By Brittney Matejka

SEASAR is looking for new members to volunteer

Sep 17, 2017 | 12:31 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB. – The South Eastern Alberta Search & Rescue Association (SEASAR) hosted an open house and new member recruitment meeting Sunday September 17, 2017. They are actively seeking 25 new volunteers to join their spring training session said Paul Carolan, president of SEASAR.

“We build the training in house, we have 6 certified SAR basic skills instructors right here with the team so we design the course and meet the learning objectives and make sure they’re ready to go by the time they’re finished,” he explained.

Carolan said they are looking for active ground search and rescue members but also for individuals willing to do other things to help their team.

“We have gear and equipment that needs maintaining, fundraising that needs to be done, grant applications that need to be written and so those things are really important too,” he said.

SEASAR is currently looking for new volunteers age 18 to 70 years in age to help with searches when required. Carolan said that volunteers need to submit an application and successfully complete an interview before beginning training. Volunteers will also have to supply all there own gear and cover the cost of their training and membership but Carolan explains that the cost is minimal when he considers the outcome.

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“This is the most amazing group in the world, the team is phenomenal, I would do anything of anyone of them in the world and then on top of that you can make a difference and it’s just an opportunity to give back to the community,” he said.

After additional training, members are provided with further training opportunities in mini sessions once a month and on average Carolan said they are called out to the field 10 to 12 times a year. This year has been higher than unusual he added, they have had 17 calls out.

“The team has been ready and able to respond 24/7, 365 days of the year since 1999,” he said.

SEASAR is entirely volunteer run and responds to calls from task agencies, law enforcement, Alberta Health Services, Fire Departments and municipalities for missing people or evidence for law enforcement agencies.

Applications to volunteer can be submitted online through the SEASAR website.