ASAR Reference Guide

📋 ASAR Policies

Official ASAR policies covering assets, vehicles, and the Operational Support Team. Each policy below is the full signed text.

• Asset Policy
• Vehicle Policy
• Operational Support Team Guideline

Signed by Nick Rivers (President) and Pam Garrow (Secretary), February 2025.

Asset Policy

Logo or Other Identification

Any member wearing identifying clothing, or showing an EMCR SAR ID card, will act in a professional manner as per the PSLV code of conduct. When wearing identifying clothing you are a representative of ASAR, however only the Board of Directors or a Search Manager may speak on behalf of ASAR. Members will not wear this identification while indulging in alcohol or drugs.

ASAR Owned Equipment

• The equipment remains the property of the Arrowsmith Search & Rescue Society.
• The member shall be responsible for the care and maintenance of their issued equipment. Ensure the equipment is always kept clean and in serviceable condition.
• If the equipment is lost or damaged during a SAR task and it can be claimed on the task, then the costs of repair will be borne by the Society.
• If the ASAR property is lost, damaged, or destroyed in non-SAR related activities, it will be the responsibility of the member to repair or replace it.
• The ASAR property shall be returned if requested by the Board of Directors or upon the member's departure from Arrowsmith Search & Rescue. The property will be returned within 2 weeks of notification.
• A Member may be issued technical team equipment if they have completed or are in the process of completing the course to which the equipment applies. This must be approved by the Technical Team Leader and Board of Directors.

Member Rescue Equipment Purchases

• Members wanting to purchase equipment for technical rescue must have recommendation from the respective TL (RRTL, SWRTL etc.).
• Any equipment purchased must be certified for that purpose and purchased from a recognized supplier of rescue equipment.
• Any member owned equipment must be inspected by a TL every 6 months.

Disposal

If an asset of ASAR is expired, not needed any longer or is no longer serviceable it needs to be disposed of in a proper manner. Such assets will be given to a member of the Board who will determine what action needs to be taken.

If an asset is able to be sold all proceeds belong to ASAR. All items need to be disposed of in a responsible manner to protect ASAR from any liability.

Signed: Nick Rivers (President), Feb 12/25 — Pam Garrow (Secretary), Feb 11/25.

Vehicle Policy

Section 1 — Vehicle Operation

1. Only Search and Rescue (SAR) vehicles equipped with red flashing lights and a siren will be operated as an emergency vehicle.
2. The red flashing lights and siren will be in continuous operation when responding as an emergency vehicle. The siren may be turned off when approaching and passing animals that could be frightened by the sound. While the siren is off, the emergency vehicle will travel with additional care and at or below the posted speed limit.
3. The GSAR Leaders, upon arrival at an emergency scene, will evaluate the need for other vehicles to continue to respond or not. Whenever possible, other responding vehicles will be advised of any status change and redirected as required.
4. Where traffic control is necessary, the incident scene must be set up to meet all applicable EMCR and Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure requirements for that incident. If this is not possible for any reason, priority shall be given to the protection of the responders by using SAR vehicles to block the lane(s) or road completely, as required to provide a safe working environment. Only vehicles equipped with an "Arrow Board" or emergency lighting should be used in such a situation.
5. Only ASAR Members trained and certified in Emergency Scene Traffic Control will provide traffic control. They must wear appropriate PPE, including helmet, and traffic vest; and be provided with appropriate traffic control devices, i.e., wands, Stop/Slow signs.
6. Members are required to submit a Drivers Abstract annually in accordance with regulations. The vehicle committee chair or designate will collect each driver's license number and birth date which is required for Government form MV2610. That form will be submitted by email. Any driver record that contains issues of concern will be taken to the Board to determine if that member should be removed as a driver for ASAR. Abstracts are to be retained for 4 years.

