Search And Rescue (SAR) is an operation mounted by Emergency Services often well-trained volunteers & dogs, to find someone believed to be in distress, sick or injured either in a remote or difficult to access area, such as mountains desert or forest. The term can also be applied in urban situations when young children or senile people wander away from their homes and cannot be found.
The Search Phase
In the initial phase of the operation, steps are taken to ascertain a likely location of the person being searched for, so that a search area can be established if they are in fact in need of rescue. Essential information is gathered so that leaders can determine not only who is missing, but how they are equipped, how experienced, how familiar with the area, etc.. This information is then factored with other considerations to determine the initial urgency and scale of the mission.
In the Search phase, a search is performed by personnel on foot, horse or using vehicles, often aided by (dog) teams and, when available, air support. Specific procedures are followed during a Search, including an initial hasty team sent to the most likely locations, containment teams which are posted or patrol likely routes of a lost subject who may be moving, and the assignment of search personnel to specific areas which are mapped out using a combination of theory, prior experience and local knowledge of the terrain. A substantial body of mathematical ory called search theory.
The Rescue Phase
In the Rescue phase, aid is rendered to the person where they are found, sufficient to allow them to be safely transported to a place where more intensive aid can be provided. This extrication of the patient often includes some aspects of technical rescue. In certain situations, the subject(s) are in a known position and the operation goes directly to the Rescue phase. The wide availability of cellular phones and increasing coverage areas has increased the number of such calls for rescue without requiring a lengthy Search phase.
The Recovery Phase
The recovery of the body of a deceased person may be considered an aspect of Search and Rescue in some countries, though the actual Rescue phase of the operation is often known as recovery rather than rescue. In other countries rescuers are not permitted to move dead bodies as this is the sole responsibility of a coroner.
The Recall And Demobilization Phase
Once the subject has been found, rescued or recovered, then the operation is recalled and with large operations, this phase is sometimes called demobilization.
Afterwards, there is often a critique phase where each phase of the operation is analysed to determine what did or did not work well, and any lessons learned, this is called a debrief. During debriefs searchers and search administrators discuss what took place during the search, the condition of the subject, and what changes could be made next time for the better.
United States Standards
The National Search and Rescue plan designates the United States Coast Guard as the federal agency responsible for maritime SAR and the United States Air Force as the federal agency responsible for inland SAR. Both agencies maintain Rescue Coordination Centers to coordinate this effort. The jurisdiction for local lost person SAR operations varies from state to state in the United States and depends upon the nature of the operation.
The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in responding to law enforcement requests for missing persons. Dedicated handlers and hard working, well-trained dogs are required in search efforts to be effective in their task.
Search and rescue (SAR) dogs detect human scent. Although exactly what this means to the dog is not known, it may include skin rafts, evaporated perspiration, respiratory gases, or decomposition gases released by bacterial action on human skin or tissues.
Search and rescue dogs are typically worked by a small team on foot, but can be worked from horseback.
In the Search phase, a search is performed by personnel on foot, horse or using vehicles, often aided by (dog) teams and, when available, air support. Specific procedures are followed during a Search, including an initial 
The recovery of the body of a deceased person may be considered an aspect of Search and Rescue in some countries, though the actual Rescue phase of the operation is often known as recovery rather than rescue. In other countries rescuers are not permitted to move dead bodies as this is the sole responsibility of a coroner.
The use of dogs in search and rescue (