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2008 SARSCENE GAMES

Date and Location:
Wednesday, 15 October 2008, 08:00-16:00
Rotary Sunshine Park, St. John’s, NL

bulletWhat are the SARSCENE Games?SARSCENE ganes
bulletFormat
bulletGames Day Schedule
bulletSkill level
bulletTeams
bulletClothing & Equipment
bulletAwards
bulletRegistration
bulletWaiver
bulletSupport the SARSCENE Games

What are the SARSCENE Games?
The SARSCENE Games is a one-day event that is intended to showcase ground and inland water search and rescue, and promote the sharing of skills in a friendly yet competitive environment.  Held each year in conjunction with the annual SARSCENE conference, the Games are organized jointly by the National Search and Rescue Secretariat and the conference host.  The Games typically bring together participants from across Canada, and often internationally.  The judges selected to design and evaluate the Games each year also represent a diverse cross-section of the search and rescue community, and have included SAR volunteers, police, military SAR technicians, park wardens, paramedics, firefighters, Coast Guard personnel, and government and industry SAR specialists.

Format
The one-day event consists of a series of six (6) of SAR-related challenges that demand cooperation, knowledge and quick thinking by teams of four people.  Qualified adjudicators do the scoring, and the winning teams are determined on the basis of their total score for the day.  The six events are spread out across the Games site, and as such there is not a single competition area or vantage point for spectators.  The public and SARSCENE attendees are welcome, however, to walk through the site and view the teams as they progress through each event.  The Games are coordinated from a central command post, which often serves as the focal point for the day’s activities including the opening ceremony, team briefing, and public information booth.

Games Day Schedule (to be confirmed)
08:00 – Briefing for competing teams
08:30 – Opening ceremony (15 minutes)
09:00 – Events begin (50 minute rotations)
12:00 – Lunch break
13:00 – Games resume
16:00 – Games conclude
20:00 – Awards presentation (SARSCENE 2008 SAR Expo Grand Opening
              Welcome Reception)

Skill Level
Events in the SARSCENE Games are designed so that anyone with a basic level of SAR training (ref: National Criteria for Volunteer Ground SAR) can participate.  There are not therefore any events which demand specialized skills or equipment such as high-angle rescue, confined space entry, or swift water rescue.  However, those participants with more experience and/or advanced levels of training usually earn higher scores as well as bonus points offered in some events.  While the SAR skills involved are most common to the ground and inland water SAR environment, teams specializing in air and marine SAR have also competed in the SARSCENE Games and placed in the top three.

Teams are not told in advance exactly what to expect, but are advised that the following core skills will be featured in some or all of the six events:

  1. land navigation, including compass and/or GPS
  2. interpretation of topographic maps and common symbols
  3. common SAR knots and basic rope techniques
  4. line-heaving (rope throwing) accuracy
  5. basic low angle rescue and litter-carrying techniques
  6. visual search techniques and efficiency
  7. First Aid and emergency scene management
  8. survival skills, including the construction of ground-to-air signals, fire, and improvised shelters
  9. search management theory and application
  10. general SAR knowledge (e.g. coordinate systems, common terminology, search techniques, phonetic alphabet)
  11. clue detection and evidence handling
  12. judgement, ingenuity, teamwork

Where appropriate, time is also allotted during each rotation for the judges to give some general feedback on each team’s performance.  In addition to friendly competition, the Games are also intended to promote exchange between SAR workers from across Canada and beyond.

Teams
Teams are made up of four people of any age and background.  Some may be provincial finalists representing their SAR volunteer association; some may be paid professionals that work together in an operational unit or squadron; others may be friends or SAR colleagues who are attending the SARSCENE conference. All teams enter the Games in a spirit of friendly competition.  If time and space permit, it may be possible to form an impromptu team on the day of the event, but advance registration is recommended and appreciated.

Clothing & Equipment
Team members may bring a small pack with personal gear, including compass, notepad, pen/pencil and water bottle, but any other required equipment and supplies (e.g. rope, maps, First Aid materials, etc.) will be provided on site.  As the Games will proceed rain or shine, participants are reminded to dress for all conditions including variable terrain.  The average daily temperature for St. John’s, NL in October is about 7°C (45°F), but it has been as warm as 24°C (75°F) and as cold as -5°C (23°F).  October is also St. John’s wettest month, so participants and spectators alike should come prepared for rain or snow flurries (even though sunshine has been requested!).

Awards
The top three teams will be announced, and medals presented on the same evening as the Games during the SARSCENE Meet and Greet reception.  The overall winning team will also have its name inscribed on the William Slaughter Cup, and – for those located within Canada or the United States – have the option of displaying the cup at their home base until September of the following year.  The winning team will also receive a commemorative plaque to take home.   All participating teams will be provided with an individual summary of their scores for each event, within the 3 weeks following the Games.

Registration

Registration is now closed for the 2008 Games.  

For more information about the Games, please contact Paul Cook at 
(709) 682-6479 or by e-mail at paulcook@nl.rogers.com.

Waiver

bulletWaiver Form - pdf

Before the competition begins, participants will be requested to sign a waiver indicating, among other things, that they understand and accept the risks involved in taking part in the Games, and that they also agree to be photographed or videotaped during the competition by the media and/or SARSCENE staff.  A sample waiver may be viewed here.  Comments or questions about the waiver may be directed to Carole Smith at csmith@nss.gc.ca.    

Support the SARSCENE Games
The Games operate on a small budget, and are very fortunate to have the support of numerous volunteer judges, radio operators, and support staff.  Local businesses, equipment companies and government agencies have also provided invaluable support to the Games in past years through the donation of equipment, supplies, and their employees’ time.  Particularly appreciated have been the donations of operational equipment to top-placing teams, who can often derive immediate benefit from these items. 

For more information on the 2008 SARSCENE Games, please contact National Search and Rescue Secretariat directly at 1-800-727-9414 or (+1) 613-992-9471 email sarscene@nss-snrs.gc.ca.ca
   
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