Search and Rescue – Halifax Search and Resuce

Search and Rescue Operations

Looking for lost and vulnerable people is at the core of what HSAR does. Most often the call to respond occurs after dark – when someone is reported missing or overdue. This can include people from all walks of life and virtually any age (hikers, children, hunters, fishers, boaters, people engaged in water sports, dementia patients, and people on the autism spectrum.

Halifax Search and Rescue, like all other SAR teams in Canada, can only be activated by either a police authority (most often) or another recognized emergency service. Anyone who believes a person is missing or requires assistance must call 911, which will then involve the police who in turn contact our Search Managers, who answer special phones 24/7.

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Instructors and Safety

The search managers, in turn, then call out team members who respond either to the scene, with their own equipment, or some to the base of operations to pick up rquired vehicles.

In some cases, our search managers know where the subject is located and so only an extracation is needed. In many cases, the location of the person is not known and so that would result in a full team callout.

Depending on circumstances, HSAR would call in other SAR teams and widen the search area. All searches are considered missing person cases and so SAR teams work under the direction of the police jurisdiction.

Searches are only suspended or terminated after a decision by police upon consulting the on-site search managers. It is important to remember that in Canada there is never a fee charge for a search. SAR teams do not want anyone needing our service to hesitate calling 911 for assistance.