BluePrintSAR

Research & Learning: SAR Literature Searches and Lessons

Illustration of a searchlight over mountain ridges at dusk.

Search and rescue research library

Studies, reviews, guidelines, standards and books on every SAR discipline, drawn from PubMed, OpenAlex (journals, conference papers and theses) and the Journal of Search and Rescue. Every entry links to the original record. Can't find it here? Search the wider literature live, or jump straight into Google Scholar, PubMed and other databases with your search already filled in.

0papers and reports
17disciplines
0reviews and guidelines
0published since 2022

Search the wider literature

Opens each database in a new tab with the search filled in. Some (JSTOR, ProQuest) need a library login for full text.

Latest from PubMed

Checking PubMed for new search and rescue papers…

Where else to look

Wilderness & Environmental Medicine ↗Wilderness Medical Society journal: rescue medicine, hypothermia, avalanche, altitude, practice guidelines. Journal of Search and Rescue ↗Free, peer-reviewed journal from the Institute of Search and Technical Rescue (ISTR): search theory, sweep width, lost person behavior, technical rescue. ASTM Committee F32 standards ↗US consensus standards for SAR training, typing and operations (rope, swiftwater, K9, mounted, helicopter, ICS). USDA Forest Service Treesearch ↗Free Forest Service research: recreation use, visitor safety, wildfire and wilderness management. Yosemite SAR: Lessons from the Field ↗National Park Service incident write-ups from Yosemite's preventive SAR program (archive, last updated 2020). NASAR textbooks and field guides ↗National Association for Search and Rescue publications, including Fundamentals of SAR. Outside: search and rescue collection ↗Journalism and incident deep dives. Useful context, not peer-reviewed. Google Scholar ↗Broadest free search across all disciplines, with citation tracking and links to full-text PDFs.

Suggest a paper or report

How this library was built: searches of PubMed and OpenAlex for each discipline (2010–2026), screened by hand for relevance to search and rescue, with duplicates removed. Inclusion is not an endorsement, and some papers need a subscription for full text. Last updated November 6, 2026.

Learn How: short practical lessons

Search and rescue research, literature searches and short practical lessons in one place, for responders, team leaders, researchers and anyone who spends time outdoors.

New

How search and rescue is changing: technology, law and training

AI, social media, doorbell cameras, state laws and standards, drones, canine training, GPS and mapping, satellite messaging and documentation: what each means for teams and families, with sources.

Literature searches

Browse search-and-rescue research and literature records covering wilderness medicine, search behavior, canine and drone search, rescue epidemiology and more. Summaries link to source records; inclusion does not establish peer review or operational validation.

Search the research library → Submit research or a literature search

Learn How · October 28, 2026

Learn How: Talk Clearly on the Radio

Radio basics for SAR volunteers: plan the message, pause before speaking, call in the right order, use plain language and read back.

Read this week’s lesson →

Start learning

Literature searchesSearchable SAR research and literature summaries, with links to source records.Lessons learnedPractical takeaways from real searches and rescues, each linked to its source.Field toolsNavigation, knots and rope systems, radio, medical reference, risk assessment, scent and wind tools, and printable forms.Training pathwaysHow SAR certification works and where to start, discipline by discipline.Training calendarUpcoming courses, seminars and certification events.SAR by the numbersHow many teams and searches there are, with every figure linked to its source.

All Learn How lessons

Every lesson cites its sources. Spot something wrong or have a topic to suggest? Tell us. Lessons are for learning and do not replace your team’s training, protocols or medical direction.

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