Essex Search and Rescue

Want to meet EssexSAR?

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:10:00 +0100

EssexSAR often attends events across the county, and also undertakes four or five street collections a year. These are an ideal opportunity to meet the team, talk to our members, and find out the answers to all the questions you have, but were afraid to ask!

Check back here regularly for news of 2012's events.

Links

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:20:00 +0100

Here are just a few links to Search & Rescue organisations across the UK and further afield:

Association of Lowland Search And Rescue www.alsar.org.uk

ALSAR teams:

Berkshire (SEBEV) - www.sebev.co.uk
Buckinghamshire - www.bsar.org.uk
Cambridgeshire - www.camsar.org
Cheshire - www.cheshire-sarteam.org
Dorset - www.dorsar.org.uk
Hampshire - www.hantsar.org
Herts & Beds - www.midshires.org.uk
Kent - www.ksar.co.uk
Norfolk - www.norlsar.org.uk
Staffordshire - www.staffssearchandrescue.org
Suffolk - www.sulsar.org.uk
Surrey - www.sursar.org.uk
Sussex - www.sussar.org
Wiltshire - www.wilsar.org.uk

Mountain & Cave Rescue organisations:

Mountain Rescue Council www.mountain.rescue.org.uk
Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland www.mrc-scotland.org.uk
British Cave Rescue Council www.caverescue.org.uk

Search Dog teams:

Lowland Search Dogs www.lsdogs.org.uk
Cantech - www.cantech.org.uk
LSDogs-Southern - www.lsdsouthern.org.uk
LSDogs-Sussex - www.lsdogs-sussex.org.uk
Berkshire - www.k9-sar.com
Chilterns - www.chiltern-search-dogs.org.uk
Dorset - www.dorsetsearchdogs.org.uk
Suffolk - www.search-dogs-suffolk.org.uk
Search & Rescue Dogs Association www.nsarda.org.uk
SARDA England - www.sardaengland.org.uk

Other UK SAR organisations:

UKSAR Operators Group - www.dft.gov.uk/transportforyou/uksar
UK Lowland SAR Institute - www.uklsi.org.uk
Emergency Response International UK - www.emergencyresponse.co.uk
Centre for Search Research - www.searchresearch.org.uk

International:

International SAR Alliance - www.isaralliance.com
Emergency Response International - www.eri-online.com
National SAR Association [USA] - www.nasar.org
National SAR Secretariat [Canada] - www.nss.gc.ca

Support us

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:40:00 +0100

Essex Search & Rescue is a charitable organisation, and as such receives no government or public funding whatsoever. It is funded entirely by donations from members of the public, local businesses, and charitable foundations.

It costs in the region of £10,000 per year to run the team excluding any major capital expenditure on new or replacement equipment. At present, fundraising is targetted towards building funds to replace our current control vehicle in two to three years time, which will cost in the region of £30,000 to purchase and fit out.

If you'd like to help the work of the team, you can make an online donation or set up a regular gift via MyDonate. Alternatively, if you can help us by undertaking a sponsored event, whether that's anything from a marathon to sitting in a bath of cold baked beans, you can set up a sponsorship page here and all donations, plus any Gift Aid, will come directly to us!

If you would like to assist the team in their work in any other way, or are an organisation able to offer sponsorship, please get in touch using the form on the contact us/join us page.

(Photo courtesy of EastNews)

Essex Search & Rescue would like to acknowledge the very generous support, both financial and also in terms of practical assistance, received from a number of locally based organisations, including:

Essex Police - www.essex.police.uk
Barclays Bank plc - www.barclays.co.uk
Norwich & Peterborough Building Society - www.nandp.co.uk
e2v Technologies, Chelmsford - www.e2v.com
The Roundbush Inn, Purleigh
Selex Galileo, Basildon - www.selex-sas.com
Brentwood a Becket Rotary Club - www.brentwood-a-becket.org.uk
Chelmsford Borough Council - www.chelmsford.gov.uk
Maldon District Council - www.maldon.gov.uk
Essex County Council - www.essex.gov.uk
Essex Community Foundation - www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk
Royal Bank of Scotland Give as You Earn Charity Fund
Mantsbrite Marine Electronics, Maldon - www.mantsbrite.com

Equipment

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0100

People require our assistance in all types of terrain, seasons, weather conditions and times of the day. It is therefore imperative that each member has the proper clothing, equipment, and food to enable them to contribute positively to search activities. Effectiveness requires that the searcher remains safe and comfortable at all times. Proper equipment ensures that the team can concentrate on finding the missing person or object, rather than taking care of improperly equipped members.

EssexSAR provides a Hi-Vis Jacket, helmet, kit bag, survival blanket, and I.D. card to its operational members. We also provide items such as radios, first aid equipment, GPS units, and other specialist search and rescue equipment that may be required. At this point in time, however, other personal equipment - such as a waterproof jacket and walking boots - has to be provided by members themselves. We can offer advice on items to purchase, and there is no need for new members to have everything from day one!

What's involved in a search?

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:50:00 +0100

A missing person search normally commences when a member of the public contacts the Police. Voluntary search & rescue teams, such as EssexSAR, will become involved if asked by the Police. Team members are then called out via text message and head out to an agreed rendezvous point.

On arrival at the rendezvous point, a command post is set up, usually based around EssexSAR's control vehicle. This is staffed by a search management team, comprising of a search manager/controller, and a communications co-ordinator responsible for radio communication. Working with the Police, the EssexSAR search management team pieces together all the information from family, friends and others, and from that decide how and where to search.

The search can then begin. Searchers are divided up into teams (groups of around 3-6 searchers). A team leader is assigned to each team. He/she attends a briefing with the search manager to determine the area their team will be covering, and to receive important information such as a description of the missing person, where they were last seen, the direction they were heading, important behavioural information about them and any relevant information including the nature of the terrain, any possible hazards and forthcoming weather.

