Who Is Involved?
Who is a SAR member?
A search and rescue member could be almost anyone that you meet such as a professional firefighter, a mom or dad, a college or university student, a paramedic or an industrial worker. As you can see, it doesn’t matter what you do, but rather who you are. The spirit of SAR is the driving force. The diversity of the working entity of SAR is what provides the team strength. The broad knowledge base of diverse members provides for different ways to deal with search and rescue situations. There is no one right way to deal with a search and rescue situation. "What works in one situation may kill someone in others (Cooper, LaValla, & Stoffel, 1996).& Search and rescue requires a dedicated person who works with integrity, tenacity, and commitment to find and assist the victim. The SAR organization realizes that you are volunteering your time and that any time you have to spare is valued. The fact that you must also devote time to other parts of your life is respected. Since this is a volunteer organization, it is understood that you will donate the time you choose to give, nothing more. SAR members act in a professional manner at all times when out on a search or any other time when acting on behalf of search and rescue.
What is involved with being a SAR member?
SAR members are on call 24 hrs a day and are required to respond in any weather conditions and at anytime of the day or night. Since SAR is a volunteer organization it is up to each individual member to determine if they are able to respond. The RCMP utilize search and rescue volunteers to provide additional resources when a large number of people are required to accomplish the task at hand. The tasks required of a search and rescue member range from evidence searches, missing person searches and include all of the operational duties to organize a search. With all of that said, the rewards of knowing that you may just be that one extra person needed to save a life is a significant reward in itself.