is the service of the government of the United Kingdom concerned with co-ordinating air-sea rescue.HM Coastguard is a section of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency responsible for the initiation and co-ordination of all civilian maritime Search and Rescue within the UK...
, while land-based operations are usually coordinated by the local
PoliceLaw enforcement in the United Kingdom is organised separately in each of the legal systems of the United Kingdom: England & Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland ....
force. The operation itself is carried out with aircraft from the
Royal NavyThe Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of HM Armed Forces . From the beginning of the 18th century until well into the 20th century, it was the most powerful navy in the world, playing a key part in establishing the British Empire as the dominant world power from 1815 until the early...
,
Royal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the United Kingdom's air force, the oldest independent air force in the world. Formed on 1 April 1918, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history ever since, playing a large part in World War II and in more recent conflicts.The RAF operates almost 1,109...
or Coastguard,
RNLIThe Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charity that saves lives at sea around the coasts of the British Isles, as well as inshore. It was founded on 4 March 1824 as the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, adopting the present name in 1854...
lifeboatThe meaning of lifeboat or motor lifeboat, for the purposes of this article, is that of 'a shore-based boat designed with special features for searching for, rescuing and saving the lives of people in peril at sea in inshore waters'. This is in contrast to a survival craft type of lifeboat that is...
s and police, military or volunteer
mountain rescueMountain rescue refers to search and rescue activities that occur in a mountainous environment, although the term is sometimes also used to apply to search and rescue in other wilderness environments. The difficult and remote nature of the terrain in which mountain rescue often occurs has resulted...
or ALSAR (Association of Lowland Search and Rescue) teams. Aircraft coordination is carried out by the UK Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (
ARCCThe United Kingdom's Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre is based at RAF Kinloss, near Forres in Moray. The centre is responsible for coordinating all Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and Maritime and Coastguard Agency Search and Rescue helicopters, and also the Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue...
) based at
RAF KinlossRAF Kinloss is a Royal Air Force station near Kinloss, on the Moray Firth in the north of Scotland. The station is home to all of the Nimrod MR2 fleet in the Royal Air Force.-WW2:...
in the north of Scotland. The centre is responsible for tasking and coordinating all of the UK's search and rescue helicopter and RAF mountain rescue teams.
In 2006, the government announced controversial plans to effectively privatise provision of search and rescue helicopters in order to replace the aging
Sea KingThe Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British license-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. The aircraft differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines, British made anti-submarine warfare systems and a...
s currently in use, although they have suggested that crews may, at least partially, still be made up of
military personnelA soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
.
Local resources include:
- Linconshire Fire & Rescue - Urban Search & Rescue
United States of America
In January 2008, the
United States Department of Homeland SecurityThe United States Department of Homeland Security is a Cabinet department of the United States federal government with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the U.S...
(DHS) released the
National Response FrameworkThe United States National Response Framework is part of the National Strategy for Homeland Security that presents the guiding principles enabling all levels of domestic response partners to prepare for and provide a unified national response to disasters and emergencies...
(NRF) which, serves as the guiding document for a federal response during a national emergency. In addition to the NRF there are 15 annexes relating to Emergency Support Functions (ESF) which, includes other federal agencies that contain resources or expertise to support an emergency. Search and Rescue is included as ESF-9 and divides SAR into 4 primary elements, while assigning a federal agency with the lead role for each of the 4 elements.
- Structural Collapse-USAR: Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Order on April 1, 1979....
- Waterborne: United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of seven uniformed services. It is unique among the military branches in that it has a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency mission as part of its mission set...
, United States Coast Guard AuxiliaryThe United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was established on June 23, 1939 by an act of Congress as the United States Coast Guard Reserve and re-designated as the Auxiliary on February 19, 1941. The Auxiliary is an incorporated, civilian volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard...
- Inland-wilderness: United States Department of Interior National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
- Aeronautical: United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare branch of the U.S. armed forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on 18 September 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947 - 80 P.L....
Rescue Coordination CenterAs the United States' inland search and rescue coordinator, the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center serves as the single agency responsible for coordinating on-land federal SAR activities in the 48 contiguous United States. Some of the Rescue Centers notable missions include the search for...