The teams are then dispatched to their search areas. Once in their designated area, the team leader will determine the best type of search pattern that will maximise the prospects of finding the missing person as quickly as possible. The team then begins their search and looks for the missing person and clues that will lead them to them. If the missing person is found, then, working with the full time emergency services, the team will ensure they are removed to a safe place as quickly as possible.

Ideally a search team will operate for a period of 4-5 hours after which a replacement team will take over to allow the first team to return to base for a rest and to get some refreshments. Searching can be hard work, often at night and sometimes in unfavourable weather conditions

Training

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:40:00 +0100

Training is essential - whilst we are a voluntary organisation, operational standards have to be to the highest professional levels possible, as potentially lives can be our hands. Whilst those people with relevant skills are of course very welcome to join the team, no particular qualifications or experience are necessary as all training is given. All team members are required to complete a two day basic search techniques course before they can go operational, and thereafter maintain a high level of preparedness throughout their membership. They will receive training in search techniques, search theory, first aid, navigation, health and safety, knowledge of search subject behaviour, incident assessment, scenes of crime problems and personal preparedness.

More experienced members may undergo further training to qualify as a Team Leader and possibly a Search Controller or Search Manager.

Training sessions and exercises are held twice a month on a fortnightly cycle, the first session of the month normally at our base in Maldon on a Wednesday evening, and the second normally during the day on a Sunday. This can be anywhere in the county, although typical locations could be Galleywood Common, Hylands Park, or Hatfield Forest.

Callouts

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:50:00 +0100

CALLOUTS - 2012
CALLOUTS - 2011
CALLOUTS - 2010
CALLOUTS - 2009
CALLOUTS - 2008
CALLOUTS - 2007
CALLOUTS - 2006
CALLOUTS - 2005
CALLOUTS - 2004
CALLOUTS - 2003
CALLOUTS - 2002

CALLOUTS - 2012
tr>

21 April	Canvey Island	Missing 22 year old female	04:43 - 11:00 hrs
13 April	Kelvedon Hatch	Missing 4 year old child - team stood down before deployment	22:00 - 22:30
13 April	Southend	Missing person	17:00 - 22:00 hrs
12 April	Harlow	Missing 56 year old male	08:42 - 17:00
8 April	Earls Colne (continuation)	Missing person - team stood down before deployment	07:14 - 08:11 hrs
7 April	Earls Colne	Missing person	22:28 - 02:00
29 March	Basildon	Missing male	20:54 hrs - 00:30 hrs
10 March	Rayleigh (continuation)	Missing 46 year old female, team stood down before deployment	09:00 - 09:05
9 March	Rayleigh	Missing 46 year old female	19:25 hrs - 00:30 hrs
26 February	Epping Forest (continuation)	Missing 35 year old female	09:30 - 17:00
25 February	Epping Forest	Missing 35 year old female	16:35 hrs - 22:00 hrs
11 February	Braintree	Missing person, team stood down en route	11:32 - 12:26
28 January	Colchester	Missing female	18:59 hrs - 22:00 hrs
25 January	West Hanningfield	Missing male	23:35 - 04:00
19 January	Harlow	Missing male, team stood down en route	11:44 hrs - 12:16 hrs
14 January	Billericay	Missing male	12:35 - 17:30
7 January	West Mersea	Missing 94 year old male	16:44 hrs - 22:00 hrs

