The essential personality traits for a search and rescue volunteer include determination, problem solving, grit and perhaps most important is a sense of humor. There is plenty to laugh about in our trade from harmless training mishaps (yours truly has spent quite a bit of time strapped into a litter and pressed into a cliff wall) to having to go rescue someone dressed as a hot dog, as SARA did this year.
Humor is also a strong coping mechanism for us when we go through the more brutal affairs of SAR. There are some days with the worst weather, others with the worst mission circumstances. Being able to find the right one-liner or other bright side to a bad situation can at times be critical for ourselves and our teammates, but certainly isn’t a replacement for proper psychological first aid and peer support. Always keep a good eye on your teammates and identify what they need, whether it’s a quick humor trip or a deeper conversation about what they’re going through. This kind of support is critical to maintaining mission readiness and ensuring that your team members want to continue being a part of your group.
Cheers,
Rick Lindfors Meridian Editor in Chief
Northstar Search and Rescue
