Preface
This is the second edition of CSA Z1625, Training curriculum standards for ground search and rescue operations: Searcher, team leader, and SAR manager. It supersedes the previous edition published in 2016.
This Standard, designed to align with CSA Z1620, outlines
a) training curriculum requirements for ground search and rescue (GSAR) operations for the three core roles of searcher, team leader, and search and rescue (SAR) manager;
b) provides guidance for curriculum design and delivery to help ensure that curriculum is delivered consistently and meets high standards of quality; and
c) provides a benchmark to evaluate existing training programs and facilitate developing new training programs.
The requirements of this Standard result from consensus of the CSA Technical Committee on Ground Search and Rescue, which represents a broad spectrum of stakeholder interests. The Technical Committee received input from other stakeholders and through public comments received as a result of a wide distribution of the draft Standard during the public review and comment period.
CSA Group acknowledges that the development of this Standard was made possible, in part, by the financial and in-kind support of the Search and Rescue Volunteers Association of Canada (SARVAC) and other agencies responsible for search and rescue, and by the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund (SAR NIF).
CSA Group and the Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada sincerely acknowledge the contributions of the GSAR community in Canada for its continued support of this Standard.
This Standard was prepared by the Technical Committee on Ground Search and Rescue, under the jurisdiction of the Strategic Steering Committee on Public Safety, and has been formally approved by the Technical Committee.
This Standard has been developed in compliance with Standards Council of Canada requirements for National Standards of Canada. It has been published as a National Standard of Canada by CSA Group.
Scope
1.1 Scope
This Standard provides training curriculum requirements for ground search and rescue (GSAR) operations for the three core roles of searcher, team leader, and search and rescue (SAR) manager. It provides guidance to curriculum developers for the design of the curriculum and guidance to trainers for the delivery of the curriculum. The aim is to help enhance the ability to train, exercise, and learn in order to achieve an enhanced level of professionalism and help ensure that curriculum is delivered consistently and meets high standards of quality.
1.2 Purpose
The GSAR training curriculum provided in this Standard outlines the learning outcomes and related topics that should be considered as the basis for the development of learning experiences via various instructional strategies and methods (e.g., classroom, field or simulated exercises, experiential) that taken over time lead to the achievement and maintenance of the desired set of competencies (see CSA Z1620). This Standard provides a benchmark to evaluate existing training programs and to facilitate the development of new training programs.
1.3 Terminology
In this Standard, shall is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the Standard; should is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and may is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Standard.
Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material.
Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements.
Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.