ASTM's search and rescue operations standards cover the personnel, equipment, and procedures relevant in the performance of search and rescue (SAR) operations. These procedures involve the use of available personnel and facilities in locating and providing immediate aid to persons, other living beings, or property that are in actual or imminent distress. These operations are most commonly carried out in urban and suburban locations, combat sites, areas of large bodies of water, and rugged terrains such as mountains, deserts, and forests. These standards help guide SAR organizations and emergency response teams in conforming to the proper methods of conducting these emergency aid procedures.
Search and Rescue Operations Standards
ASTM's search and rescue operations standards cover the personnel, equipment, and procedures relevant in the performance of search and rescue (SAR) operations. These procedures involve the use of available personnel and facilities in locating and providing immediate aid to persons, other living beings, or property that are in actual or imminent distress. These operations are most commonly carried out in urban and suburban locations, combat sites, areas of large bodies of water, and rugged terrains such as mountains, deserts, and forests. These standards help guide SAR organizations and emergency response teams in conforming to the proper methods of conducting these emergency aid procedures.
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Equipment, Testing, and Maintenance
F2116-01(2015) Standard Specification for Low Stretch and Static Kernmantle Life Safety Rope
F2266-03(2015) Standard Specification for Masses Used in Testing Rescue Systems and Components
F3222-16 Standard Terminology Relating to F32 Land Search and Rescue Standards and Guides
F1772-17 Standard Specification for Harnesses for Rescue and Sport Activities
F1823-97(2018) Standard Guide for Water Rescue Personal Flotation Device (PFD)
F1774-20 Standard Specification for Climbing and Mountaineering Carabiners
F2821-15(2020) Standard Test Methods for Basket Type Rescue Litters
F1956-20 Standard Specification for Rescue Carabiners
F1491-93(2002) Standard Specification for An Avalanche Beacon Frequency (Withdrawn 2007)
F2491-20 Standard Guide for Determining Safety Factors for Technical Rescue Systems and Equipment
F2684/F2684M-07(2022) Standard Test Method for Portable High Anchor Devices
Management and Operations
F1583-95(2019) Standard Practice for Communications Procedures—Phonetics
F2047-00(2019) Standard Practice for Workers’ Compensation Coverage of Emergency Services Volunteers
F2752-19 Standard Guide for Training for Basic Rope Rescuer Endorsement
F1730-96(2020) Standard Guide for Throwing a Water Rescue Throwbag
F1766-97a(2020) Standard Guide for Ice Awls Self-Rescue Technique
F1767-14(2020) Standard Guide for Forms Used for Search and Rescue
F1768-97(2020) Standard Guide for Using Whistle Signals During Rope Rescue Operations
F1846-98(2020) Standard Practice for Symbols and Markings for Use With Land Search Maps
F2794-09(2020) Standard Guide for Level 1 (Basic) Mounted Search and Rescue (MSAR) Responder
F1879-14(2020) Standard Guide for Demonstrating Obedience and Agility in Search and Rescue Dogs
F1633-97(2008) Standard Guide for Techniques in Land Search (Withdrawn 2017)
F1847-14(2022) Standard Guide for Minimum Training of Search Dog Crews or Teams
F1848-14(2022) Standard Classification System for Canine Search Resources
F3048-13(2022) Standard Guide for Swiftwater/Flood Search and Rescue Operations
F3070-14(2022) Standard Guide for Evaluating Area Search Dog Crews or Teams
F3144-15(2022) Standard Guide for Evaluating Trailing Search Dog Crews or Teams
F1765-97a(2022) Standard Guide for Ice Staff Self-Rescue Technique
F1993-16(2022) Standard Classification System of Human Land Search and Rescue Resources
Personnel, Training and Education
F2209-20 Standard Guide for Training of Land Search Team Member
F3029-13 Standard Guide for Level I GPS Wilderness Navigator (GPS-IW) Endorsement (Withdrawn 2014)
F2751-16 Standard Guide for Training of a Land Search and Rescue Team Member
F3098-16 Standard Guide for Training of Non-Wilderness Land Search Team Member
F3193-16 Standard Guide for Training of a Land Search and Rescue Team Leader
F3221-16 Standard Guide for Training for Snowmobile Operator’s Endorsement
F2890-17 Standard Guide for Hazard Awareness for Search and Rescue Personnel
F3315-18 Standard Guide for Training of Abandoned or Inactive Mine Search and Rescue Team Member
F1739-96(2018) Standard Guide for Performance of a Water Rescuer—Level I
F2958-14(2019) Standard Guide for Helicopter Inland Search and Rescue (SAR) Technician
F3026-14(2019) Standard Guide for Helicopter Inland Search and Rescue (SAR) Crew Chief
F2954-19 Standard Guide for Training for Intermediate Rope Rescuer Endorsement
F2955-19 Standard Guide for Training for Advanced Rope Rescuer Endorsement
F2852-19 Standard Practice for Training a Land Search Tracker
F3071-14(2020) Standard Guide for Basic Wilderness GPS/GNSS Use (GPS/GNSS-IW) Endorsement
F3072-14(2020) Standard Guide for Intermediate Wilderness GPS/GNSS Use (GPS/GNSS-IIW) Endorsement
F1490-04a Standard Terminology Relating to Search and Rescue (Withdrawn 2010)
F1824-97(2021) Standard Guide for Performance of a Water Rescuer—Level II
F1783-97(2021) Standard Guide for Performance of an Ice Rescuer—Level II
F2685-14(2022) Standard Guide for Training of a Land Search Team Leader (STL)
F3068-14(2022) Standard Guide for Contents and Use of a Position Task Book (PTB)
F3145-15(2022) Standard Guide for Swiftwater/Flood Rescue Technician Basic