Comments on: Starting a Search and Rescue Team http://re-search.org.uk/2010/02/03/starting-a-search-and-rescue-team/ The bloke that knows sh!t loads of dead cool stuff about search... Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:45:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: smartie-pants http://re-search.org.uk/2010/02/03/starting-a-search-and-rescue-team/comment-page-1/#comment-3293 smartie-pants Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:47:41 +0000 http://re-search.org.uk/?p=620#comment-3293 Mojo, This isn't just limited to SAR, other voluntary sectors also suffer the same. What concerned me is the increase in teams who try a 'one size fits all approach. A point in question is teams who claim they have robust medical training, then posing as cores ponders for an ambulance service. I know of a number of voluntary teams, SAR, MR, retained firefighters who are all well trained and have medical directors in post. It's these safe guards that make the difference between a safe and sustainable team and one that isn't. A number of voluntary aid teams, SJA, BRC and SAR have all fallen on the sword.... Why? Pretending to be something they're not. The consequence of this, is that emergency services will be reluctant to setup MoU with the genuine teams. On balance most MRT's and fire service teams in my experience deliver a world class service that's safe. Regulation and unity is the way forward, transparency is the key to ansuccessful future. Non registered teams should reevaluate their aims and work to support the existing networks of teams available. I wonder how many teams have genuine external verification on training, such as water, medical etc? Mojo,

This isn’t just limited to SAR, other voluntary sectors also suffer the same. What concerned me is the increase in teams who try a ‘one size fits all approach.

A point in question is teams who claim they have robust medical training, then posing as cores ponders for an ambulance service. I know of a number of voluntary teams, SAR, MR, retained firefighters who are all well trained and have medical directors in post. It’s these safe guards that make the difference between a safe and sustainable team and one that isn’t.

A number of voluntary aid teams, SJA, BRC and SAR have all fallen on the sword…. Why? Pretending to be something they’re not.

The consequence of this, is that emergency services will be reluctant to setup MoU with the genuine teams. On balance most MRT’s and fire service teams in my experience deliver a world class service that’s safe.

Regulation and unity is the way forward, transparency is the key to ansuccessful future. Non registered teams should reevaluate their aims and work to support the existing networks of teams available.

I wonder how many teams have genuine external verification on training, such as water, medical etc?

]]> By: Mojo http://re-search.org.uk/2010/02/03/starting-a-search-and-rescue-team/comment-page-1/#comment-3278 Mojo Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:38:47 +0000 http://re-search.org.uk/?p=620#comment-3278 From 2007 I've been sorting the mess out from another team in our area. I'm not saying the area is covered and that's it, all I'm asking is that teams who rightly processed their application with umbrella organisations such as ALSAR and MR and those who come under the UKSAR Framework, who have policies based on evidence based best practices, and not cut and pasted from other websites, are given a little bit of guidance and support to do what they do best, to search and to rescue. Its the politics that cause the hassle, the heartache and the stress. In this economic climate where all SAR Teams are hit hard, non-registered teams have the time to raise funds for kit as they aren't being used by the emergency services, it makes our job harder and it causes confusion in the eyes of the public! We return the missing person to a place of safety no matter what the time, what the weather, etc - if non-registered teams supported that fact, they'd assist us not fight us. In hope that one day the missing person becomes our sole focus without external disruptions. No offence intended so please don't take any, I'm simply talking about my experience! From 2007 I’ve been sorting the mess out from another team in our area. I’m not saying the area is covered and that’s it, all I’m asking is that teams who rightly processed their application with umbrella organisations such as ALSAR and MR and those who come under the UKSAR Framework, who have policies based on evidence based best practices, and not cut and pasted from other websites, are given a little bit of guidance and support to do what they do best, to search and to rescue. Its the politics that cause the hassle, the heartache and the stress. In this economic climate where all SAR Teams are hit hard, non-registered teams have the time to raise funds for kit as they aren’t being used by the emergency services, it makes our job harder and it causes confusion in the eyes of the public! We return the missing person to a place of safety no matter what the time, what the weather, etc – if non-registered teams supported that fact, they’d assist us not fight us.

In hope that one day the missing person becomes our sole focus without external disruptions.

No offence intended so please don’t take any, I’m simply talking about my experience!

