Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR Team Member)

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The volunteer's primary role will be to provide safety information at trailheads and on trails to prevent visitor injury and illness. Each volunteer must conduct a minimum of two (2) trail patrols per shift (6-8 hour). The Chief Ranger or designee will schedule patrols once the volunteer completes the training process.

During a normal PSAR patrol (6-8 hour), volunteer will hike between 1-10 miles on assigned trails and will staff popular trailheads. Special assignments and emergency situations may increase this mileage up to 15 miles and include travel in backcountry (Wildlife Management Area). This cap can commander if the volunteer is able. Volunteer will fill out necessary paperwork after their shift and communicate any issues to the PSAR coordinator.

• Information regarding trails, destinations, and Little River Canyon backcountry
• Appropriate hiking times
• Proper drinking and eating habits for Little River Canyon hiking
• Proper footwear and equipment
• Self-rescue techniques and cell phone/emergency phone resources
• Heat illness, hyponatremia, and their effects on hikers
• Resource protection and interpretation
• Leave No Trace messaging

Visitor contacts will be conducted professionally, demonstrating attention, courtesy, and respect for other points of view. Volunteers may handle difficult questions and complaints. If the PSAR volunteer is unable to answer the questions or satisfy the complainant, they should contact the Lead PSAR/Chief Ranger if available. If the Lead PSAR/Chief Ranger is not available, they can provide contact information for the Chief Ranger. They should refer visitors to the correct resources when appropriate.

There will be situations in which the volunteer will render some form of aid to visitor. When this occurs, the PSAR Lead/Law Enforcement must be notified of the situation to ensure proper actions are being taken. Volunteers are not under Little River Canyon's medical direction and may not practice as medical providers with the National Park Service.* They may assist in rendering aid, within their scope of training (basic first aid), to the visitor. The PSAR volunteer must contact a park EMS provider.

*A Service Description Addendum can be added for medical providers to perform at levels higher than basic first with approval from the Chief Ranger and the Preserve's Medical Advisor.

Other Duties

This service description covers most of the routine work for which volunteers are responsible. It does not cover all possible duties and assignments. Additional assignments include but are not limited to: assistance with search and rescue missions, traffic control, graffiti reporting and/or removal, trail maintenance, and backcountry monitoring. Additional duties and assignments will be formally agreed upon between the Chief Ranger/PSAR lead and volunteer. Special assignments, emergency situations and other circumstances may require volunteers to work before 7 AM and after 7 PM. Emergency situations may also require volunteers to remain on duty for extended periods of time that may last through the night, although this is the exception.

Benefit to Park

• Assist rangers with SAR prevention through education to park visitors
• Assist rangers with expanding awareness of park use to park visitors
• Provide visitors more opportunities to interact with educated park representatives

Benefit to the Volunteer

• Volunteer will be trained to work as a team member of Little River Canyon National Preserve PSAR Team
• Volunteer will become familiar with NPS Incident Command System and Emergency Management System protocol.
• Upon reaching 250 hours of volunteer service, volunteer is eligible for a free interagency park pass.

Required Knowledge and Skills

• First Aid and CPR/AED certification to be completed within two months of signing the Volunteer Service Agreement
• Volunteers should have specialized knowledge in:

1. Recognizing the different types of levels of and treatments for heat illness; how to assist or facilitate an appropriate medical response
2. Distinguishing between basic hiker assistance and the need for medical intervention
3. Which situations require a higher level of emergency care and how to judge the urgency for that response

• Must work well with cooperating agencies including ambulance companies, local law enforcement, rescue squads, and fire department personnel.
• Must cooperate with team members and the visiting public
• Must maintain a calm, friendly demeanor when dealing with difficult visitors
• Must be familiar with and work within Incident Command System
• Ability to follow verbal and written instruction
• Must be committed to the mission and goals of the NPS
• Ability to operate and communicate using government radio and use a government vehicle if assigned
• A valid driver's license and a copy of your safe driving record are required to operate government vehicles

Required Equipment

• Provided by park: PSAR volunteer shirt, jacket/rain jacket, hat, required team equipment and technology for the assignment
• Provided by volunteer: personal gear sufficient for time in the field including water, food, sun protection (including sunscreen); clothing appropriate for the job and the day's weather including layers, sunglasses, personal vehicle for transportation to and from work sites; valid driver's license.

Job Hazard Analysis

The final and most important responsibility for all volunteers, and for the rangers supervising them, is safety. As with any emergency operation, a rescuer's first safety concern is to him/her, second is to fellow rescuers, and third is to the patient (s).

• Each individual has the responsibility to bring up any safety concern, at any time, without hesitation. Safety is each individual's own responsibility.
• Volunteers should not take part in any action that they deem unsafe or with which they feel uncomfortable.
• Volunteers are responsible for reporting any medical condition or illness that may affect their daily assignments nor take part in any action outside of this job description unless agreed upon between the volunteer and the supervisor ranger. Such action must be organized and carried out with primary regard for the safety of all involved.
• Any and all injuries occurring to a volunteer while on official duty for Little River Canyon National Preserve must be reported to a supervisory ranger.
• The program reserves the right to conclude the application process at any point if the program feels the applicant is not qualified nor suited for the position.
• There is potential of becoming lost during training or an incident.
• Physical labor like hiking, rock scrambling, and carry-outs involves the possibility of bruises, muscle strains, cuts, scrapes, head injuries, and other injures due to nature of outdoor physical labor
• Inherent risks of prolonged physical labor including dehydration or exhaustion.
• Biohazards from administering medical and including blood, other bodily fluids, communicable illness, and disease.
• Some incidents will require working around helicopters and the inherent dangers they bring, including death or serious injury.
• Working in the outdoors involves exposure to environmental hazards like wildlife, venomous wildlife, sharp plants, hazardous terrain, UV exposure.
• Work often requires use of gear, devices, and equipment with inherent risks-volunteer will follow standard safety procedure for each piece of equipment.
• Volunteers will be asked to work outside in a range of weather conditions that can quickly change to extreme conditions, including extreme temperatures up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit, extreme cold, strong wind, and heavy rain with potential flash flood conditions.
• Loss of normal core temperature due to expose to extreme temperature variations of heat or cold within a 24-hour period (hyperthermia/hypothermia).
• Volunteer is not required to perform any assignment or task with which they are uncomfortable or that a supervisory ranger deems unsafe. Volunteers are taught and encouraged to participate in active risk management and situational awareness and are not required to hike during extreme weather events.
• Volunteer will take extra precautions during summertime heat
  • Temperatures above 90 F
    • Volunteer will not conduct trail patrols more than 3 miles at a time
  • Temperatures above 100 F
    • Volunteers will not conduct trail patrols more than a mile at a time
    • Volunteers are encouraged to monitor trailheads to provide education

Required Training and Orientation

First Aid and CPR/AED certification

ICS 100, 200, 700, & 800

Cal Topo Online Training

NASAR SARTECH

NPS VRP1053 PSAR Best Practices (DOI Talent)

NPS VRP3012 Intro to Search and Rescue Operations (DOI Talent)

NPS VRP 1051 Drowning Prevention (DOI Talent)

Optional Training

Family Liaison Training

NPS Basic Technical Rescue Training-East

Start Date - 2025-05-05

End Date - 2026-05-04