INTERNATIONAL
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE | SEARCH | TECH RESCUE | MEDICAL RESPONSE | MANAGEMENT | LOGISTICS | SAFETY | SECURITY | EDUCATION
Our International Work
We believe that it is important for us to be operational and active in our local countries and work in the communities where we live. But we are also able and keen to go help others internationally when they need assistance, such as following a disaster or emergency.
We have responded to many countries over the years and deployed as a coordinated asset of the United Nations or bilaterally, especially in a Capacity Building role. In order for us to do this effectively our national team members must also become "Internationally qualified" and complete what we call the ITC (International Training Certification / Course) and pass our "D Squad" (International Team) standards.
Our UK & Canadian Team Members have "D Squad" Capacity which internally means that members are trained, able and ready to quickly deploy to international disaster response missions, (as well as work within the country where we live.)
We have deployed to assist and help the less fortunately, suffering and vulnerable since our first days of formation and are well practised and experienced at getting aid and services to established as well as developing countries.
ERTSAR has a year around response ability to deploy within hours of a call out around the world, but we are also usually working in other countries year around, in some capacity.
Our International Work is often associated with international disaster response especially in response to earthquakes and collapsed structures (also known a USAR or Urban Search and Rescue) and also some International Flooding Response with our Marine Unit (usually under the United Nations coordination through the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group.)
Medical Missions are also a significant part of our international operations and ever since day one of our founding, we have always had the capacity to provide medical, healthcare and wellness checks, care and treatment.
We also provide local capacity building services to help develop resilience to risks and hazards around the world..
Members of our International team usually have to complete additional training (such as our "ITC" or International Training Course) as well as ensure they have certain other requirements, (such as UN / WHO recommended vaccination whether, enhanced fitness or passports with more than 6 months on it. These are usually specialists from our "D Squad."
Capacity Building Projects
When not actually performing Emergency Response and Search and Rescue Missions, we do a lot of other supportive work like Capacity Building projects. Here's one Capacity Building project we participated in in Pakistan, led by our Chief Gary Foo
We also perform Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CPDRM) and School Based Disaster Risk Management (SBDRM) often in professional partnership with other bone fide coordinating and deployable agencies such as the Government or private organisations (like www.AdvancedRescue.ca)
Videos
Here are a few samples of videos from our missions.
Sample Standards
The UN INSARAG Standards are one of our staple standards we study.
ERT SAR international team members are selected from a qualified group of members who usually have existing qualifications first. For example, if it's a medical mission members may be Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics and Medical Assistants, etc. If it's a USAR (Collapsed Structure) Mission then members may have USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) training and certifications. And if it is to International Flooding then they will usually be members of the Marine Unit and specifically from our D Squad F.A.S.T. (Flood and Swiftwater Technical) Team.
SOME TRAINING STANDARDS
International Members study and test in this ERT SAR Manual (LINK)
They would study in the UN INSARAG Methodology (LINK)
They would study The WHO (World Health Organisation) EMT Medical Blue Book
They would study International humanitarian law (Download) and Red Cross principles (LINK)
They would study our Disaster Management and Emergency Response
They may have seen and studied the Sphere standards (LINK)
Indian Ocean Tsunami
Boxing Day Tsunami 2004
Pakistan Earthquake
Kashmire Earthquake 2005
Haiti Earthquake
Hait Earthquake 2010
New York Storm
Hurricane Sandy 2012
Philippines Storm
Typhoon Haiyan 2013
Canadian Wildfires
Northern Ontario 2021
Flood Rescue UK
Floods in UK 2007
Flood Rescue Bolivia
Hait Earthquake 2010
Flood Rescue Canada
Floods in Ontario 2018
INDIGENOUS REMOTE RESPONSE
Although not international, we deploy to remote communities on sustained overnight missions too.
IFNA | First Nations
We are proud and honoured to be able to partner with the Independent First National Alliance (IFNA) Tribal Council and support their emergency response and capacity building needs especially in Fire Rescue and medical response.