ASTM International

Standard Guide for Training of Search and Rescue Personnel Operating in the Alpine Environment (Alpine Endorsement)
 N F3028

Annotation

This guide establishes the minimum training, including general and field knowledge, skills, and abilities, for search and rescue personnel who conduct operations in an alpine environment.

An Alpine Endorsement is intended only for those individuals capable of operating in the extreme conditions of the alpine environment, at altitudes that are likely to have a negative impact on human physiology.

Specifically, Alpine Endorsed individuals may, under qualified supervision, perform their normal duties safely and effectively in an alpine environment.

In addition, Alpine Endorsed individuals may, under qualified supervision, perform their normal duties safely and effectively in mountainous terrain alone.

An Alpine Endorsement alone is not sufficient to indicate that an individual has the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities to perform any specific duties, including search and rescue operations, other than those defined in this guide.

This guide alone does not provide the minimum training requirements for performing operations in partially or fully collapsed structures, in- or on-water, in confined spaces, or underground (such as in caves, mines, and tunnels).

Type I-IV teams (as defined in F1993) which may utilize personnel trained to this guide are Kind A (wilderness), Kind B (urban), and Kind C (mountainous), Kind D (disaster/collapse), Kind E (inland water), Kind G (cave), Kind H (mine), Kind I (avalanche), Kind J (evidence/cadaver), Kind K (aircraft), and/or Kind L (unclassified).

Alpine Endorsed SAR personnel must work under qualified supervision as deemed appropriate by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).