Anybody here SAR? I took EMT basic and certified EMT basic in Utah through Utah Fire and Rescue Academy. Unfortunately I moved back to Denver before the national test. I'm looking into doing Search and Rescue here in Colorado. I know the requirements vary state to state. I'm curious if there are any search and rescue team members on this board. I'd like to get into the field for a few reasons. It allows one to spend a good portion of time in the backcountry which I'd imagine everyone here is interested in doing and I'd like to help as well. Seeing so many tourists and mountaineers and other visitors to the Colorado Rocky Mountains I'd definetly be interesting in helping people in and out. So I'd like to hear some suggestions from any SAR. Anybody just take the classes of which there are several levels at least here in Colorado. Also I'd like to know if there are any professional trackers which I believe are conracted from private companies to find persons missing in the backcountry. I'm also an intermediate semi-experienced horseback rider and own my own horse to ride the backcountry. Any reccomendations and experiences would be very appreciated. Thanks to everybody who responds. WSS subforum is the best by far!!!!
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..become SAR (search & rescue)
- Thread starter denverco
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mtnfolk mike
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i did a little (vol.)SAR work fork for a few years, here in CA... didn't see much action, but i still loved every minute of it...
most SAR teams, these days, have their own websites... check out www.coloradosarboard.org you could also do a search for CO. SAR.. or for your area specifically...
most SAR teams, these days, have their own websites... check out www.coloradosarboard.org you could also do a search for CO. SAR.. or for your area specifically...
Just curious. How did you certify if you didn't take the national registry test?
I am lead SAR on my Fire department and have put together our SAR pre-plan as well as do training for my department and other organizations in the area. I am also an EMT and a Wilderness EMT and am in the process of getting my EMSI (EMT instructor) certification. I also am certified by NASAR as a SAR tech III though I took the training to be a SAR Tech II there was nowhere in the area to take the test. Something else that didn’t endear NASAR to me. That was also back when I was paying for everything myself.
Being frank, NASAR is not the end-all but they are a national standard that you can look at and is fairly transparent and others are starting to realize who they are. The class they gave was not anything I didn't already know but I was a sergeant in charge of a scout squad in the army so it was kind of a PIA to have to take. Were there one or two tidbits I picked up? Probably, but overall I didn’t find a whole lot of use of the course. Others with little SAR experience may find it more useful. Also, I will say that even though I knew most of what they taught, our particular instructors were very good and knew their subject matter. I also need to point out that I took the class over 10 years ago and the course may have changed though accordig to the books content is still the same, which is good. I still support NASAR and rejoin every year and do think they are getting better.
Mtnfolk mike beat me to the first choice.
another place to look is:
NASAR home page
Good luck,
KR
I am lead SAR on my Fire department and have put together our SAR pre-plan as well as do training for my department and other organizations in the area. I am also an EMT and a Wilderness EMT and am in the process of getting my EMSI (EMT instructor) certification. I also am certified by NASAR as a SAR tech III though I took the training to be a SAR Tech II there was nowhere in the area to take the test. Something else that didn’t endear NASAR to me. That was also back when I was paying for everything myself.
Being frank, NASAR is not the end-all but they are a national standard that you can look at and is fairly transparent and others are starting to realize who they are. The class they gave was not anything I didn't already know but I was a sergeant in charge of a scout squad in the army so it was kind of a PIA to have to take. Were there one or two tidbits I picked up? Probably, but overall I didn’t find a whole lot of use of the course. Others with little SAR experience may find it more useful. Also, I will say that even though I knew most of what they taught, our particular instructors were very good and knew their subject matter. I also need to point out that I took the class over 10 years ago and the course may have changed though accordig to the books content is still the same, which is good. I still support NASAR and rejoin every year and do think they are getting better.
Mtnfolk mike beat me to the first choice.
another place to look is:
NASAR home page
Good luck,
KR
Last edited:
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When you are doing your search to find a team don't forget to include your local sherriff office. In some states SAR teams are part of the sheriffs office and are joint deputies and civilians and in others the SAR teams are independent organizations that work for the sheriifs dept. I don't know how it works in Colorado but the sheriff office should be abel to give you some information.
Around here each team conducts their own training. Several teams do conduct training with each other so that when we work together on a search we have good working relations both profesional and personnaly. kr1 mentioned NASAR. The are a source of training and do set the standards but I find the lack of testing opportunities to be a turn off also. The SAR TEch III is easy enough to get so it is worth the time.
Around here each team conducts their own training. Several teams do conduct training with each other so that when we work together on a search we have good working relations both profesional and personnaly. kr1 mentioned NASAR. The are a source of training and do set the standards but I find the lack of testing opportunities to be a turn off also. The SAR TEch III is easy enough to get so it is worth the time.
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Never done any SAR work... Nope, not me.
However, IMHO, you might wanna listen to James and KR1, they are pretty knowledgable in these areas.
I hear that James is a Training Officer for an active SAR Team... Pretty good resources here!
However, IMHO, you might wanna listen to James and KR1, they are pretty knowledgable in these areas.
I hear that James is a Training Officer for an active SAR Team... Pretty good resources here!
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Stop being so modest Mike. I'm sure you have something to add.
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Its great to see this info, I've been wondering a bit about it myself. I'm in the process of finding an EMT course that I can fit in my schedule.
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Personnally I find their classes a bit spendy. We have an annual SAR conferance here in Washington State. It is three days and runs from around $50 or so plus the cost of food. Or do what some of us have done in the past and bring your own. Our team prefers this method as we get to socialize more and it is more flexable. For your money you can take a quite a few classes. The instructers are first class and come from all over the country.
Here is the Washington SAR Conference link
http://www.sar2008.com/index.php
I did some digging and found the link for the Colorado SAR Conference
http://www.sarcon.org/id94.htm
Here is the Washington SAR Conference link
http://www.sar2008.com/index.php
I did some digging and found the link for the Colorado SAR Conference
http://www.sarcon.org/id94.htm
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Glad I was able to help out. I was in Colorado Springs many years ago. Toured the Air Force Academy, The Olympic Training center, Garden of the Gods(?) and took the cog railway to the top of Pikes Peak. Great views. Unfortantly that is all of Colorado I had a chance to see. Maybe someday I'll make it out that way.