You are correct; the SAR demographics of each state is different. However,
the majority of States now have a minimum required
equipment list that all SAR responders should carry within their area of
jurisdiction. For those of us who are trained MSAR
responders, I am attempting to identify what is suggested be carried on your
person while deployed on horseback (rather than what is
carried on the horse).
Personally as a search manager, I will write tasks to include (non-SAR
trained) spontaneous volunteers if directed by the local AHJ
IC. However it would not be the first can of worms that I would open from my
SAR tool box. In the event there was a shortage of
trained SAR responders, then of course I would use the type of individuals
you referenced.
Thanks again,
T'mi
-----Original Message-----
From: msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Una Smith
To: Mounted search and rescue
Subject: Re: [MSAR] MSAR Rider 10 Essentials List
T'mi, it depends where you are. In checkerboard wheat and cornfields regions
of the midwest almost nowhere is more than half a mile
from a good road. In ranch country if a spontaneous volunteer is a rancher
then he is good to go, no questions asked. This is
someone who spends hundreds if not thousands of hours per year, every year,
on horseback and on foot in exactly the kind of terrain
where we are searching.
These people have what they need on their person. Item number 1 is a knife.
Item number 2 usually is a firearm. Actually, the
main thing they have is themselves: their experience, skill, wisdom.
Especially the older folks.
I am aware of several "10 essentials" traditions, developed in several
different contexts. Usually it is a survival concept for
long distance wilderness travel, not for routine SAR. See for example the
Wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Essentials