29 December	Saffron Walden	Missing person, team stood down en route	19:59 - 20:30
28 December	Colchester	Missing male, team stood down en route	13:42 hrs - 15.08 hrs
22 December	Cheshunt, Herts	Missing 61 year old male	09:37 hrs - 17.00 hrs
19 December	Canvey Island	Missing 12 year old female	02:12 hrs - 06.45 hrs
18 December	Great Dunmow	Missing 51 year old male (continuation)	09:00 - 11:00
17 December	Great Dunmow	Missing 51 year old male	09:00 hrs - 17.00 hrs
14 December	Eye, nr Peterborough	Missing person	Alert for 15 Dec, team stood down
1 December	Boxted, nr Colchester	Missing male	00:50 hrs - 04.00 hrs
27 November	Basildon	Missing male	15:49 hrs - 19.15 hrs
21 November	Harlow	Missing 48 year old female	18:08 hrs - 22.45 hrs
14 November	Billericay	Missing 12 year old male, team stood down before deployment	22:01 hrs - 22.57 hrs
14 November	Leigh on Sea	Missing person, team stood down en route	16:43 hrs - 17.01 hrs
11 November	Borehamwood	Missing male	12:15 hrs - 17.00 hrs
30 October	Colchester	Missing 41 year old female, team stood down en route	22:50 hrs - 23.04 hrs
30 October	Purleigh	Missing male	17:08 hrs - 18.25 hrs
30 October	Thornwood Common	Missing female, team stood down en route	05:47 hrs - 06.16 hrs
27 October	Leigh on Sea	Missing male, team stood down en route	14:47 hrs - 14.51 hrs
26 October	Laindon	Missing 17 year old male	21:40 hrs - 02.30 hrs
26 October	Brentwood	Missing male, team stood down en route	12:52 hrs - 13.48 hrs
19 October	Chelmsford	Missing person, team stood down en route	11:21 hrs - 11.35 hrs
8 October	Chelmsford	Missing 72 year old male	20:46 hrs - 23.00 hrs
4 October	Stanway	Missing 80 year old female, team stood down en route	12:01 hrs - 12.17 hrs
21 September	Felixstowe, Suffolk	Missing 80 year old female, team stood down en route	01:03 hrs - 01.48 hrs
18 September	Ipswich, Suffolk	Missing male (continued)	09:00 hrs - 17.00 hrs
4 September	Ipswich, Suffolk	Missing male	11:41 hrs - 15.30 hrs
4 September	Holme Fen, Cambs	Missing 29 year old female (continued)	09:00 hrs - 17.00 hrs
4 September	Elmstead Market	Missing male	00:47 hrs - 03.30 hrs
3 September	Holme Fen, Cambs	Missing 29 year old female	09:00 hrs - 18.00 hrs
3 September	Chelmsford	Missing 24 year old female (continued)	08:30 hrs - 11.00 hrs
2 September	Chelmsford	Missing 24 year old female	14:39 hrs - 21.30 hrs
1 September	Basildon	Missing 44 year old male	00:30 hrs - 04.30 hrs
31 August	Nazeing	Missing 46 year old female	23:05 hrs - 00.30 hrs
30 August	Maldon	Missing 30 year old male	19:48 hrs - 21.12 hrs
23 August	Eye, Cambs	Missing 29 year old female	08:00 hrs - 16.00 hrs
21 August	Hatfield Peverel	Missing 30 year old female (continued)	08:00 hrs - 13.45 hrs
20 August	Hatfield Peverel	Missing 30 year old female	16:08 hrs - 21.00 hrs
20 July	Southminster	Missing 70 year old female	21:48 hrs - 03:30 hrs
7 July	Colchester	Missing 32 year old female	19:02 hrs - 22.30 hrs
1 July	Sewardstone	Missing male	17:03 hrs - 21:45 hrs
23 June	Harlow	Missing 47 year old female	18:30 hrs - 22.00 hrs
20 June	Rowhedge	Missing 33 year old male - continuation	14:00 hrs - 15:36 hrs
19 June	Rowhedge	Missing 33 year old male - continuation	09:00 hrs - 16.00 hrs
18 June	Rowhedge	Missing 33 year old male - continuation	09:00 hrs - 17:00 hrs
17 June	Rowhedge	Missing 33 year old male - continuation	14:00 hrs - 21.00 hrs
16 June	Rowhedge	Missing 33 year old male - continuation	14:00 hrs - 18:00 hrs
15 June	Colchester	Missing 33 year old male	10:00 hrs - 18.00 hrs
3 June	White Notley	Missing 47 year old female	21:56 hrs - 22:47 hrs
16 May	Basildon	Missing 51 year old female	18:05 hrs - 19.22 hrs
11 May	Braintree	Missing male	16:25 hrs - 22:45 hrs
3 May	Langdon Hills, Basildon	Missing male, team stood down en route	07:26 hrs - 07.50 hrs
29 April	Chelmsford	Missing child	15:13 hrs - 18:15 hrs
28 April	West Bergholt	Missing 83 year old male (continued)	10:00 hrs - 15.30 hrs
27 April	West Bergholt	Missing 83 year old male	20:55 hrs - 03:30 hrs
20 April	Harlow	Missing 64 year old male	00:46 hrs - 05.47 hrs
12 April	Chelmsford	Missing female	09:56 hrs - 13:35 hrs
10 April	Waltham Abbey	Missing male	11:19 hrs - 15.30 hrs
29 March	Watford, Herts	Missing 44 year old male	09:00 hrs - 16:00 hrs
18 March	Harlow	Missing female	22:52 hrs - 03.00 hrs
3 March	Shotley Gate, Suffolk	Missing 40 year old male, team stood down en route	13:16 hrs - 14:13 hrs
2 March	Fordham Heath	Missing 13 year old male	11:37 hrs - 16.14 hrs
26 February	Ipswich, Suffolk	Missing 40 year old male, team stood down en route	07:45 hrs - 08:10 hrs
15 February	Tollesbury	Missing person, team stood down en route	09:20 hrs - 09.37 hrs
12/13 February	Wisbech, Norfolk	Missing person	2 days
9 January	Braintree	Missing 82 year old female	19:30 hrs - 23:30 hrs

24 December	Thurrock	Missing male (continuation)	07:00 hrs - 13:00 hrs
17 December	Capel St Mary	Missing 57 year old female (continuation)	13:00 hrs - 13.30 hrs
16 December	Capel St Mary, Suffolk	Missing 57 year old female	22:19 hrs - 04:00 hrs
14 December	Thurrock	Missing male	12:30 hrs - 14:45 hrs
1 December	Pitsea	Missing female	09:31 hrs - 11:19 hrs
23 November	Hertford, Hertfordshire	Missing person	08:44 hrs - 16:30 hrs
30 October	Sudbury, Suffolk	Missing 77 year old male	06:41 hrs - 09:30 hrs
21 October	Lexden	Missing female	15:27 hrs - 16:52 hrs
19 October	Stanford le Hope	Missing 46 year old female	09:10 hrs - 16:06 hrs
15 October	Billericay	Missing male	20:19 hrs - 21:45 hrs
10 October	Danbury	Missing male	09:30 hrs - 13:30 hrs
25 September	Lexden	Missing female	13:09 hrs - 14:49 hrs
16 September	Billericay	Missing 22 year old male, team stood down en route	01:44 hrs - 02:10 hrs
6 September	Loughton	Missing 46 year old male	17:25 hrs - 19:03 hrs
31 August	Blythburgh, Suffolk	Missing male, team stood down en route	05:55 hrs - 06:35 hrs
20 August	Hadleigh, Suffolk	Missing 61 year old male, team stood down en route	13:55 hrs - 14:33 hrs
10 August	Walton	Missing 16 year old male	18:55 hrs - 20:27 hrs
1 August	Stanford Le Hope	Missing male	13:42 hrs - 16:00 hrs
31 July	Harlow	Missing 90 year old male, team stood down en route	19:29 hrs - 20:56 hrs
31 July	Basildon	Missing 18 year old female	11:08 hrs - 18:00 hrs
26 July	Highwoods, Colchester	Missing 41 year old male	16:59 hrs - 18:19 hrs
24 July	Chelmsford	Missing 79 year old female	18:43 hrs - 20:00 hrs
29 June	Kelvedon Hatch	Missing 42 year old male	11:57 hrs - 15:15 hrs
8 June	Nedging, Suffolk	Missing male	21:34 hrs - 02:00 hrs
5 June	Pitsea	Missing 80 year old male, team stood down en route	18:49 hrs - 19:39 hrs
4 June	Chelmsford	Missing 12 year old male	04:43 hrs - 08:43 hrs
2 June	Chelmsford	Missing female	19:19 hrs - 21:51 hrs
29 May	Harlow - continuation	Missing 71 year old male	13:30 hrs - 18.30 hrs
28 May	Harlow - continuation	Missing 71 year old male	17:00 hrs - 21.30 hrs
27 May	Harlow	Missing 71 year old male	17:30 hrs - 21.45 hrs
23 May	Billericay	Missing 39 year old male	12:42 hrs - 15.41 hrs
21 May	Harlow	Missing 82 year old male, team stood down en route	18:31 hrs - 18.51 hrs
21 May	Gt Dunmow	Possible missing person, team stood down en route	14:08 hrs - 14.14 hrs
21 May	Holland on Sea	Missing female, team stood down en route	13:33 hrs - 14.08 hrs
13 May	Chartham, Kent	Missing female	Stand by for 15th May
25 March	Maldon	Missing female,team stood down en route	22:46 hrs - 23.05 hrs
16 March	Warley	Missing 88 year old female	00:45 hrs - 02.45 hrs
27 February	Colchester	Missing 29 year old male	10:42 hrs - 13.19 hrs
22 February	Shenfield	Missing 84 year old male, team stood down en route	19:40 hrs - 20.10 hrs
17 January	Colchester	Missing 72 year old male	08:30 hrs - 17.30 hrs

