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Subject: Mounted search and rescue

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  • From: "Jorene Downs" <Jorene@CEOates.com>
  • To: "Mounted search and rescue" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [MSAR] "Ground SAR equivalent" / MSAR standards / NASAR MSAR Practical standards
  • Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 23:51:58 -0700


----- Original Message -----
From: "Una Smith" <una@lanl.gov>
> A formal MSAR standard could
> (and I think perhaps should) require basic SAR training as a
> prerequisite, without identifing a specific other standard, training,
> or certification system. Eg, it could require whatever basic SAR
> training/certification is required by the cognizant authority (this
> being your county or state), or NASAR or MRA or ...

I see some glitches in your suggestion. There are plenty of counties /
states that don't even have written SAR standards ... and then you're back
to people being required to find an outside source like NASAR for training
and certification which several people object to. Also, how would you deal
with a State like CA that has guidelines for Type 4-1, but no official State
certification process?

Also, if your county has very nominal ground SAR standards, there would
still be an expectation to be certified in MSAR if you passed those riding
and gear requirements ... and that would be acceptable in your county. But
then you'd have the problem of going from one county/state to the next and
perhaps not meeting the ground SAR standards, yet being certified for MSAR
with the assumption that you're previously trained in Ground SAR.

So the consistency in the ground SAR training would be lacking. The
foundation - the ground SAR training - intended to provide knowledge for the
certified MSAR rider - has potential to be very inconsistent. That would
result in the certification for MSAR having little credibility due to the
wide variety of possible ground SAR source options.

Would it work for the MSAR certification to have a list of clearly defined
expectations for ground SAR training in order to be eligible for MSAR
certification? And if the local version of SAR training meets/exceeds those
expectations, that person is eligible? A form of "SAR equivalent"? I see
that kind of concept as being "fair" but can't figure out how it could be
fairly implemented. Someone would need to evaluate the submitted local
ground SAR standards to see if it meets/exceeds the minimum indicated
criteria. Any idea how that might be accomplished?

Or would it work to specifically list NASAR, MRA, or meet/exceed your State
SAR requirements? And if your training source isn't on the list, have the
option to submit those ground SAR standards for approval as an "equivalent"
training? Except you're right back to someone evaluating other standards
compared to "something" as the benchmark standard. Can anyone suggest an
unbiased process to compare / evaluate ground SAR standards?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jorene Downs
Tulare Co, CA
SAR, MSAR, Swiftwater Rescue, US&R,
Technical Rescue, Cave Rescue,
Hasty Team, ICP
www.CEOates.com/sar
Tulare-Kings CERT Program Coordinator
www.tk-cert.org







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