Search and Rescue

For our July+August 2011 issue of Washington Trails, WTA’s Holly Chambers talked with King County Search and Rescue Association’s Public Information Officer Scott Preston. Here's our Q&A with Search and Rescue.

Q: What is the King County Search and Rescue Association?
A: KCSARA is the administrative umbrella over the eight independent non profit units that support the King County Sheriff’s Office on search and rescue missions. These units are composed of specially trained volunteer rescuers.

King County has the busiest SAR association in the state with about 120 missions per year (50 to 60 missions already logged in 2011), and the biggest SAR association with approximately 900 members. 

Q: Are search and rescue services available everywhere in Washington?
A: Yes. By law, the chief law enforcement officer in each jurisdiction is responsible for search and rescue. How these jurisdictions choose to implement their search and rescue responsibilities varies throughout the state. 

Q: What is the most common reason that people call for search and rescue services?
A: Our “bread and butter” mission is for someone with an injured ankle or knee who needs help getting back to the trailhead. Next would be a mission for a hiker/backpacker reported overdue by a loved one.

Q: Is there a charge for search and rescue services? What if a helicopter is used for a search or an evacuation?
A: No. Search and Rescue services are indirectly paid for through tax dollars. Even if someone is evacuated by a county helicopter, or if a county helicopter is used to search for a missing person, that person (or their family) won’t get a bill in the mail. However, the units that comprise KCSARA are nonprofit volunteer organizations and donations are gladly accepted.

Q: How does a lost or injured hiker request search and rescue services? What information is needed?
A: Dial 911 and tell the operator what is going on. Provide as much pertinent information as possible – what trailhead did you start from, what is your current location (how far or how long did you hike), do you have any injuries, are you alone, what equipment/gear do you have with you?

Q: If a lost or hiker can call for help, can’t search and rescue just use their cell phone to determine their location? 
A: It depends. There are ways to locate someone based on a cell phone call, but these tools are not always available or accurate enough to direct search and rescue to a specific location. It’s safer and more reliable to learn how to use a map and compass well (or a map, compass and GPS), than to rely only on a cell phone. That said, take your cell phone with you on hikes, even if you leave it turned off and stowed in your pack. If needed, it could be used to make a call, possibly to get a general idea of your location, or to signal a helicopter using FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared).

Q: What should a lost or injured hiker do if he/she is in an area without cell reception?
A: Prepare before you hike! Make a hike plan before your trip and leave it with someone at home (where you are going, when you’ll be back, etc.). Have the appropriate gear/equipment for your trip (including the Ten Essentials). Consider using a personal locator beacon that can signal your need for help in areas without cell reception.

If you do get injured or lost, stay put! That can be hard to do once in panic mode, but it is the best thing that you can do to increase your chances of being found by ground teams that may include animal and human trackers. Stay calm. Find or make a shelter (put those Ten Essentials to use). Staying warm and dry are essential steps for preventing deadly hypothermia. Wait for help – either rescue teams or other hikers/backpackers. Having a whistle handy is a great way to respond to rescuers’ calls or to signal to other hikers.

Q: If someone is overdue from a hike or backcountry trip, is there a 24 hour waiting period before they can be reported missing? 
A: No! Call for help as soon as you know that someone is overdue. The responding law enforcement agency will determine whether a search is warranted. It is better to get resources moving earlier rather than later. KCSARA responds to missions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Read more online at www.wta.org/hiking-info/basics/search-and-rescue. Learn more about volunteering with or donating to KCSARA at www.kcsara.org.


Q: Once someone calls for help, how long will it take SAR to arrive? 
A: There are a lot of factors involved – location, trail conditions, time of day, weather, etc. Expect to wait at least a couple of hours before the first team arrives on scene.

Q: What should someone do while waiting for SAR to arrive?
A. Stay calm, stay put, stay dry and stay warm.

Q: If I have to be evacuated, what should I expect? How long does it usually take?
A: Most of our evacuations do not involve a ride in the helicopter. Instead, we pack out injured subjects using a rescue litter and wheel. Any injuries will be treated by the responding teams of professional volunteer rescuers, and if the person is unable to walk out, he/she will be “packaged” into a litter – with a sleeping pad, sleeping bags, and a tarp for warmth and protection from the elements. It takes 20 to 40 trained rescuers to move a litter down a trail. The duration of an evacuation depends on several factors including distance from the trailhead, condition of the trail, whether rescue rigging is required, visibility (i.e. day or night) and weather.  Pack outs can take anywhere from two to twelve hours. 

Q: What are some things that hikers/backpackers can do to avoid needing to call SAR?
A. Be prepared – get appropriate training, especially in using a map and compass, and pack appropriate gear (the Ten Essentials are the minimum). Make a hike plan and leave it with someone at home. Check the weather forecast before you leave and be aware of your own limitations – in terms of conditioning and experience. When you are on the trail, pay attention and know where you are at all times.

Q: What if someone’s pet is lost or injured in the backcountry?
A: KCSARA has rescued and evacuated people’s pets. Our concern is primarily for the pet owner, who might put him or herself in danger trying to save a pet (either from taking a fall or from exposure to the elements). KCSARA also works with Washington State Animal Response Team (WASART), a fellow nonprofit that specializes in animal rescue.

Scott Preston joined King County Search and Rescue Association in 2006. In addition to serving as KCSARA’s PIO, Scott is the Incident Support Team Unit Leader, an instructor and an EMT. When Scott isn’t volunteering with KCSARA, he helps keep the University of Washington prepared for emergencies as their Business Continuity Manager.