Is Search and Rescue right for you?
Search and Rescue is a very unusual volunteer experience. It takes…
Time
8 full weekend trainings of overnight camping in a primitive environment over 8 months.
Continual training and re-certifications from that point on.
A call-out can happen at any time.
If your calendar is already packed dawn to dusk with limited flexibility, SAR is probably not a good fit for you.
Commitment
Searches never seem to happen on a Saturday when you have nothing else to do.
Depending on your employer and profession, you’ll likely have to sacrifice precious vacation time at some point.
You'll have to be packed, ready-to-go, prepared to drop your plans and be out the door in a hour to respond to a search callout.
As often as not, the weather does not include blue skies and sunshine.
The cost of your gear and transportation is all yours.
Energy / Resilience
Physical- Carrying a pack for miles over rough terrain on the SEARCH portion of a mission and a stretcher with a person in it during the RESCUE piece is strenuous physical work. You have to be reasonably fit and pass the fitness qualification.
Mental- It is important to understand that SAR missions can include crime scenes, the recovery of physical remains, and other difficult circumstances including interaction with a subject's distraught family members.
Unfortunately, SAR missions with sad outcomes are common. Are you mentally prepared for that?
You may ask:
“This is a lot to ask of an unpaid volunteer, why do this?”
“This is a lot to ask of an unpaid volunteer, why do this?”
Fun, Learning, and Community
If you enjoy the outdoors you will have a lot of fun learning valuable skills with people of similar interests and values. If you stick with it you'll make great friends.
Moving the Needle
When you participate in a SAR mission, regardless of the outcome, you will play a role in changing the trajectory of people’s lives. It doesn’t get more ‘real’ or more gratifying.
Sense of Purpose / Mission
Our mission is crystal clear...when someone’s life depends on the efforts of others, we are the ‘others’.