Coconino County's many exciting outdoor recreational opportunities attract thousands of outdoor enthusiasts every year. Many hunters, skiers, boaters, mountain bikers, hikers and rock climbers get lost and/or injured. The SAR unit utilizes a variety of methods to locate and/or render aid, including: map and compass navigation, Global Positioning System (GPS) operations, high angle rescue, low angle rescue, ATV / 4x4 / snowmobile / snow cat operations, tracking, alpine operations, personal locator beacons, boats, mounted and heli-rescue to conduct searches and rescues. Team members undergo extensive training.
In FY2006, we had over 130 missions/calls during the year. The SAR volunteers donated over 2,665 hours to search missions and over 2,587 hours donated to trainings during the year. A review of the victim profiles he provides in his report points to the importance of educational outreach. Over 1/3 of the FY2006 Search and Rescue missions were for residents of Coconino County. The majority of the other missions were for out of state residents and residents of Maricopa County. This is likely a direct reflection of the recreational and vacation opportunities that draw so many people to Coconino County.
The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office has provided search and rescue services for many individuals over the years, and each case is treated with the same respect for the victim’s safety and family’s concerns. However, the Search and Rescue Unit also is trained to assist during times of disaster, such as during wildland fire evacuations, and participates in public education. |