Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR) Volunteer

Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR) at Buffalo National River  

Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR) volunteers serve on the frontline, assisting visitors and staff, offering safety information and advice to the public, helping visitors recreate safely while visiting the park, and initiating emergency response should an emergency situation arise. PSAR volunteers will be given radios and stationed at popular locations such as trailheads and river access points.  

General Duties:  

• Assist park staff with Search and Rescue Prevention through education to park visitors. 
• Assist park staff with creating a larger presence at park trailheads. 
• Increase visitor understanding of best practices to safely enjoy park resources. Topics may include information about the weather (lightning/heat/cold risks), best times to hike, ensuring visitors understand the difficulty level of a hike, educating visitors about wearing proper footwear/clothing, proper eating/drinking habits for hiking, safety hazards such as falling risks, venomous snakes, stinging insects, park regulations (no swimming, dogs on leash, dogs on trails, stay on designated trail, not entering closed areas), resource protection and interpretation, and Leave No Trace messaging. 
• Rove trailheads/trails and interact with visitors. 
• Distribute park maps, trail maps, and other informational materials. 
• Answer visitor questions. 
• Know park procedures for emergencies and how to initiate emergency response for lost hikers, injuries and other emergencies. Must be comfortable communicating via park radio system.
• Will wear park provided volunteer vest at all times to be easily identifiable by the public. 

Commitment: 

Tentative hours are 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through the fall hiking season. Please note that times may vary depending on the season, weather conditions, and other factors.  

Locations of PSAR volunteer work:  

• Upper district: Compton (Hemmed-in-Hollow) trailhead, Centerpoint (Goat’s Trail to Big Bluff) trailhead, Lost Valley trailhead, elk viewing season in fall  
• Lower district: Indian Rockhouse Trailhead, Buffalo Point, Dillard’s Ferry, Rush  

Working Environment & Safety Considerations:

• Volunteer will be expected to work outdoors. Associated personal protective equipment (PPE) should be worn to mitigate identified hazards. Additionally, safety considerations such as proper hydration, heat-related illnesses, hypothermia, insect/animal bites/stings, and tick-borne illnesses should be discussed as appropriate given the local work environment, season, and geographic location.
• Types of weather may include hot, humid, wet, windy, and cold.
• Work may occur across uneven terrain, including hills, slopes, grades, and wetlands, in both forested and open areas. Exposure to long periods of sunlight, precipitation, wind, dust, dirt, insects, irritating or poisonous plants may be present. 
• Physical demands range from light exertion to physically demanding work depending on the duration and location of the volunteer task.
• If hiking a trail, distances walked may exceed several miles per day while wearing a backpack.
• Volunteer will have frequent interaction with the general public and answer repetative questions. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to hike.
• Ability to interact with the general public in a friendly manner.
• Ability to recognize and avoid hazardous situations.
• Effective communicator.
• Ability to work as a team player.
• Ability to work without onsite direct supervision.
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn basic hiking safety principles, Leave No Trace, park rules and regulations, and resources such as plants, animals and geology.