26 December	Continuation of Chelmsford search	Missing 22 year old male	09:00 hrs - 12.00 hrs
23 December	Hainault Forest	Possible missing male	12:00 hrs - 15.00 hrs
20 December	Chelmsford	Missing male	09.30 hrs - 18.45 hrs
15 November	West Horndon	Missing male, team stood down en route	12:21 hrs - 12.41 hrs
16 September	Hullbridge	Missing 21 year old male, team stood down en route	15:42 hrs - 16.18 hrs
10 September	High Easter	Missing 81 year old female	15:44 hrs - 20.31 hrs
8 September	Highwoods, Colchester	Missing 58 year old male	19:00 hrs - 00.00 hrs
5 September	Pitsea	Missing 42 year old male	21:30 hrs - 03.00 hrs
17 August	Clacton	Missing 10 year old female	09:37 hrs - 17.15 hrs
28 July	Jaywick	Missing 11 year old female, team stood down en route	01:34 hrs - 01.48 hrs
17 July	Bishops Stortford	Call to assist MidShires Search & Rescue	10:00 hrs
28 June	St Neots	Call to assist Cambridgeshire Search & Rescue	06:00 hrs
27 June	Sudbury	Call to assist Suffolk Search & Rescue	17:00 hrs
25 June	Hullbridge	Missing 76 year old female	20:20 hrs - 00.30 hrs
21 June	Loughton	Missing 64 year old male	15:30 hrs - 20.45 hrs
20 June	Waltham Abbey	Missing 75 year old male	13:00 hrs - 22.45 hrs
2 June	Colchester, Highwoods	Missing male	18:00 hrs - 20.45 hrs
1 June	Roydon	Missing 36 year old male	17:00 hrs - 20.45 hrs
29-31 May	Grays	Missing 45 year old male	16:30 hrs 29th May - 16.00 hrs 31st May
17 May	Harwich	Missing 40 year old female - team stood down before deployment	09:37 hrs - 11.28 hrs.
26 February	Rochford	Missing 53 year old male.	18:00 hrs.
24 February	Earl Soham, Suffolk	*Call to assist Suffolk SAR for female despondent.*	07:30hrs.
23 February	Rayleigh	Standby - team stood down before deployment	11:50 hrs
3 February	Leigh on Sea	*Missing 83 year old male.*	21:55hrs - 23:34hrs.

6 October	Woodbridge, Suffolk	*Called to assist SuLSAR - Missing male - Stand down before deployment.*	11:00hrs - 12:53hrs.
4 October	Bradwell Village, Nr Braintree	Elderly Male - 4th Search.	09:00hrs - 16:00hrs.
3 October	Bradwell Village, Nr Braintree	*Elderly Male - 3rd Search.*	11:05hrs - 18:30hrs.
2 October	Bramfield, Hertfordshire	Called to assist Mid Shires SAR - Young female despondent.	09:00hrs - 18:00hrs.
29 September	Bradwell Village, Nr Braintree	*Elderly Male - 2nd Search.*	10:18hrs - 18:00hrs.
28 September	Bradwell Village, Nr Braintree	Elderly Male.	21:27hrs - 03:15hrs.
26 September	Mersea Island	*Elderly Male, yachtsman - Stand down before deployment.*	12:43hrs - 14:04hrs.
21 September	Wickford	Young Male, despondent.	00:30hrs - 07:30hrs - 07:30hrs - 10:30hrs.
16 September	Eye, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire	*Called to assist CAMSAR - Young female - Stand down before deployment.*	10:09hrs - 13:00hrs.
29 August	Chelmsford	Male dementia sufferer.	18:45hrs - 21:30hrs.
26 August	Hatfield Peveral	*Female missing after road traffic accident.*	01:20hrs - 07:30hrs.
22 August	Ware, Hertfordshire	Called to assist Mid Shires SAR - Young male.	05:20hrs - 09:30hrs.
29 July	Shotley, Suffolk	*Called to assist SuLSAR - Elderly male.*	00:34hrs - 17:00hrs.
22 July	Shotley, Suffolk	Called to assist SuLSAR - Elderly male - team Stand down en route.	00:37hrs - 01:29hrs.
16 July	Colchester	*Female - team Stand down before deployment.*	22:00hrs - 23:00hrs.
16 July	Colchester	Young Male despondent - team Stand down before deployment.	21:10hrs - 22:00hrs.
2 July	Grays	Young Male.	17:30hrs - 20:00hrs.
25 June	Braintree	Details to follow.
11 June	Wallasea Island	Middle aged Female despondent.	04:50hrs - 07:20hrs.
25 May	Braintree	Young Male despondent.	21:13hrs - 23:59hrs.
9 May	Margate, Kent	*Called to assist KentSAR - team Stand down before deployed.*	17:27hrs - 21:27hrs.
7 May	Colchester	Young Female - team Stand down en route.	23:00hrs.
22 April	Colchester	Middle aged Female despondent Assisted by SuLSAR & CamSAR.	09:51hrs - 14:17hrs.
14 April	Harlow	Middle aged Male - team Stand down en route.	19:45hrs.
31 March	Harlow	*Female child - team Stand down en route.*	21:12hrs - 21:35hrs.
12 January	Aveley	Female despondent.	07:32hrs - 10:32hrs.
2 January	Waltham Abbey	Young female.	02:09hrs - 06:40hrs.

