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Search and rescue
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- For other uses, see Search and rescue (disambiguation).
Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.
History
One of the world's earliest well documented SAR efforts ensued following the 1656 wreck of the Dutch merchant ship Vergulde Draeck off the coast of Australia.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Search and rescue' Start a new discussion about 'Search and rescue' Answer questions from other users |
Encyclopedia
- For other uses, see Search and rescue (disambiguation).
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: "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 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 Dutch merchant ship Vergulde Draeck off the coast of Australia. Survivors sent for help, and in response three separate SAR missions were conducted, without success.
Types of Search and Rescue
Mountain Rescue
Mountain Rescue 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 caves.
Urban search and rescue
Urban search and rescue (Also known as Suburban Search and Rescue as USAR Teams often relates to structural collapses and other technical rescue) operations are Search and Rescue operations conducted in a city.
Combat Search and Rescue
Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) is a function of special military units during wartime. CSAR consists of operations carried out to retrieve, rescue and provide assistance to downed aircrew or allies behind enemy lines.
Dedicated combat search and rescue helicopters include:
Air Sea Rescue
Air Sea Rescue (ASR) specifically can refer to both the use of aircraft to search for and locate or recover personnel lost at sea and the recovery of downed airmen at sea.
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 US SAR standards are developed primarily by ASTM International and the US NFPA which are then used by organizations such as the Mountain Rescue Association (MRA), the US National Association of Search and Rescue (NASAR), and the US NFPA to develop training that will meet or exceed those standards.
Within ASTM International, 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 Divisions of Search and Rescue Responsibility
International Waters
International waters are divided into various regions according to the SOLAS convention. See the map provided by the
SAR by nation
Australia
AusSAR, which is part of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), provides a national search and rescue service.
AusSAR operates a 24 hour Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) in Canberra 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-Sarsat 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 aviation 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 Police 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 Squad in New South Wales and Bush Search and Rescue in Victoria. These state-based groups draw searchers from bushwalking, mountaineering and specialist rescue clubs within their State. A few groups respond on horseback.
Belgium
Search and rescue duties along the Belgian part of the North Sea are executed by the Belgian Air Component. From its Koksijde Air Base it operates 5 Westland Sea King Mk.48 helicopters.
Brazil
Search and rescue duties in Brazil are the responsibility of the Para-SAR, of the Brazilian Air Force.
Canada
Search and rescue duties in Canada are the responsibility of the Canadian Forces and Canadian Coast Guard 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, CFB Gander, CH-149 Cormorant
- 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron, CFB Greenwood, CH-149 Cormorant & CC-130 Hercules
- 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron, CFB Trenton, CH-149 Cormorant & CC-130 Hercules
- 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron, CFB Winnipeg, CC-130 Hercules
- 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron, CFB Comox, CH-149 Cormorant & CC-115 Buffalo
Plus three Combat Support Squadrons with SAR roles:
Denmark
Search and Rescue operators in Denmark are primarily: Danish air force Squadron 722, Danish navy air squadron, naval home guard and the administration of navigation and hydrography, coordinated by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centere, operated by the navy and air force in the Danish Naval Commands facilities near Aarhus. Internationally the Danish works mainly with Germany, Norway and Sweden. With the two latter, the yearly exercises Baltic SAREX and
Scan-SAR are conducted.
SAR-services in Denmark started in 1957 with seven Sikorsky S-55. Their radial engines only had limited horsepower (550 hp) fuel capacity, so their operational area was also rather limited. To gain more operational area, it was decided to add some Pembroke two engine aircraft for search. These aircraft would then localize the distressed person(s) and the S-55's would then fly out to that location for rescue. Originally the only SAR-service performed, was for crashed fighter-planes (79 aircraft crashed, with 62 dead, in the period 1950-1955), but today also civilan SAR-duties are taken care of.
In 1962 eight ship-based Alouette III was received. These was primarily meant for the ships patrolling in the North Atlantic, but also supported the S-55's. In 1964 - 1965 the seven S-55 was replaced with eight Sikorsky S-61A helicopters. This helicopter, was originally inteded for - and constructed as such - anti-submarine warfare. On this Danish variant, the heavy sonar equipment was removed and instead extra fuel storage was added. This gave these helicopters a very large operational area. In 1977 radar-equipment was installed and in 1990 a FLIR was added. Further avionics and navigational systems (such as GPS) has also been added through time.
In 1977 the naval air squadron was exfilled and created as an independent squadron in the navy and began replacing the Alouette III's with Westland Lynx helicopters. Their primary operational area was still the North Atlantic, but they continued their (much lesser since the introduction of the S-61) support roles. In 2006, the first of the S-61 was replaced by one of 14 new AugustaWestland EH-101 "Merlin" helicopters.
In 2007 the Danish Defence held a public display in Horsens, to raise awareness about resuce services and maritime safety (Denmark has a relative large amount of costal line).
Today the SAR-components in Denmark are eight EH-101's, one or two Lynx's, 34 naval home guard vessels and 21 rescue vessels as well as the naval vessels at sea. The EH-101's are operates from bases in Aalborg (EKYT), Skrydstrup (EKSP) and Roskilde (EKRK). In rough weather aircraft are also posted on the island of Bornholm (EKRN) in the Baltic Sea. The Lynx's operates from KARUP (EKKA). The maritime vessels are spread out through the entire coastline and on islands. The S-61' and EH-101's has a crew of six: Two pilots, a navigator, a medic, a physician and a rescue swimmer.
Estonia
The Estonian Border Guard (Piirivalve) 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.
Germany
Search and Rescue in German waters is conducted by the Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Rettung Schiffbrüchiger 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 Force. All incoming requests are coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Bremen. 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-Hilfe, 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 Force. Their fleet consists of nine aircraft including:
Mountain rescue operations are carried by the Mountain Search and Rescue Company of Hong Kong Civil Aid Service in conjunction with the Hong Kong Fire Services Dept and the air support from the Government Flying Service. Hong Kong Marine Police 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 Guard 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 Guard. 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.
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 Malta (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 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 Libya about enhancing SAR cooperation between the two countries.
Netherlands
SAR responsibility in the Netherlands is held by the Dutch Coast Guard, carried out by vessels and aircraft from various organisations among which the Koninklijke Nederlandse Redding Maatschappij, Ministry of Transportation and Water Management and the Navy and Air Force.
New Zealand
New Zealand's Search and Rescue Region extends from the South Pole to the southern border of the Honolulu region, including Norfolk, Tonga, Samoa, and Cook Islands.
Smaller searches are controlled by the local police, who call on LandSAR for land-based operations, such as for lost hikers, and the Royal New Zealand Coastguard 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 Redning, 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 Archer-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 Force (RNoAF), who fly 12 Westland Sea Kings. These are scheduled to be replaced by the NHI NH90.
Norwegian Red Cross (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 Luftambulanse-group (Norwegian Air Ambulance), and the company Lufttransport 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. It's 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.
United Kingdom
In the UK, maritime search and rescue is coordinated by HM Coastguard, while land-based operations are usually coordinated by the local Police force. The operation itself is carried out with aircraft from the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force or Coastguard, RNLI lifeboats and police, military or volunteer mountain rescue or ALSAR (Association of Lowland Search and Rescue) teams. Aircraft coordination is carried out by the UK Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) based at RAF Kinloss 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 Kings currently in use, although they have suggested that crews may, at least partially, still be made up of military personnel.
See also
Groups
External links
- Extract from Jane's Defence Weekly article (3 August 2006)
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- National Association for Search and Rescue (U.S.)
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