Human Resources:

The dive team is currently comprised of 18 public safety divers and 10 public safety dive shore support personnel.  Several of our members are PADI Dive instructors and all of our divers have completed a Public Safety Dive Academy and have demonstrated comfort in diving in most dive environments including low / no visibility diving. All members are required to pass the Padi Dive Master Swim test twice a year to demonstrate their physical conditioning and comfort in the water.

Equipment Resources

• Sufficient individual dive equipment to fully outfit 10 divers and an equal or greater number of shore support personnel.

• 12' Inflatable dive boat w/ motor

• 16' Inflatable dive boat w/ motor (available starting November)

• 20' Dive trailer capable of supporting prolonged dive operations

• Surface supplied air equipment to fully enclose and support two divers

• Two underwater cameras with monitors and video recording capabilities

Human Resources:

Eighteen of the members of the Hasty Team hold the certification of Swift Water Rescue Technician (SRT1) with four of the members holding a SRT 2 or higher certification from Rescue 3.  The team requires that all members have solid rope and technical skills and be strong swimmers.  They are required to pass the dive master swim test twice a year and demonstrate long distance swimming in full equipment once per year.

Equipment Resources

Each member has proper protection equipment including dry suits, PFDs, helmets, throw bags, etc.  Additionally, the team has:

·        Two inflatable Kayaks

·        12’ inflatable Highside

·        14’ Cataraft

·        12’ Zodiac w/ motor

·        16’ Zodiac w/ motor (available starting November)

·        6 Carlson Boards

·        Line guns and technical equipment for cross river rope systems

Human Resources:

The Team currently has 15 members who are certified Surface Ice Rescue Technicians through Dive Rescue International.  Additionally, our dive team can conduct ice dive operations under the direction of three experienced Ice Dive Team Leaders.

Equipment Resources

Each member who is qualified carries sufficient personal equipment to respond to ice rescue calls.  The rescue trucks also carry ice rescue ropes and other specialized rescue equipment that enables the team to perform ice operations.

Human / Dog Resources:

Three Team members are also members of Woof Search Dog Teams.  They provide immediate local access to dogs trained for area search and avalanche search.  One is also certified for cadaver searches.  The Team carries other, more distant Woof handlers on their roster so that they can be direct called by Washoe County when needed.  All Woof handlers are classified as Type 1 teams by California OES (capable of handling any terrain or weather, at high altitude, for three days unsupported).

            Lost persons

Human Resources:

The Team has approximately 20 rescuers who are capable of handling most back country search calls.  10 of these members have additional skills and can be assigned to any back country search / rescue assignment and have earned the designation of Back Country Rescuer.  These personnel have passed a written knowledge test; demonstrated overnight field skills; demonstrated good navigation and search strategy in a two hour field test; and have passed a rigorous physical fitness field test which involves carrying a heavy pack over a difficult 6 mile course in 2.5 hours or less.  All members are trained in both summer and winter search and rescue disciplines.

Equipment Resources:

Personnel generally use their own back country gear including snow shoes/skis and poles, tents, sleeping bags, GPS and other general back packing or camping gear.  Special equipment provided by the Team includes avalanche beacons and probe poles; a few sets of snow shoes; radios; and several sets of night vision gear.  Personnel arrive at searches with enough gear and food for three days of operations.

Avalanche Search and Rescue

Human Resources:

All members who are back country capable are also capable of assisting in avalanche SAR (about 16 people).  All of these personnel could work effectively in avalanche hasty search or on a probe line.  All are capable of basic beacon searches, and several are experts at it.  Six members have completed both Phase 1 (classroom) and Phase 2 (field practical) of the National Avalanche School.  All other members have at least awareness level training on avalanche avoidance.  Most of our members use snowshoes for travel; a few are capable skiers as well.

The team would be equally useful in both back country and resort-type searches.

Equipment Resources:

The Team provides beacons and probe poles for avalanche search (also used in back country lost person searches).  All other equipment is personally owned.

Back Country Technical Rescue

Human Resources:

Most of our back country rescuers are cross-trained in low angle technical rescue.  These personnel could extract a victim from a ravine, or from steep, unstable hillsides using rescue ropes and related equipment.  About half of our back country rescuers could also perform high angle rescues from cliffs or other vertical terrain after packing in the equipment.

Equipment Resources:

The Team has an extensive inventory of technical rescue equipment.  Each of our two trucks carries enough rope and hardware to accomplish a major technical rescue.  We have a lightweight technical hardware kit prepackaged specifically for back country use, as well as two 300' lightweight ropes.  We also carry a Stokes litter and litter wheel for long extractions.  The Team owns two snow sleds for winter victim evacuations.

Human resources:

The Team has approximately 6 members who are capable of organizing and supervising high or low angle technical rescues which do not require back country travel skills.  Approximately 8-10 more members are capable of assisting in these rescues, but could not supervise these calls.

For mine shaft rescue, we have fewer leaders but the same total strength.  The Team can handle any mine rescue which does not involve fire, and does not require the use of SCBA or supplied air.  Our greatest expertise lies in the area of vertical shaft rescue.  For search of extensive mine workings, we could assist trained miners.

Equipment Resources:

The Team has an extensive inventory of technical rescue equipment.  Each of our two trucks carries 1500' of rescue rope, plus a complete suite of rope rescue hardware (carabineers, ascenders, pulleys, descenders, etc).  We carry equipment to construct A-frames or gin poles in order to operate safely near unstable edges.  The Team owns 5 gas detectors to verify safe atmosphere prior to and during mine entry.

Lost Personnel

Human Resources:

All of the searchers on the Hasty Team have been certified as Track Aware.  Additionally, 13 of the members are Certified Man Trackers and meet the classification of Type 1 trackers under the State of California’s OES classification requirements.

Equipment Resources

Each team member is equipped with the necessary tracking and survival equipment for prolonged tracking assignments.

Crime Scene

Human Resources:

Five of our team members are certified Crime Scene Trackers and are available to assist law enforcement personnel by reconstructing and documenting criminal activity.

Equipment Resources

Each team member is equipped with the necessary crime scene tracking equipment.

Tactical Tracking

Human Resources:

The Hasty Team currently has one member who is certified as a Tactical Tracker and is available to assist law enforcement in active pursuit of criminal activities.

Equipment Resources

This member is equipped with the necessary safety and tracking equipment.

Human Resources:

Members of the teams above have trained with and are prepared to be deployed to rescue operations (both land and water) via helicopter when needed.

Equipment Resources

The Washoe County Sheriff’s department currently has three helicopters (a HH-60, a Bell 58 and a Bell 47) available to assist in search and rescue operations.