12 December	Shoeburyness	Elderly male 2nd Search.	12:30hrs - 16:30hrs.
11 December	Shoeburyness	Elderly male.	23:30hrs - 02:30hrs.
9 December	Colchester	Elderly female.	09:30hrs - 17:00hrs.
27 November	Colchester	Young female.	14:38hrs - 16:51hrs.
16 November	Holland-on-Sea	Elderly male.	23:37hrs - 02:30hrs.
28 October	East Tilbury	Young female.	16:01hrs - 19:01hrs.
26 October	Bluewater, Kent	Called to assist KentSAR Elderly male despondent.	09:00hrs - 16:00hrs
13 September	Galleywood	Middle aged male despondent.	04:30hrs - 08:45hrs.
2 September	Colchester	Elderly male 2nd Search Assisted by SuLSAR & CamSAR.	12:00hrs - 20:00hrs.
01 September	Colchester	Elderly male.	23:45hrs - 12:00hrs.
15 August	Theydon Bois	Elderly female.	20:15hrs - 00:45hrs.
4 August	Manningtree	Young female 3rd Search Assisted by SuLSAR.	09:30hrs - 15:00hrs.
3 August	Manningtree	Young female 2nd Search.	14:00hrs -18:00hrs / 18:00hrs - 21:30hrs.
29 July	Manningtree	Young female.	17:02hrs - 22:00hrs.
26 July	Rochford	Elderly male.	00:24hrs - 02:45hrs.
17 July	Southend-on-Sea	Young male despondent - team Stand down en route.	18:02hrs - 18:15hrs.
19 June	Clacton	Elderly female Assisted by SulSAR & CamSAR.	01:15hrs - 05:30hrs.
15 June	Writtle, Nr Chelmsford	Young male Assisted by SuLSAR.	19:30-23:30.
11 June	Rivenhall	*Young male despondent - team Stand down en route.*	01:00hrs.
31 May	Rayleigh	Elderly female.	03:00hrs - 04:30hrs.
6 May	Frating	Female Stand down team en route.	03:30hrs.
5 May	Colchester	Stand down before main team called.	12:00hrs.
5 May	Colchester	*Young male despondent - Stand down before main team called.*	11:00hrs.
5 May	Rayleigh	Elderly female.	09:00hrs.
28 April	Chadwell St Mary	Male Stand down team en route.	01:00hrs.
19 April	Maldon	Young child - Stand down before main team called.	19:30hrs.
14 April	Gravesend, Kent	Called to assist KentSAR Elderly female.	09:00hrs -17:15hrs.
22 February	Steeple Bumpstead	Middle-aged male despondent - team Stand down en route.	06:31hrs - 06:44hrs.
17 February	Strood, Kent	Called to assist KentSAR Two children male & female - team Stand down en route.	16:24hrs - 17:45hrs.
14 February	Laindon	Young male despondent.	23:20hrs - 02:15hrs.
9 January	South Hanningfield	Young male.	10:00hrs - 15:00hrs.

22 December 2006	Great Notley	Young Male.	01:20hrs - 06:00hrs.
16 December 2006	Epping	*Young male despondent - team Stand down en route.*	10:23hrs - 11:45hrs.
9 December 2006	Benfleet	Young male despondent team not deployed.	09:16hrs -10:18hrs.
25 November 2006	Clacton	Middle-aged male despondent 2nd Search.	09:30hrs - 14:30hrs.
24 November 2006	Clacton / Frinton	Middle-aged male despondent.	18:08hrs - 00:00hrs.
15 November 2006	Ardleigh	Elderly male.	20:42hrs - 23:11hrs.
20 October 2006	Harwich / St.Osyth	Elderly Female despondent.	14:00hrs - 18:00hrs.
11 October 2006	Rayleigh	*Male despondent - team Stand down en route.*	01:00hrs.
7 October 2006	Greenhithe, Kent	Called to assist KentSAR - Elderly male - team Stand down en route.	16:00hrs.
24 September 2006	Felsted	*Stand down before main team called.*	18:40hrs.
18 September 2006	Ipswich, Suffolk	Called to assist SuLSAR - Middle-aged Male.	09:47hrs.
16 September 2006	Brightlingsea	Young male despondent 2nd Search.	09:30hrs - 14:30hrs.
15 September 2006	Brightlingsea	Young male despondent.	18:30hrs - 22:30hrs.
14 September 2006	Ipswich, Suffolk	*Called to assist SuLSAR Elderly male - team Stand down en route.*	13:49hrs - 13:59hrs.
5 September 2006	Braintree	Elderly male - team Stand down en route.	20:22hrs - 20:37hrs.
3 July 2006	Ongar	*Team placed on stand by young male.*	00:08hrs.
22 June 2006	Epping Forest	Elderly diabetic female - team Stand down en route.	18:27hrs - 19:24hrs.
12 June 2006	Witham	Three young males.	18:45hrs - 22:30hrs.
3 June 2006	Harlow	Young male - team Stand down en route.	10:05hrs - 10:38hrs.
21 May 2006	Leaden Roding	Young male despondent.	23:30hrs - 02:30hrs.
7 May 2006	Saffron Walden	Middle-aged female despondent.	13:57hrs - 18:30hrs.
3 April 2006	Ingatestone	*Team placed on stand by.*	19:38hrs.
3 April 2006	Brentwood	Elderly male.	07:51hrs - 12:00hrs.
10 March 2006	Harlow	Middle-aged female despondent.	06:26hrs - 09:30hrs.
25 February 2006	Basildon	Despondent female - team Stand down en route.	22:25hrs - 23:41hrs.
21 February 2006	Chigwell	*Elderly male team Stand down en route.*	19:24hrs - 20:57hrs.
9 February 2006	Brentwood	Middle-aged female despondent.	23:13hrs - 03:13hrs.
6 February 2006	Southend-on-Sea	Elderly male continuation of search.	11:41hrs - 17:45hrs.
4 February 2006	Witham	Young female despondent team Stand down en route.	19:45hrs - 19:52hrs.
2 February 2006	Southend-on-Sea	Elderly male.	20:00hrs.
15 January 2006	Chelmsford	Continuation of search for young male.
13 January 2006	Chelmsford	Young male.	09:00hrs - 14:00hrs.

