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1.1 This guide is intended for training those who normally work in natural environments, solely subject to terrain and weather-related risks, who may be asked to respond to, or who may encounter, the operations defined in 1.2.

1.2 This guide identifies and describes hazardous situations and environments, and the associated risks affecting search and rescue personnel who may be working on or around the following:

1.3 The knowledge conveyed in this guide is intended to enable search and rescue (SAR) personnel to recognize situations that may require skills or capabilities they have not been trained to perform. This understanding will allow them to seek more knowledgeable personnel to mitigate the hazard and perform such rescues or other activities required to complete their mission.

1.4 This guide is not intended to suggest that all search and rescue personnel must have the training identified within it. However, wherever the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) deems this training to be appropriate, this document can be used as a guide.

1.5 The AHJ shall determine what level of training constitutes sufficient competence for search and rescue personnel to enter areas, or carry out missions, which include the hazards described in this guide.

1.6 This guide identifies some of the known disciplines of SAR and their associated hazards. It does not, however, attempt to list all hazards or risks of which a person must be aware to operate safely and effectively in and around any of the areas listed in 1.1 or in Appendix X1.

1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

3.1 This guide establishes the minimum level of training required to provide awareness-level knowledge for personnel operating in and around the areas and operations listed in 1.1.

3.2 This guide may be used by individuals and AHJs that wish to identify the minimum training standards for land-based personnel operating in and around these areas and operations.

3.3 A person trained to this guide is considered to be aware of the hazards and risks associated with these areas and operations.

3.4 A person trained solely to this guide is not considered a “searcher” or “rescuer,” or both.

3.5 This guide may be used to augment other training for a searcher or rescuer, or both.

3.6 This guide by itself is not a training document. It is only an outline of some of the topics required for training or evaluating a searcher and/or rescuer, although it can be used to develop a training document or program.

3.7 It is the responsibility of the AHJ to determine the depth or detail of training needed to meet its training requirements.

3.8 Nothing in this guide precludes an AHJ from adding additional requirements.

3.9 This guide does not stand alone but must be used with the reference documents to provide the specific minimum training needed by a ground searcher and/or rescuer operating in these areas.

3.10 This guide can be used as a reference for training of searchers or rescuers, or both.

3.11 The information presented in the following sections is not in any particular order and does not represent a training sequence.

3.12 It is the responsibility of the AHJ to determine the evaluation process to assess a person’s knowledge. This may be by written exam, oral exam, demonstration, or some other means specified by the AHJ.