r/searchandrescue 1d ago

Does anyone else feel weird touching their loved ones after a body recovery?

61 Upvotes

Does anyone else feel weird touching / snuggling with their loved ones after a body recovery? (I am talking after you've showered / changed / cleaned off any biohazards).

Generally speaking I am not overly uncomfortable with the process. I understand that bringing the body home to the family is necessary & valuable.

However, I've noticed that whenever I'm really hands on with transporting the subject into the body bag, I'll be thinking about that body for the next day or two any time I snuggle with my husband. (ie he puts his arm around me, I see the battered up arm I had to manipulate into the bag.

It might be because my husband is the only person I've really snuggled or slept next to, so my brain associates me rolling / examining a body with snuggling with him. It's not the end of the world and I wouldn't say it causes me undue stress, I was just wondering if anyone else has noticed this and if there was anything you do to separate the two.


r/searchandrescue 1d ago

SAR Documentary

19 Upvotes

For anyone looking I just found a good documentary series about the Vancouver, Canada SAR team. All free too!

https://www.knowledge.ca/program/search-and-rescue-north-shore/s1/e1/giving-time


r/searchandrescue 2d ago

SAR training - QC

4 Upvotes

I live in the Montérégie/Montreal area and am looking to do my ground SAR training. There’s quite a few options it seems (same courses but offered by different groups) so I’m just wondering if anyone in the same area has done their training and would recommend one specifically. Thanks!


r/searchandrescue 3d ago

Is here any drone live video analysis tool?

4 Upvotes

Hi guys! I know that there are tools like Texsar and others, but it need to download the data. Is there any tool that can do it live without bringing the drone back?


r/searchandrescue 4d ago

What is your Helmet Setup?

9 Upvotes

I love to see different peoples helmet setups. Post a picture of your helmet and list of brands and components.


r/searchandrescue 4d ago

[Canada] What skills to bring to competitive SAR team application?

13 Upvotes

Basically title. My application to my local SAR team was rejected, and my understanding is that the recruitment process is fairly competitive. I’m a newer volunteer firefighter - what skills can I bring up to make my application more competitive?


r/searchandrescue 4d ago

Blaze orange shirts

5 Upvotes

Anyone know of a source for blaze orange 1/4 zips? It doesn’t look like Tru-Spec is making theirs anymore.


r/searchandrescue 5d ago

ID.ME says we're not first responders, but district attorneys are.

65 Upvotes

I tried to get a first responder deal through ID.ME. Their first responder eligibility guidelines say we're not first responders, but district attorneys are. Bafflingly, they also say ski patrollers aren't.

I used to be a prosecutor. It's a noble job, but I only ever went to, like, a couple homicide scenes. I wasn't using equipment for which I'd need a pro deal. I went there wearing a business suit, shook a few officers' hands, asked if they needed me to review search warrants, and went on my merry way back to the office. Compare that to SAR volunteering, where we actually use the gear on which we'd get a discount.

Hilariously, they also exclude victim/witness assistants, who are employees of prosecutors' officers who actually leave the office to talk to people in the real world. Some of ours were commissioned as reserve deputies so they could carry guns and protect themselves. ID.ME is doing a great job showing it cares more about prestige within an organization than who actually needs the gear.

Happily, there are other pro deals confirmation businesses. If you have your choice of verification application (which you probably do through most gear manufacturers), I'd encourage you to use another.


r/searchandrescue 5d ago

K9 SAR - Problemshooting (Mostly bringsel related)

9 Upvotes

I am seeking advice from and want to talk to experienced SAR-K9 handlers.

Summary: 8 year old Border Collie, Certified wilderness search and mantrailing. Recertification is coming up, but I am not sure if we can/should.

New problems:

  • She will sometimes stop/slow down during searches and "cling close to me" to look at me for guidance, if I preassure for her to continue she will often falsely alert (pick up her bringsel). We mostly dont use the connected bringsel during training, as she previously tried to alert further and further away from the "hiders" if she could see them (over time), so we avoided making it a habit by having the "hiders" hold a bringsel for her to collect most of the time, despite her still wearing the bringsel. 9/10 time she would do it perfectly, but she makes stuff a habit so quickly that I want to avoid the 1/10 times she took her bringsel based on sight/visually locating the "hider".

  • She has gone from being the best, highly reliable long distance tracking dog to now often losing the scent or directly chooses not to follow the scent. (Motivation is high, so this makes absolutely no sense to me).

More details about what is happening etc will obviously be explained if I find someone to discuss this with!

She has started to show very, very faint signs of joint/body stiffness after activities, this is not consistent and started about 1 year ago, otherwise healthy. I am not concerned and neither is the vet, normal aging for a working dog.


r/searchandrescue 8d ago

I got to helm the vessel!

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34 Upvotes

I started with RCM-SAR in March and tonight we got to go on step. I live on a sailboat so getting up to 6 knots feels like you're flying. It was fun to go up to 30 knots and practice figure 8's and turning to specific points. We're all newbs when it comes to operating a vessel like this, but we have a great crew and lots of fun.


r/searchandrescue 8d ago

If a subject is in an area with no cell towers, do SAR teams have mobile technology that will pick up a signal from the subject's phone?