16 December 2005	Meopham, Kent	Called to assist KentSAR - Young female despondent.	22:00hrs - 02:00hrs.
9 December 2005	Canvey Island	Young female team Stand down en route.	02:17hrs - 02:40hrs.
1 December 2005	Hylands Park, Chelmsford	Despondent team Stand down en route.	14:57hrs - 15:16hrs.
17 November 2005	Basildon	Young female.	03:00hrs - 08:15hrs.
6 October 2005	Rayleigh	Young female team Stand down en route.	17:00hrs - 18:30hrs.
16 September 2005	Tilbury	Female child Stand down before main team called.	00:30hrs - 01:30hrs.
15 September 2005	Wickford	Young female despondent.	20:30-21:30.
15 September 2005	Runwell Hospital, Wickford	Male despondent Search called off see above.	17:00hrs - 20:00hrs.
9 September 2005	Vange, Basildon	Elderly female.	01:23hrs - 06:00hrs.
05 September 2005	Chelmsford	Male despondent.	03:30hrs - 09:40hrs.
2 September 2005	Basildon	*Male despondent Stand down team en route.*	09:00hrs.
28 August 2005	Wivenhoe	Male despondent Stand down before main team called	20:01hrs.
28 August 2005	Colchester	*Elderly male Stand down before main team called.*	19:36hrs.
31 July 2005	Saffron Walden	Male despondent - team Stand down en route.	18:59hrs - 19:36hrs.
27 July 2005	Loughton	Young female.	05:30hrs.
24 July 2005	Clacton	Young female team Stand down en route.	21:40hrs - 23:11hrs.
16 July 2005	Braintree	Elderly male.	08:00hrs - 11:30hrs.
15 July 2005	Herne Bay, Kent	Called to assist KentSAR Female despondent team Stand down en route.	18:00hrs.
26 June 2005	Ingrave	Young male.	21:58hrs - 05:00hrs.
21 June 2005	Brentwood	Elderly female despondent.	04:50hrs - 07:00hrs.
18 June 2005	Narborough, Norfolk	Called to assist NorSAR Young male.	08:30hrs.
30 May 2005	Southend-on-Sea	Middle-aged female team Stand down en route.	19:45hrs.
27 May 2005	Stebbing Green	Elderly Male 4th Search.	18:30hrs - 02:00hrs.
26 May 2005	Stebbing Green	Elderly Male 3rd Search.	18:45hrs - 00:00hrs.
25 May 2005	Stebbing Green	Elderly male 2nd Searc.h	18:30hrs - 03:30hrs.
23 May 2005	Braintree	Elderly male, relocated to Stebbing Green see above.	20:00hrs - 03:30hrs.
14 May 2005	Epping Upland	Middle-aged male despondent.	14:00hrs - 19:00hrs.
20 April 2005	Hertford, Hertfordshire	Called to assist Mid Shires SAR Elderly male	07:53hrs - 13:00hrs.
8 April 2005	Laindon	Young female despondent.
21 March 2005	Loughton	Two persons	21:00hrs - 05:00hrs.
27 February 2005	Epping Forest	Young female Stand down team en route	17:00hrs - 18:00hrs.
22 February 2005	Saffron Walden	Young female	22:00hrs - 01:30hrs.
20 February 2005	Great Yeldham	Young female.
9 February 2005	Canvey Island	Elderly male 2nd search	09:30hrs - 18:00 / 18:00hrs - 00:00hrs.
8 February 2005	Canvey Island	Elderly male Alzheimers sufferer	13:30hrs - 23:00hrs.
30 January 2005	Witham	Three children, assisted by SuLSAR	12:00hrs - 00:30hrs.
26 January 2005	Epping Green	Young male	03:15hrs - 11:00hrs.
24 January 2005	Braintree	Missing child Stand down team en route	22:55hrs - 23:20hrs.
18 January 2005	Chigwell	*Elderly male Stand down before main team called*	21:00hrs.
17 January 2005	Harlow	Missing child Stand down before main team called	20:00hrs.
15 January 2005	Basildon	Middle-aged male Stand down team en route /b>	00:06hrs - 00:35hrs.
14 January 2005	Wivenhoe	Elderly male	10:45hrs - 14:00hrs.
14 January 2005	Clacton	Elderly female Alzheimers sufferer	04:30hrs - 10:45hrs.
11 January 2005	Broomfield	Elderly male Alzheimers sufferer	02:00hrs - 00:30hrs.
9 January 2005	Tolleshunt Knights	Young male	06:00hrs - 17:30hrs.

