We would like to thank the Arizona Search and Rescue Coordinators Association, Ltd., Paul Anderson, Aaron Dick, Hugh Dougher, Eric Johnson, Tim Kovacs, David Lovelock, Richard Martin, Chuck McHugh, Dan O'Connor, Dave Perkins, Ken Phillips, Art Pundt, Jeremy Ramirez, Pete Roberts, Greg Stiles, Rick Toman, and Bil Vandergraff, for permission to include their documents.
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If you would like your document added here, please email saraz.org@gmail.com with full details. Thank you.
Documents
Link
Description
This PDF document, written by David Lovelock, is an attempt to summarize the major differences between the old ICS forms and the new ones released at the end of 2010. Updated 5/20/2011.
This is the 5th edition (dated October 9, 2024) of the 200-page PDF document, written and copyrighted by members of the Arizona Search and Rescue Coordinators Association, Ltd. It is an introduction to the basics of searching for missing persons in wilderness environments. It is aimed at members of the public, primarily in Arizona, who are interested in becoming Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers and also at SAR personnel who are new or inexperienced in searches. This is an introduction only—there is much more to wilderness searches than is presented here. Parts of this manual form the basis of the 16-hour "Introduction to Arizona SAR" course, given by members of the Arizona Search and Rescue Coordinators Association, Ltd., which all AZ SAR volunteers are expected to attend.
This is a 300-page PDF document, written by Paul Anderson, Aaron Dick, David Lovelock, and Greg Stiles. It is devoted to managing searches for missing persons, primarily in wilderness environments. It is designed to be used by prospective and experienced Planning Section Chiefs (PSCs) and their Unit Leaders. This book is written to help the PSC on large, complex search incidents perform the critical functions of their position and manage their section in the most professional, effective and efficient manner possible. It is copyrighted by the Arizona Search and Rescue Coordinators Association, Ltd. This is the 5th Edition, released on January 23, 2019.
The Power Point slides of the presentation given by Greg Stiles at the 2014 Syrotuck Symposium held in Woodcliff Lake, NJ.
This is a copy of the 1981 document "DESERT SEARCHES: EFFECTIVENESS OF HELICOPTERS" that describes the research that was conducted in Pima County, AZ, to establish a conservative measurement of the probability of detection, POD, of the United States Air Force helicopter rescue teams searching Sonoran desert terrain for lost persons.
This is a copy of the 1991 document ``MOUNTAIN SEARCHES: EFFECTIVENESS OF HELICOPTERS'' that describes the research that was conducted in Pima County, AZ, to measure the effectiveness of United States Air Force Air Rescue crews searching for lost persons in a rugged mountain environment of Southern Arizona.
This 112-page PDF document, written by Ken Phillips, Branch Chief of Search and Rescue, National Park Service, is a training manual prepared by the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service for the National SAR Academy (NSARA). It deals with Civilian Public Safety and Military Helicopter Rescue Operations.
These three PDF documents, written by Tim Kovacs, Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Mountain Rescue/Central Arizona Mountain Rescue, cover the decision making process for employing helicopters in search and rescue.
Incident Response Checklist is a two-page document (PDF) written by Paul Anderson, Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska. It is a checklist of items to be performed by the IC from the moment the subject is reported missing. This document is part of Win CASIE III.
This is a PDF document (dated March 23, 2021) written and copyrighted by members of the Arizona Search and Rescue Coordinators Association, Ltd. It is devoted to managing searches for missing persons, primarily in wilderness environments, during the Initial Response phase of a search. It is designed to be used by prospective and experienced search managers in conjunction with the software Initial Response Organizer.
This is the 18th edition (dated September 11, 2024) of the 400-page PDF document, written and copyrighted by members of the Arizona Search and Rescue Coordinators Association, Ltd. It is devoted to managing searches for missing persons, primarily in wilderness environments. It is designed to be used by prospective and experienced search managers in conjunction with the software Initial Response Organizer, Win CASIE III, and ICS-SAR. It forms the basis of a 40-hour Inland Search Management course, spread over five days. Much of the SAR content in this manual has been known for decades—knowledge gained mostly by experience. Previously, some of it has been passed down in books, some in classrooms, and some by word-of-mouth. Here we have tried to gather that knowledge in one place, giving credit wherever possible. Consequently, there is more in this manual than can be covered in a 5-day course, so course participants are expected to study the manual out of class and then use it as a reference during an incident.
This is the non-Arizona specific version of "Inland Search Management for AZ SAR Coordinators" described in the previous entry. Updated October 21, 2021.
If the subject is found alive then a post-incident interview with the found subject should be conducted to determine what happened. This document suggests ways of doing this. This document is part of Win CASIE III.
