1.1 This guide establishes the minimum training requirements, including general and field knowledge, skills, and abilities, for personnel who lead land search and rescue teams in the field.

1.2 Land Search and Rescue Team Leaders direct search and rescue teams on the surface of the land only, including urban or disaster areas that may be isolated or have lost supporting infrastructure.

1.3 This guide does not provide the minimum training required for directing or conducting rescues in partially or fully collapsed structures, in or on water, in confined spaces, underground (such as in caves, mines, and tunnels), or in mountainous terrain.

1.4 Personnel trained to this guide alone are qualified to conduct or lead search and rescue operations on non-technical terrain.

1.5 Personnel trained to this guide alone are not qualified to direct rope rescues. No knots, rope work, or high angle or low angle rescue skills are included in this guide.

1.6 A Land Search and Rescue Team Leader can be utilized as a team leader for land search or rescue teams, a single resource, or a support person for a canine search team.

1.7 Land Search and Rescue Team Leaders are eligible to supervise Land Search, Land Rescue, Land Search and Rescue, and Untrained teams or crews as defined in Classification F1993 for non-wilderness and wilderness operations. In addition to meeting the requirements of this guide, Search and Rescue Team Leaders taking part in the following SAR operations shall have the endorsement for that type of operation:

1.8 Further training may be required before a Land Search and Rescue Team Leader can supervise a particular team, depending on local needs, regulations, or policies of the authority having jurisdiction.

1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.10 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.