Urban Search and Rescue
Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) is the general term for a group of specialized rescue technicians and operators that are integrated into teams. Each team has resources that include search, rescue, medical, logistics management, and structural assessment capacity. USAR involves the location, extrication, and initial medical stabilization of individuals trapped in confined spaces due to collapsed or damaged infrastructure.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs oversees guidelines and classification for USAR at the international level via a global network of USAR stakeholders. The network classifies USAR teams into categories of light, medium, and heavy to reflect specific performance criteria, training requirements, and equipment types.
Heavy Urban Search and Rescue
As urban populations grow, and climate events become more frequent, ensuring timely and effective Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR) capabilities has become even more important.
HUSAR is the most technical level of USAR. It involves multi-disciplinary teams that integrate large amounts of technical equipment and diverse professional skills in demanding rescue scenarios. Responders are trained in Search and Rescue (SAR), communications, logistics, emergency medical assistance, technical and canine search, and structural assessment.
The Canadian Urban Search and Rescue Classification Guide has now been replaced by two publications:
- The Canadian Urban Search and Rescue Team Standard provides a description of the capabilities that USAR teams at light, medium, and heavy levels bring to disaster response
- The Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Concept of Operations is a reference document that outlines existing agreements, mechanisms, and constructs used to deploy HUSAR capabilities between provinces and territories
Common standards and a shared concept of operations support work towards creating a domestic, inter-provincial deployment capability.
HUSAR Program
HUSAR is a critical emergency management resource for Canada that is often vital in the aftermath of incidents like earthquakes, storms, flooding, wildland fires, landslides, and critical infrastructure failures.
In recognition of the increasing risks and the financial challenges of maintaining HUSAR capacities, the Government of Canada, through Public Safety, provides $3.1 million annually for the HUSAR Program.
In Canada, HUSAR teams are called task forces and are interdisciplinary teams comprised of specialists from across the emergency response spectrum. The HUSAR Program aims to maintain the capabilities of task forces in:
- Vancouver (British Columbia)
- Calgary (Alberta)
- the Province of Manitoba
- Toronto (Ontario)
- Montreal (Quebec)
- Halifax (Nova Scotia)
The task forces have specialties in SAR, communications, logistics, emergency medical assistance, technical and canine search, and structural assessment.
In order to find victims trapped in collapsed structures and debris, the task forces use specialized equipment such as search cameras, sensitive acoustic detectors, and search dogs. They breach, shore, lift and remove structural components, use heavy construction equipment to remove debris, and medically treat and transfer victims.
The program relies on meaningful collaboration between federal, provincial and territorial governments, municipalities, and individual task forces.
The Program supports:
- Provinces and municipalities in obtaining the equipment and specialized training needed to sustain HUSAR capacity
- Investments in areas that will lead to timely and effective HUSAR response capabilities
- Facilitating interoperability among the task forces
Federal investments are for specific HUSAR initiatives or projects. Task forces may access these funds to cover up to 75% of the total cost of projects that build and maintain their capabilities.
Contact the ps.husar-rsmuel.sp@canada.ca for more information.
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