We are Salt Spring Search and Rescue
Salt Spring Island Search & Rescue has been active in our community since 1989. We are a dedicated group of approximately 40 unpaid professional volunteers trained to search for, rescue and assist missing persons. Our members are highly skilled in teamwork, ground search tactics, first aid, wilderness navigation, tracking, survival, radio communications, high-angle rope rescue, and helicopter safety.
We serve Salt Spring Island and the surrounding Southern Gulf Islands. We also respond to mutual aid requests from neighbouring SAR groups on Vancouver Island and mainland BC.
Salt Spring SAR is the perfect volunteer vocation for islanders with a passion for the outdoors who are eager to challenge themselves, in a friendly and supportive environment.
Lost, injured, or facing natural disaster, we are here 24/7, 365 days/year with NO COST for SAR Services.
SAR has successfully completed fundraising for our new Command Vehicle
Many thanks to all generous donors including 100 Women Who Care, The Royal Canadian Legion, Country Grocer, Foundations and individuals.
The Past
1998 Converted Grumman Bread Van
The current 24 year-old Command Vehicle (CV) has been invaluable over two decades but has reached the end of its useful service. It has been out-of-service frequently and is incapable of accessing many of the areas where searches are required.
While the CV has been able to accommodate up to four management staff, it is clearly an outdated design due to increased demands from a functional standpoint.
The Future
2022 Ford F550 with custom-built Incident Command Box
The new Command Vehicle (CV) will have significant technical and safety up-grades including 4-wheel drive that will greatly expand the areas under which the CV can be deployed.
A reputable manufacturer is now building the new Command Vehicle based on a proven design used by other SAR groups.
The CV will be the operations hub of all search, rescue and emergency activities on Salt Spring and other Southern Gulf Islands.
Membership Recruitment
contact us for more information
Learn rewarding new skills in first aid, wilderness survival and high-angle rope rescue
Save lives and reunite lost people with their family and friends
Join a friendly, enthusiastic group of islanders who are committed to ongoing personal development and community support
Challenge yourself to try something new while helping others on Salt Spring Island and beyond
Be part of an effort that unites more than 3,000 volunteers from all walks of life in 79 SAR groups across British Columbia
The arrival of 2023 brings exciting news here at #ssisar
Thanks to our many generous donors and sponsors, we are beyond pleased to announce that we have reached our fundraising goal for our new #Sar Command Vehicle!
This modern, purpose built 4WD Mobile Command vehicle will fill a critical gap in our current fleet of #rescue vehicles, replacing our aging and increasingly unreliable 1998 converted bread van.
This could never have been possible by so many generous and giving individuals and organizations, and we look forward to sharing more as the build progresses.
Our behalf of our team of #UnpaidProfessional SAR #volunteers, we cannot thank you enough for your support.
As always we remain ready to respond 24/7/365 at #nocostforrescue
#bcsara #grateful
Ground Search & Rescue
All SAR members take an minimum 80-hour course when they join the team. This course includes the fundamental training in the following areas:
search types and techniques
wilderness navigation (map, compass, GPS)
survival skills / personal preparedness
communications
rope management
rescue techniques
basic tracking
helicopter safety
basic avalanche awareness
basic swift water rescue
Salt Spring Island Search and Rescue (SAR) Society operates under the oversight of the Emergency Management BC (EMBC) program. We operate with dedicated volunteers trained to find and help missing or lost individuals, as well as provide assistance during natural disasters like forest fires and earthquakes.
We are responsible for wilderness and urban ground Search and Rescue missions, including inland waters and tidal shorelines.
Our primary geographic area of responsibility is Salt Spring Island and the southern Gulf Islands, which includes Galiano, Mayne, Pender, Saturna, and more than 50 smaller islands in the vicinity. We also provide mutual aid support to other SAR groups in British Columbia, as requested.
SAR members are skilled in first aid, tracking, wilderness navigation and survival, radio communications, high-angle rope rescue and helicopter safety. The group has been active since 1989 and our team has approximately 40 men and women, ranging in ages from 25 to 70.
Contact:
Salt Spring Search and Rescue
261 Fulford-Ganges Road
Salt Spring Island BC V8K 2K6
Phone: (250) 526-0095
Email: info@saltspringsar.org
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