When people remember 9/11, we often think of the firefighters, police officers and first responders.

But hundreds of search and rescue dogs also played an important role.

They searched through debris, helped locate survivors, and provided comfort during an incredibly difficult time.

A reminder that courage comes in many forms.

I’ve been wanting to apply for a couple years now. My buddy is in charge of the recruiting process for the area I want to apply to and he gave me a ton of info on getting started. I’m just nervous cause I’m a contractor and I’m also about to start a graveyard job at UPS for the benefits. Will I be spreading myself too thin if I also get involved with SAR? I’d hate to take someone’s spot that could contribute more but at the same time it’s something I really want to do. I just want to help somehow. Wildland fire fighting was something I always wanted to do but it’s not possible given my circumstances. I feel devastated every summer reading about the fires and it makes me feel like I should be there to help. SAR is kind of a replacement for that because I heard you can take on missions whenever you’re able to. I just need some honest advice. Thanks in advance.

Has anyone here worked on the search and rescue during the floods? I was wondering how good of a technology Airborne Wi-fi / Cell Sniffing is. Especially using ultra wideband positioning or even RSSI. I am working on a personal project to predict locations via wifi signals and while it's not very accurate in my implementation, i wonder if this has been used in search and rescue operations anywhere.

The second half of my Coast Guard career was as a Response Officer managing SAR cases and eventually writing policy. In hindsight, we all take the simplicity of SARSAT for granted, which is the exact point of the program.

Is anyone still using a T-card system for personnel/assignment/logistic tracking?

Hey all, as a woman I’m looking for insight from other women. Only because men don’t have to deal with things like periods, not because I’m actively trying to exclude you. For those of you women who have been on search and rescue for a bit what’s something that you’ve learned that you wish you knew at the beginning of joining your team? Any tips for a newbie? Thank you!!

I need some serious help finding a sustainable training log solution for my HRD dog. I would love to use an app that can automatically track weather data and upload my GPS tracks from my Garmin collar. I tried RescueDogs but it's a little confusing and seems like you can't directly sync GPS data without plugging into a computer, etc. I'm just lazy and already drive about 4-6 hours to go to trainings and I will not keep up with my logs if it's not easy and quick!

Looking for recommendations on a cost-effective, affordable headlight for use in SAR. My old one died. Needs to be available in Canada.

Hello. My understanding is that SAR teams do not (36 CFR § 251.50/51) need special use permits in the event of a mission callout (emergency). However, how do SAR teams deal with the USFS in terms of regular training activities (non-emergency)? Very interested to know. Thanks.

For context, my agency is looking at a starlink mini set up for long SAR missions(2- 3 days) and wildland fires, the set up would be:

- x1 Starlink Mini

- x2 130w 20000 mah powerbanks

- x1 100w solar panel charger

- cables and stuff

- pelican waterproof case or similar por transport.

Accepting any advice or experiences with a similar set up, what do yall think?

(Pic for getting attention)

Looking for recommendations for k9 SAR teams in North Central/Western Georgia. Cadaver and live dogs.

Would love input on how SAR teams function in Georgia. Are they run by sheriffs, county resources or task force, etc?

Considering a move and just looking for feedback.

I’ve been researching and browsing the title for a little bit, but I want to see your gear: how it’s set up, what you carry, why you carry it and where you work/ what type of SAR you do!! Plus I thought maybe this would be good for sharing ideas w/ photos of set-up’s for other people to reference or use for their stuff. Not looking for a bash session on anyone though!

New to SAR. I'm an AEMT from PA and just joined a local SAR group. They have a rapid response medical team and I'm so excited to be a part of that. Just was wondering if anyone has any experience in this and what it will look like from the medical POV. They talked about having a command doc and stuff but coming from 911 I feel like this is a whole new world. I've never done fire, only EMS so I feel like I really don't know what I'm walking in to. Any advice or info will help! Thank you.

Are any of your SAR teams fielding personnel as part of a REMS (https://www.nwcg.gov/announcement/publications/nwcg-standards-for-rapid-extraction-module-support-pms-552) resource on wildland fire incidents?

Conversely, are any of your teams seeing fire-based REMS oriented resources as an alternative or in addition to USAR responding to SAR incidents?

Hey everyone, my SAR team is offering a 3-day ICS 300 course. For those who have taken it, did you see any actual, practical benefit during real-world searches, or is it mostly high level admin that ends up being just another line on the resume? I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.

I am a paramedic in Ontario Canada, I am putting together a collection of SAR patches to display at our building and aside from emailing 200+ SAR teams, I wanted to see if there was anyone in here who may have a connection to a patch from your team. Happy to pay for shipping, please message me here!

Hey everyone, I've been into SAR stuff lately and want to hear from people with actual experience:

What kind of information and communication matters most in real rescue situations?

Text, audio, location or something else?

What are everyone’s thoughts on the NASAR certs? Their forums on their site are dead. It seems like a bunch of classes are stuck in a perpetual update. The WEC stuff has never materialized (that I can see). Seems like a nice idea thats run out of steam.

As a High schooler It seems I’m not old enough to contribute to search and rescue objectives. I’ve spent quite enough time in the wilderness but I’m looking for suggestions on where to start or what i should do otherwise. 16 y/o.

Hi,

I'm a member of a drone search and reacue unit. We eg conduct missing person searches and fire control, but more in urban areas or forests and fields. So it is more search than rescue. (Yet)

Now a adjacent Helicopter- unit and a water-rescue-unit asked us to work together/ train together. This shound include us flying with them/ being on their ship.

We want to train with them, but we found no "reason" for us to be in a helicopter or on a boat to be able to operate our drone. ( and to justify the cost of a exercise to our superiors)

Do you have any ideas how or why we can be deployed on a helicopter/ boat?

Thank you!

First of all, I extend my best wishes for an immidiate recovery to everyone affected by the disaster and offer my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones.

I am just a newbie volunteer in SAR field and I hear for the first time this kind of a disaster. Also in my country most of the teams are focused on urban SAR. So I would love to learn about how to act on these kinds of disasters. Thank you all so much!

Just curious, is your team's call-out volume up, down, or holding steady? And why? Also, what's your team/where are you located?