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Crew Safety

SARTECH I
Crewleader SAR Ready Pack
The SARTECH I/CREWLEADER level of certification is the
advanced level for SAR personnel. The level is recommended Maps, Symbology, & Land Navigation
only for persons who function on SAR missions asfield
searchers and who may function as Crew Leader. Persons Search Techniques & Tactics
who obtain this certification are to function within the limits of
the certification described in the NASAR Certification Criteria Briefing
for SARTECH I/CREWLEADER. The NASAR course that
prepares one to challenge the SARTECH I/CREWLEADER Debriefing
examination is Advanced Search and Rescue.
Hazardous Terrain Skills
This examination consists of both a written exam and a
practical exam. The written exam includes one hundred and Stress Management
twenty (120) questions covering the candidate's knowledge of
search and rescue. A passing grade is 70% or above. The
The candidate's performance of SAR skills is evaluated at four
candidate is also required to successfully complete a four
practical exam stations involving:
station practical exam. Should the candidate not successfully
complete the practical exam, only the stations that are failed
Station #1: Crewleader SAR Ready Pack: Candidates
need be repeated within one year of the original testing date.
demonstrate the ability to possess and pack the
The re-testing may be completed at any SAR TECH
required SAR equipment and supplies efficiently.
I/CREWLEADER examination. If the retesting is done within
the one year of the original testing date, no additional payment
to NASAR is required. However, a host organization may Station #2: Hazardous Terrain Skills: Using the
charge a reasonable fee to cover the costs of hosting the contents within the SAR Ready Pack candidates
repeat examination. establish a belay system between two points.

Station #3: Patient Transport: Using the contents of


The written exam includes questions from the following topics: their SAR Ready Pack and tracking sticks candidates
construct an improvised a stretcher.
NIMS Incident Command System
Station #4: Land Navigation: With the use of
topographic maps and compass, candidates complete
Small Unit Leadership
a course over terrain commonly encountered in the
Fitness
operations area in a specified time frame, not to and Rescue and Advanced Search and Rescue. These
exceed (2000) meters during night time. courses are designed to teach the student the knowledge and
skills necessary to pass the level of SARTECH certification
The NASAR course that teaches the knowledge to that correspond to the course. Completion of these or any
successfully pass the SARTECH I/CREWLEADER certification other NASAR sponsored courses are not required for the
is the Advanced Search and Rescue course (ADSAR). candidate to challenge any certification examination. The
candidates training may come from any available source the
Certification Levels SARTECH III through SARTECH candidate chooses.
I/CREWLEADER are a series of written and practical
examinations that test the levels of knowledge and practical Candidates who successfully complete the evaluation process
skills of SAR personnel. These examinations are based on the will receive a certificate and patch from NASAR signifying their
NASAR Certification Criteria for SARTECH. The SARTECH certification level. NASAR does not require a particular re-
Certification Criteria were formulated by the National certification time period but leaves the decision to the
Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) and recognized organizations and agencies that utilize the SARTECH
by many states and agencies. They have also been submitted personnel.
for review to the American Society for Testing and Materials
(ASTM) and National Fire Protection Association for their Who Should Attend?
consideration in their standards development. All Operational SAR personnel wishing to function at the Crew
Leader Level.
The SARTECH program is an evaluation process not a Prerequisites
learning process. Candidates demonstrate basic SAR
competency through written tests and practical skill Candidates must be certified at the NASAR SARTECH II level.
demonstrations of search and rescue skills. Candidates must have a current Advanced First Aid
certification or above and a current CPR certification or above
Upon successful completion of the requirements, a certificate and provide proof at exam. An ideal Crew Leader should be at
will be issued to the person by NASAR. This certificate does the EMT level or above. It is recommended, but not required,
not constitute a license to practice the skills taught in a training that candidates have at least one hundred (100) hours on SAR
program or to practice the knowledge and performance skills missions; one hundred (100) hours of land based SAR
that have been evaluated. The certificate does signify that the training; and at least two (2) years active membership with a
person holding the certificate has met the requirements of SAR organization.
established certification criteria and/or performance skill on the
date indicated on the certificate. Candidate needs all equipment required for the written and
practical exam.
NASAR has developed three courses using the NASAR
Certification Criteria for SARTECH. These courses are
Introduction to Search and Rescue, Fundamentals of Search SARTECH II
The SARTECH II level of certification is the intermediate level NIMS Incident Command System
for SAR personnel. This level is recommended for any person
who functions on SAR missions as field searchers. The Basic Survival
NASAR course that prepares the candidate to challenge the
SARTECH II is Fundamentals of Search and Rescue SAR Clothing
(FUNSAR). Candidates are encouraged to always use the
latest version of the FUNSAR text since it is updated regularly. Improvising
There are no prerequisites required for a person to challenge Environmental Hazards and First Aid
the SARTECH II examination. Certification history does
indicate persons who have had formal SAR training and
SAR Ready Pack
experience on SAR missions successfully pass the
examinations more frequently than others do.
Personal Equipment
The SARTECH II examination consists of written exam and a
practical exam. The written exam includes one hundred and Travel Skills
forty-five (145) questions covering the candidate's knowledge
of search and rescue. A passing grade is 70% (102 correct Land Navigation & Orienteering
answers) or above.
SAR Resources
Upon passing the written exam, the candidate is then required
to successfully complete a six station practical exam. Should Search Philosophy
the candidate not successfully complete all of the practical
exam stations, only the stations that are failed need be Search Tactics
repeated if this is done within one year of the original testing
date. The re-testing may be completed at any subsequent Handling Evidence
SARTECH II evaluation. If the retesting is done within the one
year of the original testing date, no additional payment to Clue Consciousness
NASAR is required. However, a host organization may charge
a reasonable fee to cover the costs of hosting the repeat
Search Operations
examination. If an additional retest is needed, the NASAR fee
is collected. (One NASAR fee covers the original exam and
Tracking
retest, if needed.)

