Skyline Rescue in Progress

[kd]

Thank Goodness she is safe.

[Perry]

I like the San Diego badge. (Not that the graphic design means a whole lot.)

Maybe the lady was trying to retrieve something valuable that she dropped over the railing.

[Hikin_Jim]

I'm kind of partial to the SB Co Sheriff Cave Rescue patch:

[bkk030580]

Usually, SAR in California falls under the umbrella of the county Sheriff's Department. Exceptions include if you are in a national park. Each Sheriff decides how the SAR teams will operate in that county, but in general they are staffed by volunteers who actually go into the wilderness and have a deputy or two who oversees the team. In some counties, the volunteers are reserve deputy sheriffs (such as LA except for Sierra Madre Search and Rescue). The number of teams per county also varies.

During a rescue or search, depending on where the emergency is, several agencies are involved and provide resources, including staff. The air assets used are usually owned by the sheriff's department, the National Forest or the fire department.

When a local team needs more rescuers for an operation, the California Office of Emergency Services (OES) can request teams from other counties.

The teams themselves usually organize themselves and set training and participation standards. The website referenced above was for the California Region of the Mountain Rescue Association. The MRA ( mra.org) is an accrediting organization that requires skills tests in the three main areas of SAR every five years. Not every SAR team in California is an MRA team. However, all MRA teams are considered "Type I" by OES which is the highest level.

Each team and area is different, but in general - rescuers are usually volunteers, and most teams are non-profit organizations that rely on donations to operate.

[FIGHT ON]

Usually, SAR in California falls under the umbrella of the county Sheriff's Department. Exceptions include if you are in a national park. Each Sheriff decides how the SAR teams will operate in that county, but in general they are staffed by volunteers who actually go into the wilderness and have a deputy or two who oversees the team. In some counties, the volunteers are reserve deputy sheriffs (such as LA except for Sierra Madre Search and Rescue). The number of teams per county also varies.

During a rescue or search, depending on where the emergency is, several agencies are involved and provide resources, including staff. The air assets used are usually owned by the sheriff's department, the National Forest or the fire department.

When a local team needs more rescuers for an operation, the California Office of Emergency Services (OES) can request teams from other counties.

The teams themselves usually organize themselves and set training and participation standards. The website referenced above was for the California Region of the Mountain Rescue Association. The MRA ( mra.org) is an accrediting organization that requires skills tests in the three main areas of SAR every five years. Not every SAR team in California is an MRA team. However, all MRA teams are considered "Type I" by OES which is the highest level.

Each team and area is different, but in general - rescuers are usually volunteers, and most teams are non-profit organizations that rely on donations to operate.

Thanks bkk. Do they share the helicopters? Who pays for for them or are they purchased through donations?

[bkk030580]

In LA, most rescues using a helicopter use Air 5, the large LASD helicopter. When not on a mountain rescue call, it does other calls involving medical evacuation, like car accidents. It also does law enforcement duties. Whatever the Sheriff's Department needs.

Sometimes, for example if Air 5 is busy on another call, LA County Fire Department will use one of their helicopters. Either one comes staffed with Paramedics, which provide more advanced medical care to augment the EMTs on the SAR teams.

In other counties, sometime the Sheriff's Department has a helicopter, but they aren't used only for SAR. They are paid for by the agencies budgets since they do many other law enforcement things besides SAR.

When a county doesn't have an appropriate helicopter, sometimes the National Guard will provide one. I think it is counted as a training mission for them.

No single team is busy enough to make having a helicopter worthwhile. Interesting note, the most dangerous thing that a mountain rescuer does is ride in a helicopter. More SAR volunteers have been killed in crashes than by falls, or avalanches, or anything else.

[FIGHT ON]

In LA, most rescues using a helicopter use Air 5, the large LASD helicopter. When not on a mountain rescue call, it does other calls involving medical evacuation, like car accidents. It also does law enforcement duties. Whatever the Sheriff's Department needs.

Sometimes, for example if Air 5 is busy on another call, LA County Fire Department will use one of their helicopters. Either one comes staffed with Paramedics, which provide more advanced medical care to augment the EMTs on the SAR teams.

In other counties, sometime the Sheriff's Department has a helicopter, but they aren't used only for SAR. They are paid for by the agencies budgets since they do many other law enforcement things besides SAR.

When a county doesn't have an appropriate helicopter, sometimes the National Guard will provide one. I think it is counted as a training mission for them.

No single team is busy enough to make having a helicopter worthwhile. Interesting note, the most dangerous thing that a mountain rescuer does is ride in a helicopter. More SAR volunteers have been killed in crashes than by falls, or avalanches, or anything else.

Great information! Thank you.