About PVRG

PVRG Is:

• A volunteer ground search and rescue team operating out of the University of Maryland, College Park
• One of ten member groups of the Appalachian Search and Rescue Conference (ASRC), which provide the majority of search and rescue personnel and services in the mid-Atlantic region.
• A University of Maryland recognized student organization, receiving support from the Student Government Association.

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Our Members:

• Are mostly undergraduate students at the University of Maryland, though a large portion of the team is made up of members of the surrounding community
• Train weekly to be able to provide a professional level of search and rescue services, in topics including:
  • radio communications
  • navigation
  • clue awareness and search tactics
  • medical skills
  • leadership
  • semi-technical and technical rescue
  • patient packaging and evacuation
  • working with other search resources, including dog teams, trackers, and helicopters
• Hold a wide range of ASRC certifications including:
  • Call-Out Qualified
  • Field Team Member
  • Field Team Leader
  • Incident Staff
  • Incident Commander
• Hold a variety of other medical and search certifications, recognized at the state or national level
• Are true volunteers, who receive no money for providing these services
• Provide their own personal equipment and must pay group dues and fees for specialized courses

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What We Do

Searches

PVRG members participate in and assist with ground search operations. This means we help find missing people and aircraft. Searches can occur in a variety of areas, ranging from national parks to suburban areas, and happen at any time, in any weather. At a search, PVRG members participate in all aspects of search and rescue operations as part of ground search teams, and also coordinate search operations as incident staff.

Ground Search Team Members:

• Serve as walk-alongs with trackers and dog teams from other groups, or alternately:
• Form field teams with other search and rescue groups, law enforcement personnel, firefighters, and local volunteers.
• Search for clues and missing persons, and conduct interviews of local residents.
• Provide radio communications, navigation, and leadership.
• Provide medical assistance to subjects and team members.
• Assist in transporting subjects from the area to higher trained medical personnel, using semi technical, technical systems, and helicopters.

Incident Staff:

• coordinate personnel, equipment, food, and space
• plan search tactics and areas
• handle communications with field teams, group dispatch officers, and personnel enroute to the search
• brief and debrief field teams
• conduct public relations activities

Other Activities

Occasionally, we are called on to help with disaster areas as part of the ASRC, where we provide the same manner of services that we offer during searches.
As with any volunteer organization, we also hold fundraisers, advertise for members, throw parties, and go on recreational trips.

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