, Civil Air PatrolCivil Air Patrol is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force . CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and...
, United States Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare branch of the U.S. armed forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on 18 September 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947 - 80 P.L....
Aerospace Rescue and Recovery ServiceThe Air Rescue Service was a former subcommand of the Military Air Transport Service , a major command of the United States Air Force. On 1 Jan 1966, MATS was redesignated as the Military Airlift Command and ARS was redesignated as the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service .The Air Rescue Service...
Virginia
VirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" because it is the birthplace of eight U.S. presidents. The geography and climate of the state are shaped by the Blue...
is one of the few states that benefits from a state-coordinated system of training and response under the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM). Under Title 44 of the Code of Virginia, VDEM develops and maintains the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Operations Plan (COVEOP) that includes the ESF-9 Annex for Search and Rescue. Similar to the federal version of ESF-9 under the
National Response FrameworkThe United States National Response Framework is part of the National Strategy for Homeland Security that presents the guiding principles enabling all levels of domestic response partners to prepare for and provide a unified national response to disasters and emergencies...
(NRF), VDEM divides SAR into 4 primary elements. While VDEM functions as the lead for ESF-9, many agencies, departments and volunteer organizations routinely responds to and supports SAR operations in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Aeronautical
Search and rescue services for downed, missing, or overdue aircraft and Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs). Organizations include:
- Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force . CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and...
- Virginia State Police
The Virginia Department of State Police, established in 1932, is the state police force for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The agency originated out of the Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles as an vehicle inspection agency and an enforcer of highway laws. It is currently one of fourteen agencies...
, Aviation Division
Inland/Wilderness
For search and rescue of lost and missing persons in a wide variety of circumstances and environments, resources include:
- Amherst County Search and Rescue
- Angel Search and Rescue
- Appalachian Professional Tracking Group
- Appalachian Search and Rescue Conference
The Appalachian Search & Rescue Conference is a wilderness search and rescue organization that provides professional volunteers trained in search management and field operations for missions in the mid-Atlantic region...
- Black Diamond Search and Rescue Council
- Blue and Gray Search and Rescue Dogs
- Commonwealth Search and Rescue
- DOGS-East Search and Rescue
- Eastern-Region of the National Cave Rescue Commission
- Greater Atlantic Rescue Dogs
- K-9 Alert Search and Rescue
- Mid-Atlantic D.O.G.S. Search and Rescue
- Old Dominion Search and Rescue
- Piedmont Search and Rescue
- Rockingham Augusta Search & Rescue
- Search and Rescue Dogs of Maryland
- Search and Rescue Tracking Institute
- Southwest Virginia Mountain Rescue Group
- Top-of-Virginia Search and Rescue
- Tidewater Search and Rescue
- TROTSAR Mounted Search and Rescue
- Virginia Search and Rescue Dog Association
Maritime/Waterborne
Providing search and rescue for vessels in distress in coastal and inland waters, resources include:
- Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, or VDGIF, regulates fish and wildlife in Virginia. It is managed by the Director of Game and Inland Fisheries and overseen by the Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries.-Mission:...
- Virginia Marine Resource Commission
- United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of seven uniformed services. It is unique among the military branches in that it has a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency mission as part of its mission set...
USAR/Disaster
To provide response in the event of collapsed structures and significant events, organizations include:
- Virginia Task Force 1
- Virginia Task Force 2
- Region 1 to 7 Technical Rescue Teams
See also
- Avalanche
An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a slope, from either natural triggers or human activity. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the descending snow...
- Cave rescue
Cave rescue is a highly specialized field of wilderness rescue in which injured, trapped or lost cave explorers are medically treated and extracted from various cave environments....
- Coast Guard
A coast guard or coastguard is a national organization responsible for various services at sea. However the term implies widely different responsibilities in different countries.-Role:...
- Cospas-Sarsat
Cospas-Sarsat is an international satellite-based search and rescue distress alert detection and information distribution system, established by Canada, France, the United States, and the former Soviet Union in 1979....
- Emergency Locator Transmitter for missing aircraft
- Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon
Distress radio beacons, also known as emergency beacons, are tracking transmitters which aid in the detection and location of boats, aircraft, and people in distress. Strictly, they are radiobeacons that interface with Cospas-Sarsat, the international satellite system for search and rescue...
