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Subject: Mounted search and rescue

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  • From: IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN <ilichten1@verizon.net>
  • To: "'Mounted search and rescue'" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [MSAR] Minors continued
  • Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 23:00:20 -0400

[Deleted HTML duplicate. -Una]


Most of the activity restrictions are actually federal, not state. In PA
the junior program prohibits actually entering a burning building, using an
aerial device, or large caliber hose lines at a real fire. They get training
in exterior operations, how to wear an SCBA in chemical smoke substitute,
etc. The feds prohibit power cutting tools. The state prohibits missing
school due to being out all night. Most of the activity restrictions were
imposed after a line of duty death.

The Boy Scout Explorer program is extremely circumscribed as well. Their
insurance coverage for leaders and members excludes many normal SAR
activities. Further, as a private organization that gave up its public
status so it could control membership the program is in violation of the
non-discrimination clauses of PA Constitution.

The Cadet program's primary focus is not on SAR but on education and the
activities are also circumscribed.

The question arose because juniors do ride, and often ride well. They are
willing to learn and most horse people are responsible.

Assuming some adult gave them a haul to the scene, (after all they get to
horse shows don't they) could they be a useful resource and would it benefit
the junior?

Our current feeling is that juniors can be useful organizationally if not on
real operations. They can train with adults on weekends and summers, get a
lot of horse time in, learn to navigate and track, etc. It appears that due
to curfew constraints they may not be able to respond on real missions since
these often run late into the night or overnight. Can this done without
disparaging the youth?

Today, our fire company's juniors are not allowed out of town because most
of the surrounding fire companies do not have a junior program and don't
want to worry about managing juniors on the fireground. This may mean
telling a kid to get off the apparatus as it is ready to go. Even with it
fully explained before hand it is not always pleasant.

Irv Lichtenstein




  • [MSAR] Minors continued, IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN, 07/12/2006

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