SAR Test Actual Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Field COmmunications - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Cellular - COW (Cellular on Wheels)
Satellite Phones - not reliable in deep canyons, can request from state through IC
Radios -
Radio Frequencies often used - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- typically on two- way radios
State SAR frequencies - VHF (very high frequency) of 155.160, - 151.285 Megahertz and
UHF (ultra high frequencies) 460.250 - 465.250 are authorized for SAR missions in NM
Amateur radio - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- HAM provides most reliable comms from
Incident base to teams in field. people have set up repeaters on high spots throughout state.
Use requires HAM licensing.
Family radio service
General mobile radio service
Agency radios - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- FRS small inexpensive low power short range
comms on UHF
GMRS much like FRS can be operated on FRS frequencies allowing intercommunications.
range is around 5 miles in ideal conditions
Agency radios - when agencies like FS and parks service join in on SAR mission they usually
use own frequencies so be sure to understand what they are using
code - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- echo alpha - subject uninjured
echo bravo - subject minor injuries
echo charlie - subject has serious injuries
echo delta - subject deceased
radio use in difficult terrain - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- tactics:
move a few feet, shield radio from wind, get out of trees, get away from structures especially
metal buildings, try using high power, face the receiving station
, extending coverage can also be done by setting up a human repeater
Things to remember with radio use - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- match radios with team:
radios are only as strong as weakest radio
use the squelch control: in order to detect weak signals we can turn "open/up" the squelch
control all the way in order to receive weak signals.
Use longer antennas: this increases the radios frequencies
Keep radios vertical: radio signals are polarized. tilting the radio changes the angle of
polarity. if the radio is at different angle than antenna then part of the message can be lost.
Safety in Search and Rescue - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Yourself, your team and searchers
are most important
High altitude illness - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- High altitude illness takes place when the
body is not able to compensate for hypobaric hypoxia (low oxygen resulting from low
atmospheric pressure). the severity of illness is dependent on many factors: length of
exposure at high altitude, overall health of the individual, and genetic predisposition.
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- while considered to be a
mild, non-fatal form of high altitude illness, AMS can be debilitating to those experiencing it
and can progress to more serious forms.
commonly occurs in individuals who ascend to 8000' or higher from below 3500' .
ONSET of symptoms occur within a few hours after arriving at altitude. NOTE: symptoms
that occur after spending 36hrs or more at altitude are not likely the result of AMS and should
be considered to be a different origin.
AMS will commonly resolve within 1-2 days at high-altitude as the body acclimatizes.
AMS Symptoms - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- AMS should be considered in anyone at high-
altitude experiencing a headache AND one of the following:
-difficulty sleeping
-loss of appetite
CORRECT Answers
Field COmmunications - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Cellular - COW (Cellular on Wheels)
Satellite Phones - not reliable in deep canyons, can request from state through IC
Radios -
Radio Frequencies often used - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- typically on two- way radios
State SAR frequencies - VHF (very high frequency) of 155.160, - 151.285 Megahertz and
UHF (ultra high frequencies) 460.250 - 465.250 are authorized for SAR missions in NM
Amateur radio - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- HAM provides most reliable comms from
Incident base to teams in field. people have set up repeaters on high spots throughout state.
Use requires HAM licensing.
Family radio service
General mobile radio service
Agency radios - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- FRS small inexpensive low power short range
comms on UHF
GMRS much like FRS can be operated on FRS frequencies allowing intercommunications.
range is around 5 miles in ideal conditions
Agency radios - when agencies like FS and parks service join in on SAR mission they usually
use own frequencies so be sure to understand what they are using
code - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- echo alpha - subject uninjured
echo bravo - subject minor injuries
echo charlie - subject has serious injuries
echo delta - subject deceased
radio use in difficult terrain - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- tactics:
move a few feet, shield radio from wind, get out of trees, get away from structures especially
metal buildings, try using high power, face the receiving station
, extending coverage can also be done by setting up a human repeater
Things to remember with radio use - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- match radios with team:
radios are only as strong as weakest radio
use the squelch control: in order to detect weak signals we can turn "open/up" the squelch
control all the way in order to receive weak signals.
Use longer antennas: this increases the radios frequencies
Keep radios vertical: radio signals are polarized. tilting the radio changes the angle of
polarity. if the radio is at different angle than antenna then part of the message can be lost.
Safety in Search and Rescue - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- Yourself, your team and searchers
are most important
High altitude illness - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- High altitude illness takes place when the
body is not able to compensate for hypobaric hypoxia (low oxygen resulting from low
atmospheric pressure). the severity of illness is dependent on many factors: length of
exposure at high altitude, overall health of the individual, and genetic predisposition.
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- while considered to be a
mild, non-fatal form of high altitude illness, AMS can be debilitating to those experiencing it
and can progress to more serious forms.
commonly occurs in individuals who ascend to 8000' or higher from below 3500' .
ONSET of symptoms occur within a few hours after arriving at altitude. NOTE: symptoms
that occur after spending 36hrs or more at altitude are not likely the result of AMS and should
be considered to be a different origin.
AMS will commonly resolve within 1-2 days at high-altitude as the body acclimatizes.
AMS Symptoms - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔- AMS should be considered in anyone at high-
altitude experiencing a headache AND one of the following:
-difficulty sleeping
-loss of appetite