]]> By: Ron Westrup http://re-search.org.uk/2010/02/03/starting-a-search-and-rescue-team/comment-page-1/#comment-3266 Ron Westrup Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:49:59 +0000 http://re-search.org.uk/?p=620#comment-3266 Any person or persons wishing to start up a new search & rescue team should think very carefully indeed. The biggest question is - is there a real need in your particular geographical area or do you just have a 'warm feeling' that you would like to start one? If it's the latter, I strongly recommend you shouldn't go any further, but instead put your energy into working with an existing team and in doing so make a real contribution that way. Starting a team shouldn't be about an ego trip, it should be based on a real and burning desire to do something very important but only where it's wanted. Anyone considering undertaking such a huge task should start in the right place and that's with the Police. They will tell you if there's a need and I would suggest again that if they say there isn't one, stop at that point. Yes, in theory anyone can start up a SAR team but it's got to be for the right reasons and to answer a real (not just perceived) need. Lots of new SAR-ish organisation have sprung up in the last few years and I have to say that some of them are very suspect indeed. The suspect ones do not help the cause of good volunteer SAR teams at all, as the good competant teams tend to suffer from the effects of the bad press created by suspect ones (no names mentioned of course). But, if you really have identified a need for a new Lowland SAR Team, you've met with the Police and got their blessing, then the next sensible step is to talk with ALSAR because they have the experience that you are definitely going to need and take advantage of. Trust me, you will need their help. Then once all that's done prepare yourself for the thrill of giving up just about every non working hour you have for at least two to three years - because that's what it will take to get your team off the ground. Trust me, I've been there! Good luck! Ron Westrup, Founder, Essex Search & Rescue Any person or persons wishing to start up a new search & rescue team should think very carefully indeed. The biggest question is – is there a real need in your particular geographical area or do you just have a ‘warm feeling’ that you would like to start one? If it’s the latter, I strongly recommend you shouldn’t go any further, but instead put your energy into working with an existing team and in doing so make a real contribution that way. Starting a team shouldn’t be about an ego trip, it should be based on a real and burning desire to do something very important but only where it’s wanted. Anyone considering undertaking such a huge task should start in the right place and that’s with the Police. They will tell you if there’s a need and I would suggest again that if they say there isn’t one, stop at that point. Yes, in theory anyone can start up a SAR team but it’s got to be for the right reasons and to answer a real (not just perceived) need. Lots of new SAR-ish organisation have sprung up in the last few years and I have to say that some of them are very suspect indeed. The suspect ones do not help the cause of good volunteer SAR teams at all, as the good competant teams tend to suffer from the effects of the bad press created by suspect ones (no names mentioned of course).
But, if you really have identified a need for a new Lowland SAR Team, you’ve met with the Police and got their blessing, then the next sensible step is to talk with ALSAR because they have the experience that you are definitely going to need and take advantage of. Trust me, you will need their help. Then once all that’s done prepare yourself for the thrill of giving up just about every non working hour you have for at least two to three years – because that’s what it will take to get your team off the ground. Trust me, I’ve been there! Good luck!
Ron Westrup, Founder, Essex Search & Rescue

]]> By: gerald http://re-search.org.uk/2010/02/03/starting-a-search-and-rescue-team/comment-page-1/#comment-3239 gerald Fri, 20 May 2011 23:35:28 +0000 http://re-search.org.uk/?p=620#comment-3239 Well to start there is alot of down play to paid search and rescue but who is going to be the ones out there searching when all the vol. needs to go back to there paid jobs . As a new team on the east coast I am not askong the police or anyone to help pay for my staff to be trained or what I need for my staff so fair I have put all the oney out of y own pocket so Let us look at what can be done to get all teams together and form a set training for all teas Well to start there is alot of down play to paid search and rescue but who is going to be the ones out there searching when all the vol. needs to go back to there paid jobs . As a new team on the east coast I am not askong the police or anyone to help pay for my staff to be trained or what I need for my staff so fair I have put all the oney out of y own pocket so Let us look at what can be done to get all teams together and form a set training for all teas

]]> By: Kris http://re-search.org.uk/2010/02/03/starting-a-search-and-rescue-team/comment-page-1/#comment-3169 Kris Wed, 20 Apr 2011 08:11:14 +0000 http://re-search.org.uk/?p=620#comment-3169 Hi Peter, I guess the first question is what is your area? Then we can tell you if there is already a recognised (ALSAR, MREW) ground SAR team operating there. Assuming the area is not already covered then we can point you to the nearest best source of information (which would be the nearest ALSAR/MREW teamn) Also, take a look at www.alsar.org.uk Stay safe, Kris Hi Peter,

I guess the first question is what is your area? Then we can tell you if there is already a recognised (ALSAR, MREW) ground SAR team operating there.

Assuming the area is not already covered then we can point you to the nearest best source of information (which would be the nearest ALSAR/MREW teamn)

Also, take a look at http://www.alsar.org.uk

Stay safe,

Kris

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