1. SAR Responsibilities & Team Activation
Adapted for CAWG from the National Emergency Services Curriculum Project

2. SAR Responsibilities in the United States
Navigable Waterways - USCG
Localized Land Search in CAWG: County Sheriff
Missing Aircraft or Distress Beacon Searches within one state - State designated representative (often CAP or sheriff’s aviation division)
Missing Aircraft or Distress Beacon Searches across state boundaries - AFRCC assigns under federal jurisdiction

3. Information Gathering
Be a good reporter and ask questions
Who
What
When
Where
Why
How
20 Questions - Chapter

4. What to do when you get the call
Treat the situation as a serious mater
Get contact information from the caller
Get as much additional info. as you can
Make certain the person can get back to you
Remember whose job it really is!
You may be called just because you are a known emergency responder in the community
Contact the agency with primary responsibility

5. What to do when you get the call
No self-dispatch. There’s no mission until approved by the AFRCC.

6. Resources Primary - organizations whose primary job is SAR USCG CAP
Military rescue units
And other such units…

7. Resources continued
Secondary - organizations with the capability to support searches
American Red Cross
Salvation Army
Law Enforcement
And other such agencies

8. Conducting Alerts
If CAP is the resource to be used for the search, you will need to be able to readily get in touch with your personnel quickly and with the information they need. This can be done via several methods:
Phone (Typically most reliable)
Pager

9. Conducting Alerts
Generally alerts go out over the RED XXXX ALERT lists (text message and/or ).
North, Central, and South
CAWG-General also useful for SAREXes &c.
Coordinate with peers and check in with designated IC
Sign up at

10. Sample RED ALERT Subject: [RED NORTH ALERT] – NEED 406 DF A/C and UDF
Body: FOR LAUNCH NOW ON ACTIVE 406 EPIRB CHICO/RED BLUFF AREA. CALL IC3 JOHN DOE AT WITH COMPLETE CREW

11. Sample Phone Tree 1st Lt. Smith 555-1111 2nd Lt. Jones 555-2222
C/FO Brown
S/M Green
C/SSgt. Doe
C/Sgt. White
C/Amn Black
C/Amn Cook
C/B Davis

12. Minimum Alert Information
Type of Mission
Expected Duration of Mission
Time and Location of Meeting Place
Special Instructions
Mission Number
Call Back Number

13. Preparedness
If you are not ready to go out on a mission or have limitations to your participation tell the person calling
Equipment
Crew Rest
Other Obligations
Health problems/illness
Medication/alcohol

14. Team Activation Tasks
P-0102 Conduct a Phone Alert

15. QUESTIONS?
THINK SAFETY!