Search and rescue facts for kids

A search and rescue helicopter in Ukraine.

Search and rescue (often called SAR) is when trained people look for someone who is lost or in danger. They help people who are hurt, stuck, or can't find their way back to safety. These missions often use special ships, helicopters, or land vehicles. Most search and rescue happens at sea or in the mountains. Civilian groups, the military, and firefighters all help with these important missions.

Sometimes, the military does a special type of search and rescue called combat search and rescue. This happens in war zones and is usually done by special forces.

Different Types of Search and Rescue

Rescue rope training.

Search and Rescue students learning to signal "I am all right" at Naval Station San Diego.

There are many different kinds of search and rescue operations. Each type needs special skills and equipment.

Ground Search and Rescue

Ground search and rescue looks for people who are lost or in trouble on land. This includes forests, deserts, and even near rivers or lakes. People might go missing for many reasons. They could get lost while hiking, have an accident, or need help because of a medical issue.

In most countries, the police are the main group that searches for missing people on land. Sometimes, volunteer search and rescue teams also help. These volunteers are highly trained and work closely with the police.

Mountain Rescue

Mountain rescue teams help people in tough, rocky, or snowy mountain areas. This can include climbers who are stuck or hikers who are lost or injured. Mountain rescuers are experts at climbing and using ropes. They know how to handle extreme weather and difficult terrain.

Cave Rescue

Cave rescue is a very specialized type of rescue. It focuses on finding and helping cave explorers who are hurt, trapped, or lost deep inside caves. Cave rescuers need special gear and training to work in dark, tight, and often wet spaces.

Urban Search and Rescue

Urban search and rescue (often called USAR) is about finding and saving people from collapsed buildings. This can happen after an earthquake, a terrorist attack, or extreme weather like tornadoes or hurricanes. USAR teams are made up of police, firefighters, and medical experts. They are trained to deal with dangerous situations like broken gas lines or live electrical wires.

Combat Search and Rescue

Combat search and rescue (CSAR) happens during wartime. These missions take place in or near battle zones. Their main goal is to rescue military personnel, like pilots whose planes have been shot down, from enemy territory.

Maritime Search and Rescue

An US Navy rescue swimmer helping someone from a stranded boat near Guam.

Maritime search and rescue takes place at sea. These teams save sailors and passengers from ships in trouble. They also rescue people who survive plane crashes over water. Different groups handle maritime SAR, like the coast guard, the navy, or volunteer organizations.

When a boat or plane is in trouble, these groups send helicopters, rescue boats, or other special vessels. Sometimes, they do an air-sea rescue (ASR). This means they use both aircraft and surface ships together to complete the rescue.

Images for kids

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  A Canadian Forces AgustaWestland CH-149 Cormorant helicopter hoists a man from a Canadian Coast Guard cutter.

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  A SAR cruiser of the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service.

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  A rescue air crewman aboard Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service Lifesaver 1 in action.

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  BSAR searchers at Mount Dom Dom.

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  Canadian Forces CC-115 Buffalo fixed wing SAR aircraft from 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron.

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  CH-146 Griffon in SAR markings.

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  Boeing-Vertol CH-113 Labrador SAR helicopter, the predecessor of the CH-149 Cormorant.

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  C-130 are also used by the Canadian Forces for SAR operations.

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  A boat of the Search and Rescue Service in Trogir, Spring 2014.

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  A Cyprus Air Force AW139 SAR helicopter during a search and rescue demonstration.

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  Royal Danish Air Force S-61A with its rescue swimmer.

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  SAR training by the Estonian Border Guard.

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  A French all-weather lifeboat from the SNSM.

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  A cruiser of the DGzRS and a SeaKing helicopter of the German Navy.

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  Hong Kong GFS AS332 L2 Super Puma SAR helicopter.

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  HK GFS EC155 helicopter.

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  Royal Air Force Westland Wessex HC2 SAR helicopter off Hong Kong.

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  Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force Aérospatiale SA 360 Dauphin SAR helicopter.

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  Icelandic Coast Guard Eurocopter AS-365N Dauphin 2 helicopter.

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  Irish Coast Guard Sikorsky S-61N SAR helicopter.

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  A search and rescue demonstration by an Irish Coast Guard Sikorsky S-61 helicopter and a RNLI lifeboat.

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  Helicopter of Magen David Adom.

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  Italian AgustaWestland AW139 for sea rescue.

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  Italian AS365 Dauphin rescue helicopter.

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  MMEA's Eurocopter AS365 N3 Dauphin used for SAR and surveillance.

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  The AFM's search and rescue launches Melita I and Melita II have been used for search and rescue operations since 1999.

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  The veteran Norwegian rescue ship Biskop Hvoslef.

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  Portuguese Search and Rescue Area.

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  A Polish Navy W-3 Sokół SAR helicopter hoists a crew member.

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  CASA CN-235 Maritime Patrol aircraft of the Sociedad de Salvamento y Seguridad Maritima.

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  Sociedad de Salvamento y Seguridad Maritima AgustaWestland AW139 SAR helicopter.

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  Swedish rescue vessel Drottning Silvia (Queen Silvia) in front of the Royal Castle in Stockholm, Sweden.

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  REGA Agusta A109 K2.

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  Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) teams in search and rescue mission 2011 Van earthquakes.

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  Royal Air Force Westland Sea King.

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  HM Coastguard Sikorsky S-92 SAR helicopter.

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  US Coast Guard Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin SAR helicopter.

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  US Coast Guard Sikorsky HH-60 Jayhawk SAR helicopter.

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  Spanish Air Force Aérospatiale SA330J Puma of the 801 Squadron of the Air Force. Note the lettering reading "SAR".