About NSRD
Norwegian Search and Rescue Dogs (NSRD) is a non-profit, volunteer organization that train dogs and handlers for use in location of missing persons in conjunction with government agencies and other resources contributing in SAR operations. Norwegian Search and Rescue Dogs has 150 search and rescue dog teams certified for air scenting/trailing, 80 teams certified for avalanche rescue and almost 20 teams certified for disaster search (collapsed buildings, earthquakes, landslides etc).
Membership and training Anyone who enjoys the outdoors during all weather conditions may join NSRD, but to become a certified dog handler you have to be at least 18 years old. Prior knowledge or experience in search and rescue work is not required, but you have to possess willingness to learn navigational, radio and first-aid medical skills in addition to working with your dog. Training is usually organized in units of 5-10 dogs and handlers and is based on the dogs natural search behavior where the dog will experience that following human scent by air or trailing and finding a person is both very fun and rewarding! Successful certification of a team is a joint achievement of the training unit and you have to be willing to participate in the training of other dogs.
Equipment You will need is suitable outdoor clothing and boots and your dog will need a collar, leash, toys/treats, a trailing harness and line.
The most commonly used dog breeds are German shepherds, Retriever-breeds, Rottweilers and herding dogs, but any dog/breed that possesses excellent scenting capability, strong drives (prey, pack, play, etc.), physical endurance/stamina, high degree of intelligence and high degree of trainability may be suitable. Most handlers prefer to begin training a young puppy. However, an older dog may be suitable if the dog has already developed a good working relationship with his owner. It normally takes two to three years of training -two to three days a week- to achieve certification.
Certification All dog-handler teams undergo a rigorous evaluation and certification process before they are allowed to participate in actual search- and rescue operations. Certified dog-handler teams may be requested to rescue operations 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and are expected to participate on a regular basis.
The Norwegian SAR Service
Norway is a sparsely populated land stretching far to the north. Its geographical character varies widely, from the idyllic countryside of the southeast and the mild climate of the southern coast, to the spectacular fjords of western Norway and the high mountains of south-central Norway. Then there is northern Norway,the land of the Midnight Sun, with mountains, fjords and barren wastelands. The short summer can be warm, sunny and mild, but winter is dark and stormy, with violent winds and bitter cold.Temperatures range from 35°C in summer to –50°C in winter. Ice and heavy snowfall can be a problem, and along some parts of the coast, storm winds can reach hurricane speeds. Some of the world's most forbidding seas are found off Norway’s coast, with violent storms, freezing temperatures as well as rain, snow and fog. Most of the challenges dealt with by the Norwegian SAR Service arise out of:
• The rugged topography and harsh climate, with extensive unpopulated areas on land and long distances at sea.• Extensive transport activity on land, often in mountainous areas and under difficult weather conditions• Substantial tourism and recreational activity on land and sea, often in difficult terrain or under demanding weather conditions• Natural disasters due to floods, high winds, landslides and avalanchesThe Norwegian SAR Service is a nationwide effort in which many contribute. All resources – whether national, county, local, commercial or private – suitable for immediate deployment for the saving of lives, are registered, trained and mobilized for duty in a public SAR service. In Norway, “search and rescue service” is an official designation denoting immediate response to an emergency to rescue persons from death or injury. Action to save property, production or the environment is not part of the Norwegian SAR Service’s mission, nor is preventive action within its scope of activity. However, experiences gained from SAR operations are systemized and shared with those responsible for prevention.
The principle of the cooperative organization is a prominent feature of the Norwegian SAR Service. In its Report No. 86 to the Parliament (1961-62), the Government emphasized that all government agencies must contribute whatever resources are both appropriate and available to SAR operations. When the current SAR Service was formed in 1970, all relevant government, commercial and voluntary agencies expressed their willingness to be included in this service. The cooperative model is based on a consensual relationship. All government agencies involved in SAR operations pay their own expenses from their ordinary budgets. Commercial enterprises are paid according to normal market rates. Voluntary organizations are reimbursed for direct outlays according to a schedule of rates. There are also a few highly-effective professional operations, such as the Air Force’s SAR helicopter squadron, which maintain a constant high state of lertness in order to respond quickly to emergencies. The Norwegian SAR Service maintains an integrated coordination structure, which means that each joint rescue coordination centre is prepared to handle land, sea or air operations, rescue operations on offshore oil or gas installations, as well as operations requiring international cooperation. This gives us a costeffective, highly efficient system with little competition for resources and the best possible vantage point for supervision and command. This arrangement is unique in the world. The collective SAR management at the two rescue coordination centres and the rescue sub-centres, consisting of representatives from a number of government agencies together with the local chief of police, who is in overall command, leads and coordinates search and rescue operations within their respective areas.
One central element in the Norwegian SAR Service is the large number of voluntary organizations that take part. The ability of these organizations to field, on short notice, large numbers of personnel who are both trained for the situation and familiar with the terrain, makes them a valuable asset, particularly in search operations in forested and mountainous areas. Other groups have special training in communication, shore rescues, rescues in steep and slippery terrain, cave rescues and searches using dogs or light aircraft. The approximate 25,000 members of these organizations provide an estimated 2–3 million hours of free service each year.