22 December 2004	Darenth, Kent	Called to assist KentSAR - Elderly female suffering from Alzheimers	19:40hrs - 23:40hrs.
9 December 2004	Southend-on-Sea	Elderly female suffering from Alzheimers	23:00hrs - 00:30hrs.
18 November 2004	Grays	Young male	03:50hrs - 09:00hrs.
9 November 2004	Hainault	Middle-aged male despondent	07:15hrs - 15:00hrs.
2 November 2004	Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire	Called to assist Mid Shires SAR - Young male despondent	08:00hrs - 15:00hrs.
15 October 2004	Chignall Smealy	Young female despondent & two children	23:00hrs - 04:00hrs.
12 October 2004	Brightlingsea	*Middle-aged female despondent Stand down before main team called*	01:00hrs.
6 October 2004	South Woodham Ferrers	Teenager Stand down before main team called	18:00hrs.
5 September 2004	Brandon, Suffolk	Called to assist SuLSAR - Elderly male 2nd Search	19:00hrs - 22:00hrs.
4 September 2004	Brandon, Suffolk	Called to assist SuLSAR - Elderly male suffering from Alzheimers	23:00hrs - 05:00hrs.
31 August 2004	Woodbridge, Suffolk	Called to assist SuLSAR - Elderly male suffering from Alzheimers	10:00hrs - 22:00hrs.
21 August 2004	Grays	Two male children	18:00hrs - 01:00hrs.
25 July 2004	Colchester	Young female	08:00hrs - 12:00hrs.
13 July 2004	Chelmsford	Young female despondent - Stand down before main team called	10:00hrs.
30 June 2004	Sandwich, Kent	Called to assist KentSAR Middle-aged female despondent	14:00hrs - 00:00hrs.
23 May 2004	Jaywick	Elderly male	14:00hrs - 21:00hrs.
8 May 2004	Wickford	Middle-aged male	01:00hrs - 21:00hrs.
30 April 2004	Basildon	Teenage female despondent	00:00hrs - 03:00hrs.
21 April 2004	Stanstead Mount Fitchet	Young female despondent	03:00hrs - 10:45hrs.
14 April 2004	Thurrock	Middle-aged male	12:00hrs - 18:00hrs.
5 March 2004	Harlow	Young male	07:00hrs - 12:30hrs.

24 November 2003	Tiptree	Male child	03:00hrs - 07:30hrs.
3 November 2003	Wickham Market, Suffolk	Called to assist SuLSAR - Elderly female suffering from Alzheimers, Stand down team en route	07:00hrs - 08:00hrs.
28 September 2003	Sheerness, Kent	Called to assist KentSAR Search in connection with a Police enquiry	09:00hrs - 16:00hrs.
21 September 2003	Sevenoaks Weald, Kent	Called to assist KentSAR - Middle-aged male despondent	09:00hrs - 12:30hrs.
18 September 2003	Great Dunmow	Middle-aged female despondent	09:00hrs - 16:00hrs.
18 August 2003	Benfleet	Young female despondent Stand down before main team called	16:30hrs.
18 August 2003	Colchester	Elderly Male	19:00hrs - 02:00hrs.
14 August 2003	Great Dunmow	Elderly Male	20:30hrs - 04:30hrs.
14 August 2003	Leigh-on-Sea	*Male child Stand down team en route*	19:15hrs - 20:30hrs.
8 August 2003	Walberswick, Suffolk	Called to assist SuLSAR - Teenage male 2nd Search	11:00hrs - 20:00hrs.
7 August 2003	Walberswick, Suffolk	Called to assist SuLSAR - Teenage male	18:00hrs - 21:00hrs.
27 July 2003	Radwinter	Elderly male suffering from Alzheimers	20:30hrs - 08:00hrs.
16 July 2003	Gosfield	Middle-aged male despondent	20:30hrs - 03:00hrs.
17 May 2003	Keddington, Suffolk	Called to assist SuLSAR - Young male 2nd Search	11:00hrs - 17:30hrs.
16 May 2003	Keddington, Suffolk	Called to assist SuLSAR - Young male	18:30hrs - 22:00hrs.
28 April 2003	Harwich	Teenage male Stand down before main team called	09:00hrs.
19 April 2003	Bicknor, Kent	Called to assist KentSAR - Middle-aged male despondent	10:00hrs - 13:30hrs.
5 April 2003	Halstead	Young female despondent	13:00hrs - 19:00hrs.
18 March 2003	Bury St.Edmunds, Suffolk	*Called to assist SuLSAR - Young female despondent Stand down team en route*	03:00hrs - 10:45hrs.
10 March 2003	Clacton	Middle-aged female despondent	23:00hrs - 06:00hrs.
5 March 2003	Ipswich, Suffolk	Called to assist SuLSAR - Young male Stand down team en route	00:30hrs - 01:00hrs.
5 Mar 2003	Harlston, Norfolk	Called to assist SuLSAR Middle-aged male despondent	23:00hrs - 01:00hrs.
1 March 2003	Billingshurst, Sussex	*ALSAR Alert to all lowland SAR teams to assist Sussex with a search for a toddler. Stand down team en route*	17:00hrs.
27 February 2003	Capel St.Mary, Suffolk	Called to assist SuLSAR Middle-aged female	13:00hrs - 15:00hrs.
10 February 2003	Bury St.Edmunds, Suffolk	Called to assist SuLSAR - Elderly male suffering from Alzheimers, 2nd Search	09:00hrs - 12:00hrs.
8 February 2003	Bury St.Edmunds, Suffolk	Called to assist SuLSAR - Elderly male suffering from Alzheimers	23:45hrs - 07:00hrs.
5 February 2003	Sudbury, Suffolk	Called to assist SuLSAR - Young male	03:00hrs - 05:00hrs.
6 January 2003	Horringer, Suffolk	Called to assist SuLSAR - Elderly male Stand down before main team called	22:00hrs.

6 December 2002	Stowmarket, Suffolk	Called to assist SuLSAR - Female	19:00hrs.
29 November 2002	Bluewater Shopping Centre, Kent	Called to assist Kent Search & Rescue (KentSAR) - Elderly Female Alzheimer sufferer	00:00hrs - 04:00hrs

Welcome to Essex Search & Rescue

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:30:00 +0100

An Alzheimer's sufferer wanders away from home, a hiker is overdue, a child does not return home when expected... Search and rescue is a life-saving vocation, and the ability to save a life is often dependent upon how quickly the person can be found and accessed. If the missing person is one of your loved ones, you will expect well-equipped, well-trained search and rescue professionals to bring your loved one home safely to you.

