*** How to Start A SAR Team ***


Before you start forming a SAR team you should first check to see if
there are other teams in your area. If there are then you should 
discuss with them operational boundaries and their opinions about
having other teams in the region. Quite a number of new teams 
have ongoing disputes regarding boundaries! These may take a few years
to overcome. In a large region a new team can be a welcome resource
and add a 'pool' of extra people for larger SAR operations. You may also
want to consider becoming an affiliate to an existing team. This gets the
novices some 'hands on' field training and  improves the capabilities of the
existing team. In many regions multi-team (mutual aid) operations, requiring
large numbers of searchers,  are the norm after the first operational period.

Next you should check with the local police force, who are usually
responsible for all missing person reports. These people are key players
and are your link to official team status. If you get their approval 
to search in their jurisdiction then you are on your way!

Next check with the state emergency measures program, who often have
overall responsibility, formulate policies, provide workers compensation etc
to SAR teams. You will need liability and workers compensation insurance when
participating in training and missions.

With these components in place you can then start training.
The Emergency Response Institute's (ERI) 'Fundamentals of Search & Rescue'
and 'Managing Search Operations' are two excellent training manuals for basic
SAR and SAR management and have a wealth of knowledge between the covers.
The National Association for Search & Rescue can also provide a great deal of
useful information on North American SAR issues. For K9 teams try contacting
the California Rescue Dog Administration.

For searching to a particular Probability of Detection and for the logistics
(read mathematics) of search deployment try reading my own research, which is
centered on this type of activity. It is in ERI's manuals and in a number of
papers in SARINFO's Literature library.

Encouraging people to join your team should not be a problem IF you keep the
training lively and interesting. This is most important. Make sure that your
team reaches at least the same level of skill as the neighbouring team, If
this is not possible then go 'under their wing' for training and missions.
Do NOT attempt to take on more than your team can adequately manage. Peoples'
lives may be at stake.

It may take 3 or 4 years to build up a reputation and gain the trust of the
local SAR teams, police  and other authorities. Be patient, this is a
necessarily conservative business and trust in your team will come slowly.

Read all the information you can get in the SARINFO Literature libraries.
Check out the other SAR teams on the Web. Read their mission reports.
This will give you valuable insight into the workings of the teams.
* Make sure you study the non-glamorous as well as the more high-profile
aspects of SAR training. * Remember that most SAR missions are non-technical
but require careful planning and a lot of strenuous fieldwork.

Good luck, be patient and persevere.

Martin Colwell

sarinfo@mindlink.bc.ca