(EPIRB)
- International Search and Rescue Competition
The International Search And Rescue Competition is an annual contest for search and rescue teams from the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary and United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. They compete for the ISAR trophy...
- Mountain rescue
Mountain rescue refers to search and rescue activities that occur in a mountainous environment, although the term is sometimes also used to apply to search and rescue in other wilderness environments. The difficult and remote nature of the terrain in which mountain rescue often occurs has resulted...
- Mounted search and rescue
Mounted search and rescue is a specialty within search and rescue , using horses for transportation and to search for missing persons. SAR responders on horseback are primarily a search resource, but also can provide off-road logistics support and transportation...
- Search and rescue dog
The use of dogs in search and rescue is a valuable component in responding to law enforcement requests for missing people. Dedicated handlers and hard working, well-trained dogs are required in search efforts to be effective in their task....
- Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System (SAROPS)
Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System is a comprehensive search and rescue planning system used by the United States Coast Guard in the planning and execution of almost all SAR cases in and around the United States and the Caribbean. SAROPS has three main components: The Graphical User...
- Ski patrol
A ski patrol is an organization that provides first aid and rescue services to skiers and participants of other snow sports, either at a ski area or in a back country setting. Patrollers are trained with the first aid necessary to stabilize and transport casualties to advanced care, often as...
- SPOT Satellite Messenger
The SPOT Satellite Messenger is a portable GPS and satellite communication device designed to be carried into remote locations where the user may require emergency assistance. It is manufactured by Axonn LLC and marketed by SPOT Inc., a subsidiary of Globalstar Inc.-How it works:To determine its...
Groups
- Arapahoe Rescue Patrol
The Arapahoe Rescue Patrol is a voluntary search and rescue team based in Arapahoe County, Colorado. Arapahoe Rescue Patrol has been entirely commanded and staffed by high school students since the formation of the team in 1957, with adults providing financial and administrative support.- Role in...
- Brothers to the Rescue
Brothers to the Rescue is a Miami-based activist organization headed by José Basulto. Formed by Cuban exiles, the group is widely known for its opposition to the Cuban government and, then President, Fidel Castro...
- Cardiff and Vale Rescue Association
The Cardiff and Vale Rescue Association is a voluntary search and rescue organisation, operating within the City of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.-Mission:...
- Explorer Search and Rescue
- International Search and Rescue Advisory Group
The INSARAG is a UN Organization that promotes the exchange of information between national Urban Search and rescue Organizations....
- Long Beach Search & Rescue
Long Beach Search & Rescue is a specialist Explorer post of the Learning for Life program with the Boy Scouts of America. It is an urban search and rescue unit based out of Long Beach, California, and is sponsored by the Long Beach Police Motor Patrol Association and Long Beach Firefighters'...
- Maryland State Police
The Maryland State Police is the official state police force of the State of Maryland. The Maryland State Police is headquartered at 1201 Reisterstown Road in the Pikesville CDP in unincorporated Baltimore County.-Organizational structure:...
- Mercia Inshore Search and Rescue
Mercia Inshore Search and Rescue , also known as Mercia Rescue, is a water rescue team operating from the marina in Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire, England....
- Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue is a non-profit volunteer search and rescue resource for the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office in Multnomah County, Oregon, United States...
- National Association of Volunteer Search and Rescue Teams
The National Association of Volunteer Search and Rescue Teams, Inc. was founded in 2006 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the support of the nation's volunteer search and rescue organizations...
(NAVSAR)
- North Carolina Canine Emergency Response Team
NCCERT , is a State-wide volunteer organization providing search and rescue services to local, state and federal agencies...
(NCCERT)
- Scarborough and Ryedale mountain rescue team
The Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team provides Search and Rescue services in and around the Scarborough and Ryedale areas of North Yorkshire, England...
- Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue
Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue is a search and rescue organization in Snohomish County, Washington, USA.SCVSAR is made up of several specialized units as well as units distributed geographically within the county....
- US Search And Rescue Task force
- Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service
The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service was founded in 1973 by Surf Life Saving Australia. Since their beginning they have saved over 50,000 lives....
External links