BCSARA AppThe British Columbia Search and Rescue Association (BCSARA) is providing the 2500 unpaid Search and Rescue professionals throughout BC with a new tool to help with their call outs – the BCSARA app.

The app, consisting of a number of tools related to search and rescue, will keep our members safer by providing them access to reference material, policies and procedures anywhere in the province at any time of day for both iOS and Android devices.

The app, which will be free to SAR members, features the following:

  • Versions for iOS and Android devices
  • Operates online and offline
  • Has access to a central database where all reference material, policies and procedures will be kept up to date
  • Has a note taker feature with the ability to attach photos and GPS position
  • Has fillable PDF forms for the Incident Command System (ICS) used in managing a SAR call out, and check lists to speed up operations
  • Volunteers can add their own information including copies of certifications, pacing charts, and more

BCSARA App 1Navigation features include:

  • A location coordinate converter between the four main coordinate formats used in ground search and rescue
  • GPS feature to show current position in all four coordinate formats
  • Offline maps
  • Support for multiple map location datums and conversion between these
  • An electronic compass with declination calculator

Version 2 is anticipated to be released later in May 2016 and will include:

  • GPS tracking
  • A calculator specifically for rope rescue techs
  • Centralised data backup with data transfer between devices…and more!

This is the second app BCSARA has sponsored, with the first being the successful Response Assessment and Decision Making Support (RADeMS) app developed within a New Initiatives Fund (NIF) grant from the National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS). Rolled out in March 2015, the RADeMS app is available free of charge as well.

BCSARA wishes to express their appreciation to the NSS for the New Initiatives Fund grant, and to the app developer Scott Robinson, a member and search manager with Fernie Search and Rescue, for making this project a reality. The app can be found in the Apple App Store, or in the Google Play (Android) Store, and can be found by searching “BCSARA App”.

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