The written exam includes questions from the following topics: Ropes & Rescue Equipment

Legal Aspects for the Searcher


The candidate's performance of SAR skills is evaluated at six Certification Criteria were formulated by the National
practical exam stations involving: Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) and recognized
by many states and agencies. They have also been submitted
Station #1: Land Navigation: Use of topographic maps for review to the American Society for Testing and Materials
and compass. Candidates complete a course over (ASTM) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for
terrain commonly encountered in the operations area in their consideration in their standards development.
a specified time frame, not to exceed 600 meters.
The SARTECH program is an evaluation process not a
Station #2: Tracking: Candidates identify and mark a learning process. Candidates demonstrate basic SAR
footprint track left by the evaluator and follow the track competency through written tests and practical skill
to its end. demonstrations of search and rescue skills. Upon successful
completion of the requirements, a certificate will be issued to
Station #3: 24-hour Pack: This used to be a required the person by NASAR. This certificate does not constitute a
station - it isn't any longer. Candidates should carry the license to practice the skills taught in a training program or to
basic survival and safety supplies for their environment practice the knowledge and performance skills that have been
and the items to complete the stations. evaluated. The certificate does signify that the person holding
the certificate has met the requirements of established
Station #4: Rope Skills: Candidates demonstrate the certification criteria and/or performance skill on the date
ability to tie four basic knots and a harness with indicated on the certificate.
supplied rope and webbing.
NASAR has developed three courses using the NASAR
Certification Criteria for SARTECH. These courses are
Station #5: Route Search: This station entails locating
Introduction to Search and Rescue, (ISAR) Fundamentals of
and labeling clues in a given area demonstrating the
Search and Rescue (FUNSAR) and Advanced Search and
ability to detect 50% of the clues using a route search
Rescue (ADSAR). These courses are designed to teach the
tactic.
student the knowledge and skills necessary to pass the level
of SARTECH certification that correspond to the course.
Station #6: Area Search: This station entails locating Completion of these or any other NASAR sponsored courses
and labeling clues in a given area demonstrating the are not required for the candidate to challenge any certification
ability to detect 50% of the clues using an area search examination. The candidates training may come from any
tactic. available source the candidate chooses. Candidates who
successfully complete the evaluation process will receive a
Certification Levels SARTECH III through SARTECH certificate and patch from NASAR signifying their certification
I/CREWLEADER are a series of written and practical level. NASAR does not require a particular re-certification time
examinations that test the levels of knowledge and practical period but leaves the decision to the organizations and
skills of SAR personnel. These examinations are based on the agencies that utilize the SARTECH personnel.
NASAR Certification Criteria for SARTECH. The SARTECH
Who Should Attend
All Operational SAR personnel.

Prerequisites
Candidates should be familiar with SARTECH II testing
requirements. They must have a compass for the written exam
and all required equipment for the practical exam.

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