r/searchandrescue • u/Huge-Development-724 BLS GSAR/Wilderness Team. • 22d ago

Youth in Linn County are helping with vital search and rescue missions

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/08/05/think-out-loud-linn-county-search-and-rescue-outdoors-education-hiking-volunteers/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMDKxRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHmn81t0CfjGsh25dSXN-A9B92twz3fSGF9N5oc2XHSHz7z2UB0BrdsvkuiPF_aem_V1An4khOrFh-fHs1H-HnVQ
12 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

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2

u/Opposite-Fox-3469 20d ago

A few counties in Oregon utilize youth in their SAR programs. The county I participated in had a phenomenal program.

1

u/Mike22april 14d ago

Great initiative. Arguably makes me wonder how youth (15-18 years young according to the article) gets mentally/psychologically prepared for finding a missing person in a less than optimal alive conditions.

Sure the Internet and streaming/social media provide a lot of gore. And one can argue the same for any adult as well. I've seen plenty of formally trained SAR adults cry like kids (and sometimes rightfully so) when seeing, smelling and feeling the real thing compared to sim training.

But should youth be exposed to these things? I can see a great support role for youth, but not front-line.

-3

u/Useful_Resolution888 22d ago

Are these the same kids that were being screamed at by people larping as drill sergeants?