Q: What is the Davis County Sheriff's Search & Rescue and who are the volunteers?
Click here to download
an informational brochure for more information about our team.
The Davis County Sheriff's Search & Rescue (DCSAR) is an all-volunteer organization which works under the direction of the Davis County Sheriff's Office. The DCSAR is on call 24 hours / day, 365 days / year, and respond to over 800 square miles in Davis County, Utah. DCSAR also responds to calls for assistance from other counties and agencies abroad.
Search and rescue volunteers are selected from the community based in their expertise and special talents--but the primary requirement for membership is a true desire to help others. The group includes mountaineering specialists, rock climbers, cavers, scuba divers, tracking specialists, and swiftwater rescue technicians. Our members come from all walks of life--some come to us with experience, some without. Those without prior rescue experience go through a rigorous training program prior to becoming full members of the organization.
Q: Where is Davis County?
Davis County is located between Salt Lake City and Ogden in Northern Utah, USA. With a population of 250,000, Davis County is located at the base of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains, and offers numerous hiking trails, scenic byways, high mountain camping and trails, hunting, fishing and more. Davis County is fast becoming a popular spot for rock climbing in the summer, and various back-country winter sports such as snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding.
Q: How often is the DCSAR called out?
The Davis County Search and Rescue Unit responds to an average of 30 calls per year. About 75% of these calls are in the various canyons and hills in Davis County. The DCSAR responds to calls for assistance through the Davis County Sheriff's Office. These calls may include (but are certainly not limited to):
- Searches for lost children and adults.
- Searches for lost hunters and skiers.
- Avalanche victim search & recovery.
- Aiding the Sheriff's department in the search for evidence.
- Provided assistance during natural disasters and emergencies such as flooding, earthquakes, power outages, and land slides.
- Swift water rescue.
- Underwater rescue & recovery (SCUBA).
- Air-crash rescue.
- Recovery of the deceased.
Q: What are the medical capabilities of Search & Rescue members?
The DCSAR is dedicated to providing the highest standards of medical care to everyone in need of assistance. Each member of the Search and Rescue Team is required to be trained in basic first aid and CPR. Many of our members are also certified Emergency Medical Technicians. Continual training in patient care is a major focus of our monthly training courses. For advanced emergency medical diagnosis and treatment, the DCSAR relies on the expert skills of the Davis County Sheriff's Office, Patrol Division Paramedics.
Q: Where is Davis County,
Utah?
Davis County, located in Northern Utah between Salt Lake City and Ogden, includes more than 60 canyons and streams, 365 square miles of the Great Salt Lake - including the 28,000 acre Antelope Island, and numerous small ponds, lakes and marshes.
Q: Does the DCSAR do any educational
work with the community?
The DCSAR is very active in
the community. We are involved in a variety of programs such as giving
lectures to local boy & girl scout troops, elementary schools, and
church groups. One such program that has met with particular success is
the Hug A Tree program. Each year, members of the DCSAR volunteer a considerable
amount of time to visit local grade schools to teach children what to
do if they become lost. This program is designed for children in grades
K-12, and can be tailored to groups of 10 to 200 children.
If you are a parent of a child in grades K-12, you should examine carefully
our page on Hug A Tree, print it out and talk about it with your child.
What you say may someday save your child's life!
Q: How is the DCSAR financed?
The DCSAR is a non-profit organization registered in the State of Utah. Working as an official auxiliary of the Davis County Sheriff's Office, we receive no significant funding from tax dollars. Funds to purchase equipment and training are raised from generous donations by local businesses and individuals throughout the year.
To raise funds for this volunteer Search and Rescue effort, we conduct a few fund raising activities throughout the year. One such activity is the Davis County Sheriff’s Benefit Golf Tournament. This event is sponsored by the Sheriff, and is used to raise funds exclusively for the DCSAR.
TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE BENEFIT GOLF TOURNAMENT
Funds raised from these events are used to purchase new equipment and training necessary to conduct search and rescue operations throughout the year. We are also a member of the Davis County United Way, and accept direct donations through Network for Good.org.
Q: Does the DCSAR charge for
rescues?
The DCSAR does not charge for rescues. Rescue operations are paid for by funds obtained through Search & Rescue specific fund-raising efforts, and through the support of the Davis County Sheriff's Office. People in need of our assistance should not hesitate to call for help and not fear having to pay for the cost of a rescue.
This is a significant effort. It often requires that volunteers sacrifice personal interests, time and equipment to perform dangerous tasks. Some activities can include dozens of teams and last for several days. No matter how deep the snow, how bad the weather, how lost the person--when the call goes out, DCSAR responds.
For more information, Download our Informational Brochure or feel free to contact us at commander@dcsar.org.
Search & Rescue needs your support to continue providing this essential service to the community. If you would like more information about how to support the DCSAR, please e-mail commander@dcsar.org or contact the Davis County Sheriff's Office at (801) 451-4100.
If you want information about
the Search and Rescue organization in your own community, contact your
local Sheriff's Office.
