SAR Links

SAR Alberta The overall body for ground search and rescue (GSAR) in Alberta. SAR Alberta sets the standards the GSAR groups have to meet. Has information and links for all Alberta SAR groups.

Calgary Search and Rescue Association Combining effort and skills, to aid in the search and rescue of people in distress. A committed volunteer organization that trains in all aspects of search and rescue to provide assistance to people, other SAR groups, as well as tasking agencies.

Cochrane Search and Rescue (CSAR) Cochrane SAR is a new group just west of Calgary. Many of their members switched from Calgary, Sundre, Didsbury, and even Foothills SAR when CSAR started.

Red Deer Search and Rescue (RDSAR) Located about 130 km north of Calgary, Red Deer SAR was one of the first groups to respond to the Pine Lake tornado.

South East Alberta Search and Rescue (Medicine Hat) SEASAR covers the area to the east of Foothills SAR’s territory.

Lethbridge Area Search and Rescue Association LASARA is a another relatively new group, providing better coverage for an area formerly served by South East Alberta and Pincher Creek SARs.

Canadian Search Dog Association If they want to work with the RCMP, civilian search dogs in Alberta must be certified by the RCMP to the RCMP’s own dog standard.

Alberta Emergency Management Alberta Emergency Management helps municipalities with emergency preparedness, as well as with coping with an emergency
or disaster beyond its own capabilities. In case of a major disaster, (e.g., major earthquake in Vancouver) they could well be FSAR’s tasking agency.

Firebans and area closures In a dry and frequently drought-stricken area like southern Alberta, grass- and forest fires are a year-round hazard. As a result, firebans, trail closures or area closures are not unusual. Check the sites listed below in the “Firebans, etc.” section for details.

Environment Canada weather forecasts Environment Canada’s website has weather forecasts for all of Canada. The links below will take you directly to some Calgary region forecasts:

Graphical 5-day forecast for Calgary with current conditions.

For more information about weather, see the link in the “Other” section below to Environment Canada’s weather FAQ page.

Canada SAR Links:

National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS) “NSS is a centre for SAR coordination and promotion in Canada. It coordinates central activities for the federal element of search and rescue, [and] within the non-federal jurisdiction, the NSS works directly with provincial and territorial Search and Rescue authorities and police services to develop and standardize the quantity and quality of SAR service available to the provinces and territories.” [Description from their website.] NSS also publishes the bilingual SARscene magazine, now only in .PDF format.

RCMP Role in Search and Rescue The RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) is the most likely tasking agency to call on Foothills SAR to search for missing persons. The RCMP is the federal police that also provides provincial and municipal policing in most parts of Canada, and is therefore responsible for overseeing GSAR activities in their area of jurisdiction.

Canadian Forces SAR The Canadian Forces are the primary group for aeronautical SAR (ASAR) activities, and provide the air assets for maritime SAR. They have several dedicated SAR squadrons stationed on the east and west coasts, as well as Trenton, Ontario, and Winnipeg, Manitoba. They also work with, and certify, CASARA groups. See this site for information on the CH-146 Cormorant, the new SAR helicopter that became operational in 2002.

Civil Air Search And Rescue Association CASARA is a national network of local groups that work with the Canadian Forces to supply trained volunteer air SAR assets. Member-owned light aircraft and volunteer spotters and navigators supplement Forces aircraft, and the spotters fly on Forces aircraft to supply additional trained personnel. See also CASARA Ontario’s website at http://www.casaraontario.ca .

Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) The CCG provides marine SAR in Canadian waters and Canadian SAR responsibility waters.

Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary (CCGA) The CCGA provides the CCG with additional volunteer resources, including SAR, education, and patrol duties.

Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada (SARVAC) SARVAC works to benefit all SAR volunteers in Canada.

SAR in other countries:

International Search and Rescue An international association whose vision is “improving SAR knowledge worldwide.” Their links page lists many SAR organizations worldwide.

COSPAS-SARSAT The home site for the international search and rescue satellite system. A constellation of low- and high-earth orbit satellites that listen for radio distress signals on 121.5, 243.0, and 406.025 MHz from ELTs, PLBs, and EPIRBs. System allows rapid triangulation to calculate position of beacon to within several kilometres (usually). Founded in 1982 by Canada, USA, France and USSR, now used by many countries.

