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Search and Rescue
Questions and Answers
1
What is search and rescue (SAR)?
SAR is comprised of search functions and rescue functions. This is an important point not only because of differences in the skills and resources involved between these two types of operations, but sometimes due to differences in responsibilities, jurisdictions, and legal aspects. Search is an operation that uses available personnel and facilities to locate persons in distress. 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.
2
Who performs SAR operations?
Ideally, a SAR team would have the skills, knowledge, equipment, and training in the setting where the SAR is needed. At the local level, this task may fall on the shoulders of local police, fire, and EMS personnel. This is likely to be the first response when it is determined that someone is missing or lost. Once it is determined by the local responders that a specialized search team is needed, a call goes out for help. Most municipalities in the United States will have a process in place to handle this type of request, so it is important to find out what your local policy is for this type of situation. The vast majority of SAR teams are volunteer based and may not always be immediately available, so it is important to identify the need for a specialized SAR team as soon as possible.
3
What government organizations are responsible for SAR?
The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) based at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, is the primary Federal Government agency that is responsible for the coordination of inland SAR in the continental United States. AFRCC also offers assistance with SAR to Canada and Mexico. When a distress call is verified by the AFRCC, the staff determines the level of response and resources that are available in the area and notifies the appropriate personnel. This includes agencies like the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), US Coast Guard (USCG), and National Park Service (NPS).
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