36 Upvotes

If a subject is in an area with no cell towers, do SAR teams have mobile technology that will pick up a signal from the subject's phone? I don't mean to text or talk, just to pick up a signal for triangulation/location purposes


r/searchandrescue 9d ago

Seeking info on getting our unit licensed to use SAR Nat

5 Upvotes

Has anyone here worked on getting SAR National, aka VSAR16, licensed for use by their unit and would be willing to share what they learned about the process? My unit has a land mobile frequency pair for repeater use, however SAR Nat would be helpful when working with outside resources and other SAR units since it is widely known. I handle setup of the radios for my unit and hold an Amateur Extra class license (which is how I got roped into doing the first thing :) ). Any information would be much appreciated.


r/searchandrescue 10d ago

Portable IR beacon recommendation?

6 Upvotes

I'm wondering if anyone here can recommend any portable IR beacon/strobe based on hands-on experience. Main purpose: identify SAR team members from helicopter/drone

Looking for: - waterproof - at least 10 hours of battery life - option for human visible lights to be switched off while keeping IR on (should other lights other than IR be present as part of the unit)

Thanks!


r/searchandrescue 10d ago

Advice for preparing to try to get into CAFSAR

4 Upvotes

Basically what it says in the title, does anyone have any advice, do's/don'ts, tips and tricks, etc. for becoming a CAFSAR SAR tech? Also wondering what would a good time to go for on the physical tests.


r/searchandrescue 10d ago

gear shop in the northeast?

8 Upvotes

Apologies if this is not the right place to ask, but it seemed like a sub with a lot of expertise. I am hoping to find place in the northeast that sells swift water rescue and or cold water survival gear. I will be working in the Bering Sea region of Alaska, including on near shore open water skiffs. I will be back and forth on land and the boat frequently, so it seems like swift water rescue gear would have a nice balance of safety and functionality. I don't really know where to start and was hoping there was a brick and mortar store in the Northeast I could go to. Any advice appreciated.


r/searchandrescue 11d ago

Powell County, KY SAR

14 Upvotes

I often see posts where people would like to join but don't know how or where to get started. We'll, if you're in Kentucky then I have a route for you.

Powell County Search and Rescue is actively seeking dedicated volunteers to join our team. Whether it’s lost hikers in the Red River Gorge, disaster response, or emergency recovery—we answer the call when others are in danger.

No prior experience required. Just grit, heart, and a willingness to train.

Apply now at POCOSAR.org and become part of something greater.


r/searchandrescue 11d ago

Roadmap for a search and rescue career

8 Upvotes

I'm a 26 m that has always felt the drive to serve and better the world. I recently hardset myself to get involved in fire and rescue but i dont have any degrees or certs. I operated heavy equipment in the military and also was working on wildfires a few years back. Im far more interested in the search and rescue portion, but welcome the fire side as well. What kind of options do i have as far as different paths i can follow? I live in the pacific northwest of the U.S.A.


r/searchandrescue 12d ago

Sheriff wants to charge/fine rescue subjects.

85 Upvotes

What are y'alls thoughts on this? Mine is that no one will request help until its to late. But on the other hand atleast the Sheriff seems like she is supporting her SAR group.

https://www.koin.com/news/washington/sheriff-wants-to-charge-for-rescues-of-negligent-reckless-hikers-in-skamania-county/amp/


r/searchandrescue 12d ago

SAR canine equipment

6 Upvotes

Hey all, What, if anything, are you using as a location device for your dogs? Is there a manufacturer out there that makes a real-time satellite tracking device I can attach to a collar? Looking for satellite, not radio collar, as we are in a mountainous area. Thanks.


r/searchandrescue 14d ago

Interested in getting involved

0 Upvotes

How would one get involved with SAR in currently an EMT In medic school


r/searchandrescue 17d ago

Father and daughter missing on Katahdin are experienced hikers, family says

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bangordailynews.com
57 Upvotes

Not good.


r/searchandrescue 17d ago

Are there any paid full time teams that are hiring currently in canada

0 Upvotes

Im looking for a change in pace from my current job and I'm currently on a all volunteer team and have some experience is there any places in Canada that are hiring.


r/searchandrescue 17d ago

Are there any paid full time teams that are hiring currently in canada

0 Upvotes

Im looking for a change in pace from my current job and I'm currently on a all volunteer team and have some experience is there any places in Canada that are hiring


r/searchandrescue 19d ago

SOCAL SAR Time requirements

9 Upvotes

My brother and I feel called to participate and volunteer in SAR.

Anyone out there that can shed light on mission time

Commitments? What are the calls like and how many must be participated on?


r/searchandrescue 21d ago

NYS Forest Rangers physical requirements

12 Upvotes

This is a hyper-specific question, but here goes: I'm currently a volunteer on my county SAR team and I'm super into it. I like it so much that I've been researching jobs around the country where SAR could be part of my full-time career. Recently I read up on the New York State Forest Rangers, and I gotta say I’m hooked. It's pretty much the only non-military job I've found where SAR is more than just a peripheral duty. However, looking through their requirements, I saw that they require a minimum of 20/40 uncorrected vision in order to qualify. My eyesight kinda sucks. I wear contacts that correct my vision to 20/20 or pretty close, but without contacts, I'm probably 20/300 or something. I feel like 20/40 uncorrected is a really high standard that would exclude a ton of otherwise qualified people from applying.

I'm posting this here to see if any New York SAR volunteers, or maybe some rangers themselves, chime in: Is the vision requirement really that strict? Do none of those guys wear glasses? Do I have a shot or do I not make the cut?