Section 2 — Emergency Vehicle Code 3 Training and Drive Familiarization Training

1. Only personnel who have completed the ASAR Driver Training Program and possess a valid BC Class 5 driver's licence are permitted to operate ASAR vehicles.
2. Only members who have successfully passed an emergency vehicle driver training program / Code 3 driver training and have been given the approval of the SAR Manager may operate with lights and sirens.
3. ASAR Members who have qualified to drive ASAR vehicles are required to take an annual refresher course. The content of this course will be set by ASAR Driving Instructors and will include instruction on the following:
   • Basic overview on operation of each vehicle
   • Location of equipment on each vehicle
   • Location of gas or diesel filler and how to check all fluids
   • Proper recording on vehicle log book

The ASAR Driver Training Program consists of:

• Driving Emergency Vehicles
• Defensive Driver training program. Trainee drivers must write the appropriate examination after this course.

All ASAR driver training must be done by driver instructors designated by the ASAR Board of Directors and have completed the driver instructor training program delivered by Frontline Fire Department Training or equivalent.

Section 3 — Operating Off Road Vehicles

1. Members must have completed the Side by Side driver training.
2. All members must have proper PPE and the unit must be in good and safe working order before operating.
3. Driver is responsible for ensuring everyone is properly secured and the stretcher, if being used, is properly placed and secured.
4. A separate navigator and communicator should be used whenever possible.
5. Helmets, eye protection and appropriate clothing to be worn at all times.
6. Ensure speed is kept to safe limits appropriate to conditions.
7. Limit water crossing to height of floor boards.
8. Ensure hill side angle is under 30 degrees; if steeper, assess safest option. Hillside angle with subject on board should not exceed 30 degrees.

Side by side driver training will be run a few times a year to ensure members are trained. Members who previously completed side by side driver training are required to attend one side by side driver training annually to maintain that certification.

Signed: Nick Rivers (President), Feb 12/25 — Pam Garrow (Secretary), Feb 11/25.

Operational Support Team Guideline

Purpose

To provide direction on Support Team member duties and expectations. This is a supplement to all provincial operating guidelines, the SAR Safety Program, and EMCR policies. It is imperative that all support team members are familiar with all SAR Provincial operating guidelines, SAR safety program guide and policies.

Duties, Roles and Responsibilities

Arrowsmith Search and Rescue developed an Operational Support Team to assist the operations on an approved task or training, which includes the following:

• Driving vehicles from the SAR Operations Center to the location of the task call out or training.
• Load/unload side by side vehicles from trailers at the ICP, or team start point.
• Assisting in setting up the ICP.
• Assisting in on-site logistics.
• Transport of teams to and from their assignment start points.
• Signing in and out equipment to field teams.
• Food and beverage logistics.
• Ensuring vehicles and equipment are cleaned and put away properly after a task.
• Traffic control to ensure team safety until appropriate traffic control resources can be established.
• Operate as a relay station or set up portable repeaters, within the parameters of this document.

Training Requirements

Operational Support Team members will undergo a Support Team training course, driving training, traffic control training, and maintain a 7 hour first aid, then continue to have 50 hours of training annually.

Issued Equipment

Operational Support Team Members will be equipped with the ASAR Mid layer jacket, ASAR outer shell jacket, Heated vest, Helmet, Hi-Vis vest, and Hi-Vis pants, which remain the property of ASAR.

On Task & Training

Operational Support Team members assist on task and on training events within their roles listed above at the ICP. When attending a training without a defined ICP, such as rope or water training, Support Team members will operate in the area where ASAR vehicles are staged.

Deployment Conditions (after RADeMS)

Support team members are deployable on task under the following circumstances after the completion of a RADeMS:

• To pick up field team members or deliver equipment on public streets within a cell or VHF radio coverage area.
• To pick up food or supplies for the task on public streets within a cell or VHF radio coverage area.
• To pick up / drop off field teams or equipment or run a radio relay along a publicly accessible maintained mainline logging road, within a cell or VHF radio coverage area, including the following mainlines:
  • 155 mainline
  • 142 mainline
  • Horne Lake FSR
  • Cook Creek FSR
  • Sundew Main
• Mutual Aid calls in limited function at the ICP tasks, limited to:
  • Sign in and out of members and equipment
  • Food and Beverage logistics
  • Parking logistics
  • Crew transport on public roads within a cell or VHF coverage area