SAR Training & Resources
This page is intended for those in Search & Rescue (SAR) and gives an overview set of material. Nothing here is meant to replace any new dog training. It is always advised to seek professional Dog Obedience training. In addition, this page has many links to:
- STANDARDS
- SAR GEAR
- SAR TEAMS IN VA
- POINT FORECASTS FOR SAR TRAINING
- WEATHER PRESENTATIONS FOR SAR
- MAP/TOPO DATA
TRAINING BREAKDOWN:
- NIMS
- SEARCH STRATEGY
- AGILITY & OBEDIENCE
- AGGRESSION
- INDICATION
- STANDARDS (VASARCO)
NIMS – The National Incident Management System
Every Search & Rescue Responder within the United States should be familiar with the NIMS courses. NIMS provides a unified and systemic approach to a search emergency, among other things. Under the Department of Homeland Security, NIMS was developed to integrate all agencies involved with a search, from the emergent volunteer to the governmental organizations and local law enforcement.
Most SAR personnel are required to take the following NIMS courses:
- ICS 100 – Introduction to the Incident Command System
- ICS 200 – ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
- ICS 700 – National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction
- ICS 800- National Response Framwork, An Introduction
- ICS 809 – Emergency Support Function (ESF) #9 – Search and Rescue
SAR GROUPS – VIRGINIA & NATIONAL
K9 GROUPS
- K9 Alert Search & Rescue Dogs, Inc.
- Blue & Gray Search & Rescue Dogs
- DOGS-EAST Search & Rescue
- Greater Atlantic Rescue Dogs (GARD)
- Mid-Atlantic D.O.G.S.
- Virginia Recovery Canine, Inc.
- Virginia Search & Rescue Dog Association
VA SAR Groups
- Shenandoah Mountain Rescue Group (SMRG)
- Piedmont Search and Rescue (PSAR)
- Rockingham-Augusta Search and Rescue (RASAR)
- Search and Rescue Tracking Institute (SARTI)
- Appalachian Search & Rescue Conference (ASRC)
- Black Diamond Search and Rescue Council
- Blue Ridge Mountain Rescue Group (BRMRG)
- Commonwealth Search & Rescue (CSAR)
- Tidewater Search & Rescue (TSAR)
- TROT-SAR Mounted Team (TROTSAR)
- Southwest Virginia Mountain Rescue Group (SWVMRG)
- Angel Search & Rescue
- Amherst County Search & Rescue (ACSAR)
- Appalachian Professional Tracking Group
- VGSAR Stafford County
- Lake Monticello Swift Water Rescue
- Virgina State Police
- FEMA
- National Institute for Urban Search and Rescue
- American Rescue Dog Association (ARDA)
- Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM)
- The Virginia Search & Rescue Council (VASARCO)
- National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR)
- Disaster Dog
POINT FORECAST FROM THE NWS FOR EACH TRAINING LOCATION
- Bremo
- Belmead
- Newport News Park
- Pocohontas – Both Locations
- Petersburg
- Cumberland
- Hopewell
- Central State
- Lake Monticello
- Lake Anna
- Henrico Co. Fire Training Site
- Dinwiddie Five Forks
- Malvern Hill Battlefield
- Varina/Sandston (Strath Rd. Site)
- York River SP
- Powhatan SP
- High Bridge Trail SP
VIRGINIA COUNTY MAP
TRAINING AIDS/PRESENTATION MATERIAL
- ‘K9 ALERT Organizational Overview’
- ‘Weather and Scent’ – by Jeff Orrock (NWS) & Cathy Louis (WCSAR)
- ‘Wilderness Search and Rescue Class’
- ‘Lost in the Woods… What to do?’
- ‘Land Navigation’