National Association for Search and Rescue A national association for paid and non- paid SAR, disaster, and emergency medicine professionals.

Civil Air Patrol (United States) Approximately equivalent to Canada’s CASARA.

United States Coast Guard (USCG) The branch of the US military that is responsible for maritime patrol and SAR.

Being safe in the wilderness:

“Don’t tempt fate when she has already indicated that she is in a bad mood.”

The wilderness is an unforgiving place, so being prepared is the key. Preparation can include hiring a guide, taking a wilderness first aid course, checking weather or avalanche forecasts, or taking precautions against infection. Here are a few relevant sites, especially Canadian ones. If you are visiting the Calgary area, and would like to experience the wonders of the Rockies safely, some of these companies can take care of all the arrangements.

Association of Canadian Mountain Guides The ACMG certifies mountain, ski, hiking, and other guides in Canada. You can consult their site to find the name of a guide in the area you are interested in, or to check on the certification of a guide.

Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA) Avalanches are one of the main causes of death in winter mountain recreation. This site will help you avoid becoming a statistic. The CAA represents the avalanche community in Canada by promoting scientific and technical standards. They have the current avalanche danger ratings for the back country areas of British Columbia and Alberta. Check and heed their warnings when considering heading into the hills.

Kananaskis Country Backcountry Report K-Country is a popular recreation area next to Banff National Park. Part of Foothills SAR’s primary response area, and covering thousands of square kilometres of the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, this rugged terrain is heavily forested. Althought it doesn’t have the curent risk levels, the site does have lots of good information.

Kananaskis Country Trails Report The trails report is updated weekly, or as conditions warrant. Also has lots of other good information, including current avalanche, weather and road conditions.

Rocky Mountain Adventure Medicine RMAM provides medical and outdoor preparedness instruction for people who will be spending time in a non-urban setting.

St. John Ambulance St. John Ambulance offers first aid courses, as well as first aid kits, to the general public. Their courses, held regularly at most St. John locations across the country including Calgary, focus on urban and workplace first aid more than backcountry.

Cougars Management A brochure from the Alberta government about cougars; what they look like, where they live, and what to do if you encounter one.

Safety guide to cougars From the British Columbia government, information about cougars. Similar to the brochure mentioned above.

Living with fish and wildlife From the Alberta government’s Sustainable Resource Development department, the site has pages about cougars, bears and other wildlife, as well as information about diseases.

Bears in Alberta Also from Sustainable Resource Development, this site has many pages about bears in Alberta.

Diseases, infections, hypothermia and hyperthermia:

While out in the wilderness, you can catch diseases and infections many people think of as “city” or “farm” problems. These include Giardia, Cryptosporidium, West Nile, Norwalk, Hanta, E. coli, and many other infectious agents. And hypo- or hyperthermia is a risk any time of year.

Some Potential Microbiological Hazards for Field Workers From the University of Alberta, this page gives an overview of what’s out there, transmission methods, and precautions.

Kingston General Hospital & Queen’s University This Infection Control Service site from Queen’s University’s pathology department and KGH has information on several different infectious agents, including the Norwalk, West Nile, and Ebola viruses, E. coli, influenza, and foot & mouth disease. Especially check the “What’s hot” page.

Health Canada This Material Safety Data Sheet gives details of how the Norwalk virus acts, and the precautions to take.

West Nile Virus Surveillance Information Another site from Health Canada, this one has has lots of information on the West Nile virus.

Alberta Health & Wellness — West Nile Virus This site from the Alberta government gives information specific to Alberta, and includes an excellent FAQ.

Giariasis From the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s medical encyclopedia, details on Giardia lamblia, the protozoa that causes giardiasis, the official name of giardia.

Hypothermia Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht of the University of Manitoba is a world-renowned expert on hypothermia who “studies human responses to exercise/work in extreme environments. He has conducted hundreds of cold water immersion studies that have provided valuable information about cold stress physiology and pre-hospital care for human hypothermia.” His site includes articles and videos on staying warm and safe in the outdoors.

