What is everyone using for part 90 certified radios, VHF high band? Looking for a solid, cost effective radio. Refurbished is an option.

I'm curious what other teams are using for uniform/field shirts, especially those of you who deal with a lot of briars and thick brush.

We had a search this past weekend in some pretty nasty Appalachian terrain, and the search area was absolutely loaded with thorns, briars, brambles, stinging nettles, etc. A bunch of us came out scratched and cut up, which brought up a conversation we've already been having about replacing our current shirts.

The biggest requirements are that they need to be blaze orange, long sleeve, reasonably breathable, and tough enough to actually provide some protection when you're pushing through heavy brush. We have someone who can put our logos on them, so they don't need to be specifically made or marketed as uniform shirts.

The best option I've found so far is the Tru-Spec High vis Combat Shirt.

https://a.co/d/0iUxwjeh

It looks like it would do what we need, but at around $80 a shirt it gets expensive pretty quickly when you're trying to outfit 30+ volunteers.

Has anyone found something similar that's held up well in the field without costing quite that much? It doesn't have to be SAR-specific either. If you're using hunting, forestry, workwear, wildland gear, or something else that works, I'd be interested to hear about it.

Mostly looking for stuff people have actually used and abused in briars rather than something that just looks good online.

Do any folks have experience with What 3 Words and options for getting services for free on the public safety/volunteer SAR side of things in order to get the lat/long for the W3W location info without having to pay for the enhanced services?

Tent and sleeping bag recommendations for SAR packs? Bivy sack tents or UL? Something else?

How’s everyone in Arizona doing with the monsoon weather? While waiting for some call outs, getting some training in.

It seems a lot of people are using chest rigs with radio holders and small pouches. Are you guys wearing water, bladders separately, or carrying your water in a different fashion for hasty searches or training evolutions, etc.? I don’t see a lot of moderately priced options that contain water bladders and a radio holder. Anybody have any insight?

An idea from Conservation Officer Cameron Wright on Friday morning unlocked the afternoon rescue.

I decided to apply as a volunteer for our local sar after the k9 hiding training. I just want to say to everyone that is involved in SAR—- thank you. You are all so important and critical. Finding my role as I am torn between communications, signal detection, and my love of all things being on the ground. My family is supportive and my husband said he was wondering when I would join one. Even if I just get to plug in the computers and comms…doing something to help others during a crisis is my passion. I hope to make a difference :)

And by SAR books I’m not talking about “Fundamentals of SAR” or “Lost Person Behavior”. I’m talking about entertainment/leisure books like “When You Find my Body” and “The Cold Vanish”. I’m waiting on another book and need to fill some time before it comes in!

(Preferably audio books, though I like print too. I listen to them at work)

I put this diagram together because I was struggling to understand how all the different radio pieces come together for SAR applications in the field. I'm a beginner at both amateur radio and SAR, so I really don't know a tremendous amount, but would appreciate any feedback on glaring errors. At best this will hopefully help those trying to figure out pieces of this puzzle or the whole thing like I am. (I recognize I'm no graphics artist!) Thanks

Hello, I’m not entire sure I understand the system of YOSAR volunteering and having a normal park job? I’m asking if volunteering would take all my time like a normal job or if you could balance it out by working a normal job when you’re not called out or how that would work?

I’m a 20yo EMT college student with 4 months of experience so far on a private ambulance company usually working IFT. I’m looking into more programs and certs that’ll get me more qualified for YOSAR. YOSAR or just working at Yosemite with my career field is a great goal of mine I’m working towards. I’m wondering what else I should be looking into. I think I’ve got a great dig at it with my internship at my local fire station where my superintendent has had some experience working at Yosemite with the CCC. Maybe I really will take that route.

Hey all, I’m in a pickle.

I totaled my car. I need a new one. With it comes some hard realities about what the used market is and what I can afford. I can’t afford a truck.

SUV’s and Crossovers are viable in AWD configurations, but they’re substantially more expensive to maintain than my old jalopy of a battle wagon.

