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HOW DO WE GET CALLED OUT TO A SEARCH?
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The responsible government authority for the area where the person is believed to be located calls The King County Sheriffs Office, King County Washington, USA, and requests assistance in the form of qualified Search and Rescue volunteers.
After verifying the legitimacy of the need for a search, a case number is assigned and the Operations Leaders of the required specialties of search and rescue are notified by pager. All able and willing unit members are then notified by pager and self deploy to the search base camp location using their own transportation and equipment.
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HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
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Northwest Horseback Search and Rescue is a volunteer effort and all of the training is free.
Purchase of a specialized alphanumeric pager is required, at a current (2007) cost of $50.00. There is no monthly fee for the search and rescue pager service, however, batteries for the pager are required at the rate of about one per month.
As far as the equipment costs, this depends on how much equipment you already have. You can get a good idea on the Required Equipment page. There is a backpacking checklist on the Calendar & Training Schedule Page, listed under Course I information. Fellow field members are a good source as well. Many members purchase a good compass available during map and compass training at a reduced cost of $33.00.
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WHEN DOES THE TRAINING EXPIRE?
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Washington Administrative Code(WAC) sets the minimum requirements for volunteer Emergency Workers in WAC118-04. King County Search and Rescue Association and Northwest Horseback Search and Rescue have set standards which exceed these requirements and are listed below. 12 hours of documented actual mission activity, or one full weekend training, per year, * consisting of either Course 1, Course 2, or Course 3, can be substituted for all three of the following classes. SAR Techniques, SAR Survival, and Wilderness Navigation.
Helicopter Safety: Renewal every 2 years.
Crime Scene: Renewal every 3 years.
Pathogens: Renewal every 1 year.
First Aid: Renewal every 3 years.
CPR: Renewal every 1 year.
SAR Techniques: Renewal every 3 years *.
SAR Survival: Renewal every 3 years *
Wilderness Navigation: Renewal every 3 years *
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DO I NEED MY OWN HORSE AND TRAILER?
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If you do not own your own horse and trailer you will need ready access to them, together with a towing vehicle. Northwest Horseback Search and Rescue will not provide you with a horse, nor can it be transported for you.
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HOW DO I JOIN?
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Send your name, address, and phone number in an e-mail message to. Your name will be placed on a list and you will receive an invitation to an orientation meeting held in January of each year.
The orientation meeting will disclose the dates for the approximately 6 month period of one weekend a month training to become a member of Northwest Horseback Search and Rescue.
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WHAT IS MY TIME COMMITMENT?
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You must attend all required classes and Courses 1, 2 and 3. All else is flexible according to your schedule.
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WHAT CAN I DEDUCT FOR TAXES?
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