FAQs | Search and Rescue Control

common questions

If you don’t see a specific question here, be sure to look at the above resources as well.

How Do I Activate Search & Rescue?

Any call to 911 will begin the process. Always provide the 911 dispatcher with your name, contact number, location, and the nature of your emergency. The 911 dispatcher will notify the appropriate SAR coordinator to provide assistance to you.

Is There A Charge for Search & Rescue?

The Mesa County Sheriff does not charge for search and rescue. Medical units from Fire Departments, Hospitals, or Ambulance providers may charge for medical services and transport.

Do not wait to call for assistance because you are worried about a bill. Remember, if you need Search and Rescue, it is an emergency! Call 911.

You may purchase a CORSAR card at one of over 300 vendors in the state. The CORSAR card helps defray the costs associated with Search and Rescue operations.

Should I Carry A Cell Phone While In the Backcountry?

Cell phones are a big help if there is an emergency. But remember there is not cell phone coverage available in all of Mesa County due to terrain and distance. Your Cell provider may not have service in an area where you are experiencing an emergency. Always make sure your battery is fully charged before entering the backcountry. Turn your phone off to save power until it is needed. Don’t plan your survival tactics solely on a cell phone.

Should I Carry A GPS?

Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) is a great electronic tool for establishing your location or the direction and distance to a known location (waypoint). GPS use requires practice with the instrument to understand how to use it. Because they are electronic they require batteries and they can occasionally fail. Search and Rescue teams train routinely with GPS, but they never venture into the field without a compass. We encourage that both be utilized together.

What Is A PLB?

A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is a radio transmitter that relays an emergency signal to a satellite in case of emergency activation. From the satellite, the received information is relayed to search and rescue teams. All the satellite knows is that the PLB has been activated and the approximate location from which it is sending signals. PLBs do not tell the Search and Rescue Teams what kind of emergency exists. Search teams do not know if they are responding to a lost person, a medical emergency, or an avalanche. It should be only activated in an emergency.

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