Seeing an announcement at the end of last week made me think. As an IT-y sort of person I spend a lot of time online and I spend a lot of time online looking for SAR stuff.

There are a number of different SAR resources out there, differing in quality, reputation and usage. What there isn’t is one, all-encompassing SAR forum in the UK [as was pointed out to me by a good SAR colleague and friend].

Don’t misunderstand me, most of the forums suggest that they cover everything, and it was probably the aim of the people setting them up that they should include everyone. But therein lies the problem. Generally these forums and websites are set up by individuals or groups such as ALSAR.

In this way they limit themselves to one group, and others joining the group will often find themselves in a minority and over-shadowed by another SAR discipline.

What it needs is for all SAR disciplines in the UK to get together and create one all-encompassing SAR Forum. The obvious place for this would have been the UK SAR website. But I can’t see that happening. [I don't know if I can see everyone getting rid of their individual forums either but that's a different matter!]

Perhaps a group of individuals from all the different SAR groups could get together and create it; promote and develop it etc. It would have to include everyone from the development stage though – MR, ALSAR, RNLI, Coastguard, Cave Rescue, and so on and better still support from each group too.

Just my thoughts anyway… I’m sure some of you have some too.