Search and Rescue

The idea of a ground search and rescue team was launched after an elderly women, suffering from
memory impairment, wandered from an a nursing home in a nearby Rhode Island community. After
exhaustive efforts, the woman's body was recovered not more then a couple hundred feet from the
building. Recognizing that this same situation could occur in our community, the Smithfield EMA Search
and Rescue (SAR) Team was established in March of 2003 to provide residents with a highly qualified
group of volunteers ready to augment the resources of local fire and police personnel during missing
person emergencies. The Team is fully self-sufficient and arrives ready to assist with overhead
management and ground search personnel as well as our own Emergency Medical Technicians.

All members of the SAR Team complete an eighteen hour training to understand the fundamentals of
search and rescue operations. Team members harden and practice skills by participating in various
trainings throughout the year. In addition to missing person detection drills, Team Members practice
map and compass navigation, the incident command system, and emergency first aid.

The Smithfield EMA SAR Team has been utilized by the Rhode Island State Police and trains with other
search and rescue organizations throughout the state. New volunteers are always welcome and you
may request further information by completing our on-line volunteer application.