If you think that search & rescue is confined to the sea or mountainous areas, then you are mistaken. Every year hundreds of people are reported missing in Essex, as they are in all counties throughout the UK. In the majority of cases they turn up safe and well - but sometimes they dont. That's when Essex Search & Rescue go into action. Essex Search & Rescue responds at any time, day or night, to calls from Essex Police (and occasionally neighbouring forces) to assist in the search for vulnerable missing persons. In each case a fast response is vital.

FAQ

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:00:00 +0100

Why does Essex need a Search & Rescue team?
Who does EssexSAR work for and can anyone contact them to report a missing person?
Why don't the Police search for missing persons?
Does EssexSAR receive money from the Government for its activities?
Is Lowland SAR the same as mountain rescue?
Do members of EssexSAR get paid for searching?
Do the Police contact members of EssexSAR if there is a callout?
Who can join EssexSAR?
Does specialist clothing costs a fortune to purchase?
Where is EssexSAR based?
I work full time so what is the point of joining if I am not available?
Do I have to attend all training sessions and callouts?
I dont think that I am fit enough to go scrambling through the undergrowth, can I still help?
How far can I progress in the organisation?
What if I move elsewhere?
I am frightened of the dark and dont like the idea of being on my own!
Is Search & Rescue a male dominated club for SAS types?
How do I find out more about joining?

Why does Essex need a Search & Rescue team?

Every year in Essex up to 2,000 people are reported as missing, a small proportion of these are classed as Vulnerable missing people. They can be just as much at risk in lowland areas as in upland parts of the UK whatever the weather.

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Who does EssexSAR work for and can anyone contact them to report a missing person?

EssexSAR provides support to the Police and other UK based lowland Search & Rescue teams when they are searching for vulnerable missing persons. Members of the public should always contact the Police in the first instance regarding a missing person. The Police have overall responsibility for missing person searches and the team only responds to requests for assistance from the Police.

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Why dont the Police search for missing persons?

The Police always retain overall responsibility of searching for missing persons nationally and locally. Voluntary search teams are only called to assist if the Police believe they are an appropriate resource to supplement their own trained officers and will increase the likelihood of detection of a missing person.

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Does EssexSAR receive money from the Government for its activities?

No, the team is funded entirely by charitable means.

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Is Lowland SAR the same as mountain rescue?

No, whilst lowland teams are trained in the same basic search techniques the skills required are slightly different in order to suit the terrain.

Mountain rescue teams affiliate to the Mountain Rescue Council [or the Mountain Rescue Committee for Scotland] whilst the lowland teams affiliate to the Association of Lowland Search & Rescue [ALSAR]. All three organisations are recognised by the UK Government and have close links with each other.

Lowland SAR managers are trained to MRC standards by MRC trainers.

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Do members of EssexSAR get paid for searching?

Members of the team do not receive any payment for searching and do so purely on a voluntary basis.

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Do the Police contact members of EssexSAR if there is a callout?

The Police have a central contact for the team and members are called out by the search controller by means of fastSMS text via mobile phones or via a cascade calling system.

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Who can join EssexSAR?

EssexSAR is open to all - operational searchers must be aged between 18 and 70 due to insurance restrictions, non-operational members can be any age. Operational members also have to pass a Police background check, and need a moderate degree of fitness - please see below.

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Does specialist clothing cost a fortune to purchase?

EssexSAR provides basic safety equipment like a helmet and reflective tabard, members are expected to supply waterproof clothing and sensible footwear but this does not need to cost a great deal.

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Where is EssexSAR based?

The team has a base in Maldon but training is undertaken at various locations throughout the county which represent areas that are likely to require searching in the event of a callout. Team members live in all parts of Essex and in neighbouring counties.

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I work full-time so what is the point of joining if I am not available?

We understand that team members have other commitments and are not always available for searches. The team tries to recruit members from all walks of life including students, retired people and those still at work. Retired and self-employed members are often available during the day and those with full-time jobs are usually available in the evenings and at weekends. The greater the spread of availability amongst team members the better we can function

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Do I have to attend all training sessions and callouts?

To remain current as searchers members are expected to attend a minimum amount of training throughout the year - generally 50-60% of available sessions. These sessions take place on one Sunday per month and every other Wednesday evening. It is not necessary to attend every session.

Members are not expected to be available for every callout but after attending one you may wish to be involved with every one!!

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I dont think that I am fit enough to go scrambling through the undergrowth, can I still help?

If you are considering joining the team you should be honest with yourself and consider whether you are fit enough to be an operational searcher. You do not need to be super fit to get involved - can you walk 5 miles in 2 hours? You should also consider that team members carry sufficient equipment to stay in the field for up to 6 hours. If you are concerned and would like advice please ask.

If you think searching is not for you but would still like to help we offer non-operational membership as we always need help with fundraising, maintenance of equipment and administration.

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How far can I progress in the organisation?

The highest attainable level is Search Manager - this is a national qualification and can be obtained from the Mountain Rescue Council. Search management is a specialist role and can be very demanding.

During non operational times there is no hierarchy within the team and everyone is treated equally.

Prospective search managers will be expected to rise through the ranks and have gained experience in the roles of team leader and search controller on the way.

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What if I move elsewhere?

You could remain as a member of EssexSAR or you could join one of our sister SAR teams.

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I am frightened of the dark and dont like the idea of being on my own!

During a search you will always operate as part of a team. In addition to searching for the missing person team members keep a lookout for each other. You will never be asked to search on your own.

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Is Search & Rescue a male dominated club for SAS types?

The team is made up of all types and ages. We have both male and female members and all are treated equally.

Some people want to feel that they are giving something back to society, others have elderly relatives or young children and like to think that people will help if something goes wrong.

You are likely to meet all types of people from those with interests in walking to those who have been in the services and are still keen to be involved with helping others.

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How do I find out more about joining?

Please fill in the form on the contact us/join us page and we will contact you. We normally suggest coming along to several of our training sessions to meet the team, find out in more detail what it is we do and how we do it, and ask any questions you may have. If you like what you see, we will explain what happens next!

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