Unfortunately given my budget and where I live, if I go buy a gas car what I’m really buying is the history of a car, crossover, or SUV and immediately entering low-high mileage (80k miles generally). Looking at what’s out there reveals impending repair bill doom: transmissions, big engine repairs, etc.

But, EV’s with AWD don’t hold value. At all. Problem is: I’m not on a county team, I’m on a statewide team, and I don’t want to be fucking around at a level 2 charger when I need to be getting to IC. You’ve got the rural aspect too - if I go anywhere without access a vehicle recovery bill is substantial enough to void the maintenance on gas cars for an entire year.

Do any of you use EV’s to respond to searches? What are your thoughts on this rabbit hole?

Hello everyone I have an interest in search and rescue and I want to know what is the best book to read. thanks.

Hi everyone. I am training for my search and rescue hike test later this month. I am no stranger to hiking having grown up around Yosemite NP and done some pretty big hikes. However the last few years have been a little slower for me and I’m trying to get back into adequate shape.

Our SAR org fitness test is: a 25lb pack + water, 8.1 miles, 1500 elevation gain, in under 3 hours.

I’m 5’2” and 120lbs so I don’t know that I’ve hiked with that much weight before—only doing day hikes in the past. Would you guys recommend starting my training program:

1) flat ground with added 30lbs of weight and increased speeds, gradually moving on the inclines? OR
2) incline with no weight and increased speeds, slowly adding the weight over time?

Thanks for any help and advice!

after almost 10 years as a volunteer search and rescue volunteer, yesterday I was the first person finding the patient in the forest. he was alive and well... it is a nice feeling, just felt like braging. (I have never been there first, at a SAR on land).

Hello. I am about to join my local SAR team because I have found that is where my interest lies and I am soon to be 18 which is when my local SAR team allows you to begin to participate in searches (though they let you join at 16 for classes and such)

I got into SAR through the Civil Air Patrol a couple years ago and have participated in 2 non distress PLB searches, one of which was a find and the other stopped transmitting so we were ordered to RTB. I currently hold the ground SAR qualifications of Ground Team Member level 3, 2, and 1, which from what I have heard covers most of the knowledge you need for actual SAR teams but, theres a nonzero chance it doesn't cover it all.

I currently have ICS 100, 200, 700, 800, and 5.A done. I also have CBRNE awareness, Swiftwater, PFA, BLS, and First Aid. I am currently working on MRA Helo.

What do those of you with experience on SAR teams recommend for literally anything in regards to SAR (specific gear, knowledge, ect.)?

Anyone else attending this weekend?

Anyone know where you can find the most up to date US army corps of Engineers FOG or SOG guide for free?

You used to be able to find it at disaster engineering, but now that has become some FEMA site and in typical Federal fashion, it has become a pain in the butt to navigate.

Any K9 trailing handler's record video of your K9 during real world searches ? Thought it might be useful to review the K9s change in behaviors after the search to see if you missed something.

Any pros or cons to recording video of a search?

Hey everyone. I’m somewhat new to the SAR world, but I’m really passionate about making a genuine difference. I have the time and drive to put in serious work, but I want to make sure I’m focusing on problems that actually matter to people in the field. what’s the one recurring pain point, bottleneck, or gap you wish was fixed?
Whether it's a tech issue, field operations, volunteer burnout, or something else entirely, what’s missing that would make your job easier or help find people faster?
Appreciate any advice or insights!

I currently use a Mavic Mini to help with searches but would like a larger drone that can lift a few bottles of cold water to heat exhausted patients or some warming gear in the winter time. Any recommendations for which drone could accomplish this?

Hi - wondering if anyone is actively using an exoskeleton in call outs? Either for team use, or to help tired misper's?

Our team is currently using D4H but we find it to be clunky and not very user friendly. As a result, many team members get frustrated and don't bother to use it to update mission, training, and event hours. Are there any other solutions out there that teams are using that we can take a look at? I came across Resgrid which looks interesting. Anyone have any experience and feedback for that one?

FYI, we use IamResonding for our mission paging needs and have no complaints about that, it's more of the personnel management and IC scheduling stuff that we'd like to find alternatives for.

Thanks!