Search and Rescue conference focuses on volunteer training

The Wahkiakum County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (WCSOSAR) Unit recently returned from the 2008 Washington State Search and Rescue (SAR) Conference held May 12-18 at the Chelan County Expo Center in Cashmere.

Participants at this year’s conference included members of search and rescue units, law enforcement agencies, fire services, and military units from Washington as well as nine other states and three Canadian provinces. There were also participants from Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden this year. The SAR Conference is primarily focused on training for volunteer SAR members.

Pre-conference training held May 12-16 featured four courses sponsored by the Washington State SAR Office: Lost Person Behavior, Alzheimer’s Subject Search, Fundamentals of Advanced Search Planning, and Logistics Section Chief. A fifth course offered a three-day man tracking course taught by tracking instructor Joel Hardin. The main conference itself on May 16-18 consisted of over 50 different classes averaging two hours in length and ranging from basic SAR skills to search management and leadership.

Wahkiakum County sent 12 SAR volunteers along with WCSOSAR Coordinator Deputy Bill Tawater to the pre-conference and general conference and an additional nine SAR volunteers to the general conference. WSCOSAR currently has 35 volunteer members. The conference taught 80-90 percent of the basic courses required to work in SAR. Other courses taught covered more advanced SAR training and related topics.

Chelan County Search and Rescue and the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office hosted this year’s SAR Conference. Lewis County will host next year’s Washington State SAR Conference May 11-17, 2009.

For any questions concerning Search and Rescue contact Deputy Bill Tawater, SAR Coordinator, or Officer Vernon Barton, Assistant SAR Coordinator by stopping by the Sheriff’s Office or calling (360) 795-3242.