About DELMARVA Search and Rescue

Background
DELMARVA Search and Rescue is a professional, volunteer organization comprised of military, fire/rescue, medical/EMS, police/corrections, and civilian trained responders all working towards one goal ... to preserve life when the odds are stacked against the victim. Our team can be broken down into three major areas:

Qualifications
Members of our team specialize and cross train in many areas. Within the first 6 months of membership, we require that all members:
     • Keep current CPR and First Aid certifications
     • Demonstrate basic SAR principals and skills to become COQ (Call out Qualified)
     • Become certified in FEMA CERT (Community Emergency Response Team)
     • Achieve NASAR SARTECH III certification or higher
     Additionally, many members are:
     • NASAR Certified as:
     SARTECH I
     SARTECH II
     ST3-K9
     • ASRC Certified as:
     Field Team Members (FTM)
     Field Team Leaders (FTL)
     Field Team Signcutters (FTS)
     • Nationally Registered EMTs
     • Military-trained Combat Lifesavers
     • Trained in Preservaton of Evidence / Crime Scene Behavior
     • Certified Canine handlers
     • VDEM Field Team Signcutters
     Natural Awarness Tracking School Trained Signcutters
     • Search Managers
     • Trained in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)

Ground Search and Rescue
Our team trains to, and requires certification in, the NASAR SARTECH standards.  Additionally, we have members who have completed the Managing Lost Person Incidents (MLPI) training, attended the National Search & Rescue School for I-SAR (Inland SAR), and other Search Management courses.  Each member has completed hundreds of hours of SAR-related training and field work.

As needed, our SAR team can deploy with trained  search dogs, signcutters ("mantrackers") and other specialized units.

Canine Search and Rescue
We currently have two operational canines and others training for SAR work. We train and utilize airscenting & tracking/trailing canines. The team is currently making plans to construct a canine agility course, and regularly trains with other canine SAR teams in the region. The team has mutual aid agreements with other canine teams, so we can deploy operational cadaver, airscenting, and tracking dogs as necessary.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
All team members have Basic First Aid / Wilderness First Aid and CPR Pro certifications, and are encouraged to train to at least First Responder / Wilderness First Responder.  Additionally, we have many members who are nationally registered  Emergency Medical Technicians - Basic (EMT-B), military Combat Lifesavers, and a Physician Assistant.  In addition to providing medical care for lost persons, we are able to deploy to mass casualty events and assist in disaster medical situations.

Emergency Response Team (ERT)
All team members are trained in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program.  This gives our members the training and experience needed to assist in disaster situations to provide basic fire suppression, medical care, and urban SAR support so that the local public safety groups can concentrate on the highest-priority issues.  DELMARVA Search & Rescue also has CERT instructors on staff to train other community groups to the same levels of preparedness so that additional trained, organized help can be brought to needy areas.