Investigative Task List is a two-page document (PDF) compiled by experienced search managers. It is a checklist of items to be considered when investigating the disappearance of a subject. This document is part of Win CASIE III.
This review, written by Dave Perkins, looks at the ISRID statistics from the point of view of the UK search manager, and wonders what they provide that is above and beyond the statistics produced within the UK.
This 28-page PDF document, written by Paul Anderson, Aaron Dick, Eric Johnson, David Lovelock, Richard Martin, and Jeremy Ramirez, suggests how to manage spontaneous volunteers—volunteers who are not currently affiliated with a recognized SAR organization—that arrive unannounced at a search incident.
Map Datums For SAR Planning and Operations, a Navigation Information Briefing Sheet, and Navigation Information for SAR Planners and SAR Field Operations
These three PDF documents are written by Art Pundt, Coconino County Sheriff's Office, Search and Rescue Unit, Flagstaff, Arizona. The first document discusses Finding Map or GPS Datums; Common Datums; and Maps, Datums, and SAR Resources. The second is a one-page briefing sheet. The third summarizes common map and GPS coordinate formats. These documents are part of Win CASIE III.
The Power Point slides of the presentation given by Dan O'Connor of NEWSAR at the 2014 Syrotuck Symposium held in Woodcliff Lake, NJ.
This PDF file, written by David Lovelock, attempts to clarify the meaning and use of the terms Objectives, Strategies, and Tactics, with examples from Search and Rescue.
This is a checklist (PDF) written by Eric E. Johnson, Pima County Sheriff's Department, Tucson, AZ. With the increased usage of cell phones, more and more subjects are reporting themselves lost via a cell phone. Interviewing these subject requires a different mind set from interviewing a typical reporting party.
POC ≠ POA is an article (PDF) written by David Lovelock, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. It explains why POC (Probability of Containment) and POA (Probability of Area) are not the same.
SARTopo Beginners How To is an article (PDF) compiled by David Lovelock. It is a cheatsheet for beginners just starting SARTopo.
Search Management Action Plan is a two-page document (PDF) developed at the Grand Canyon National Park. Updated 2013. It is an excellent timeline tool designed to cover the Initial, Concurrent, and Successive actions of a search. Reprinted with permission Bil Vandergraff & Ken Phillips - All Rights Reserved. This document is part of Win CASIE III.
The National Autism Association has compiled a SAR checklist when the missing subject is autistic, as has the Autism Safety Project. Their suggestions are summarized here (updated 10/17/2018). This document is part of Win CASIE III.
Some Thoughts on Multiple-Subject Searches is a two-page document (PDF) that summarizes a discussion between Paul Anderson, Aaron Dick, David Lovelock, Dan O'Connor, Dave Perkins, Pete Roberts, and Rick Toman, on the basics of how to analyze and respond to a multiple-person search.
Southern Arizona Search and Rescue History: 1901–2000 renamed Southern Arizona Search & Rescue and First Responder History: 1901–2000
This is a 600 page PDF document writtn by Butch Farabee, with the assisatnce of David Lovelock. It chronicles over 1000 events, some large and involved, such as when two Army Air Servicemen flying between San Diego and Tucson went missing over the remote desert on December 7, 1922. The search for them lasted five months. Or the abduction of little 8-year-old Vicki Lynn Hoskinson on September 17, 1984. The kidnapping of the third-grader was high-profile, her tiny skeletal remains were finally found on April 12, 1985. And sadly, there are even greater tragedies, such as in 1981 when eight people died in a flash flood at Tanque Verde Falls or the mid-air collision over Tucson of two B-24 bombers in 1944, killing all 18 airmen onboard.
Others are not so complex, like the two men forced high into a tree by dangerous floodwaters near the Mexican Border in 1902. Hours later, their wives finally threw them ropes and helped them carefully to shore. Or the two bicyclists overdue in the Rincon Mountains in 1999, they were located by a Department of Public Safety helicopter crew long after dark and then safely walked out by volunteers from the Southern Arizona Rescue Association (SARA). Additionally, we also document Southern Arizona SAR milestones, awards and recognitions, history of organizations, and associated specifics.
This is a 66-page document (PDF) by Dave Perkins, Pete Roberts, and Ged Feeney. A total of 1271 search incidents in the UK are analyzed, and some subject behaviors differ considerably from US and Canadian counterparts.
A document written by Hugh Dougher. This paper contends that many of the land search probability theories and debates reflect pseudoscience, and asserts that strict adherence to the maritime search probability model isn't appropriate for land search.
A two-page document summarizing the qualifications and actions that should be taken by a WinCASIEIII operator during a Route and Location Search, a consensus, and an Area Search.