Registration for the November offering of the Ground Search and Rescue training is still available online. This is a 16-hour course delivered by instructors from the Illinois Search and Rescue Council that includes both classroom and field-level training over a two-day period. All fields are required to be completed in order for a registration to be processed. There is no cost for registration.

Course Topics: The definition of Search and Rescue, Incident management and organizational structure, Fitness, Clothing, SAR ready packs and preparedness kits, Personal outdoor equipment, Navigation, Communications, SAR resources, Clue consciousness, Anatomy of a SAR incident, Lost person behavior, Search probability theory, Tracking, and Rescue gear. Course content meets or exceeds ASTM F-2209 and NFPA 1670 standards.

Equipment Needed: Each attendee should bring a pad of paper, a pen, a compass, and appropriate attire (minimally includes: boots with ankle support, hat, long pants, long-sleeved shirt, eye protection, gloves, knee pads, and a flashlight) for navigating through heavily wooded areas with rough terrain.

Requirements: Participants must be at least 18 years-old by the date of the course. If a participant is under the age of 18 and affiliated with another government agency, proof of that agency's insurance coverage for team membership must be on file prior to participation.

Continuing Education: Attendees who successfully pass the course will receive 16 IDPH CEUs for credit toward their license's continuing education requirements.

Date/Time: November 5 from 08:00 - 21:30; November 6 from 08:00 - 13:00.

Registration: To register for the training, use the online registration form. For specific questions regarding this training offering, please use the contact information provided in the online registration form link.

For additional information about Search and Rescue in McLean County, contact Acting Lieutenant Tina Shaw, SAR Division Commander, by clicking on her name to access the contact form.