Hypothermia (woodsman’s disease) and Hyperthermia In August 2003 while camping in British Columbia, Randy Chartrand became disoriented from hypothermia, evaded his would-be rescuers, and died. This site, written by his brother Dan, tells a cautionary tale and explains the signs and symptoms of hypothermia as well as hyperthermia. Includes audio clip of Dan’s interview on CBC Radio’s “The Current” on 03 September 2003.

Firebans, forest fires, and such:

In a dry and frequently drought-stricken area like southern Alberta, grass- and forest fires are a year-round hazard. As a result, firebans, trail closures or area closures are not unusual. Check these provincial government sites for current information on national parks, provincial parks and recreation areas, as well as municipal, county and municipal district firebans and area closures.

In 2003 much of southwestern Alberta (roughly everything south and west of Rocky Mountain House) was under a fireban from late July until September, and area closures were not unusual.

2004 was forecast to be a very dry summer. As it turned out, B.C. was very dry; southern Alberta had plenty of hail, rain, thunderstorms, and tornados; and northern Alberta and most of the Yukon had severe forest fires.

The summer of 2005 wasn’t too bad for wildfires in Alberta. However, June was very wet, with more rainfall that month than usually falls all year. Many areas flooded, and several people died when they tried to cross swollen streams and rivers.

Also check Environment Canada’s website for the latest weather information, forecasts, watches and warnings (links above in the “Alberta” section). Firebans and area closures from Alberta Forest Protection ( albertafirebans.ca ) Quickly find out what areas in Alberta are affected by fires.

Alberta’s Sustainable Resource Development wildfires page Lots of information about Alberta and fires.

Provincial Emergency Program (British Columbia) Includes the current forest fire dangers and related activities in British Columbia.

Canadian Forest Service This federal government site has lots of information, some very detailed and technical, on the forest fire dangers, and how the ratings are calculated. Click on “current conditions”, then pick “Fire Danger” to see a national map of the danger levels. Includes historical data and maps going back to 1998.

Forest Fire Watch from The Weather Network Similar to the Canadian Forest Service, but less technical, and only current information.

FireSmart If you live in a rural or forested area, there are things you can do to reduce the risk that wildfires will destroy your home. The FireSmart programme aims to tell you how. Note: this isn’t just an Alberta programme, use a search engine or phone your local forest protection office to find out if there are programmes in your area.

Missing children:

Our Missing Children / Nos enfants disparus Canada’s national clearinghouse for missing children. First set up in 1986, it is run by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in collaboration with several other federal government departments, including customs, citizenship and immigration, and foreign affairs. The unit makes information on missing Canadian children available world-wide to other police agencies. The website is in English and French.

Child Find Canada Each year, about 60,000 Canadian children go missing, either by running away, parental abduction, or criminal activity. Child Find Canada is dedicated to locating and helping these missing children. They also offer programmes to educate parents, children, and professionals.

Missing Children Society of Canada This Calgary-based organization has lots of information on how to help children avoid going missing, as well as assisting police and parents in searching for missing children.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children An American organization dedicated to locating and helping missing children.

Hug a Tree Program A programme that teaches children how to avoid becoming lost, and what to do if it happens anyway. Similar to the “Lost in the Woods” programme. FSAR teaches both programmes.

North Shore Rescue Located in Vancouver, British Columbia, NSR responds to about 80 callouts per year. They have several vehicles, each for a different specific purpose.

San Diego County RACES Communications Vehicle This Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service’s vehicle is intended as a stand-alone emergency operations centre. Biased towards communications rather than search and rescue.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Mobile Command Post Serving the American federal government, this vehicle is obviously designed for the overall management of an event, rather than getting involved in specific activities.

SAR Links

Canada SAR Links:

Other Canadian provincial SAR links:

SAR in other countries:

Being safe in the wilderness:

Diseases, infections, hypothermia and hyperthermia:

Firebans, forest fires, and such:

Missing children:

Other links:

Canada SAR Links:

Other Canadian provincial SAR links:

SAR in other countries:

Being safe in the wilderness:

Diseases, infections, hypothermia and hyperthermia:

Firebans, forest fires, and such:

Missing children:

Other links:

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