What We Do

Red Rock Search and Rescue (RRSAR) responds to requests from partner agencies and families to assist with the following mission types:

Urban Searches

Urban searches comprise the majority of our callouts and most often involve individuals with dementia, autism, or other cognitive impairments who have wandered from a safe environment.
Our response typically includes systematic window or foot searches through residential neighborhoods and city streets, distributing Be On the Lookout (BOLO) flyers, and engaging residents, businesses, and community members to support the search effort.

Wilderness Searches

We assist in locating lost, overdue, or injured hikers and other outdoor recreationists, as well as individuals who require assistance returning safely to a trailhead.

In some cases, we search for despondent individuals who may have intentionally sought out remote or private locations to harm themselves.

We also periodically revisit cold case searches in desert and mountain environments, continuing efforts to locate those who remain missing.

Evidence Searches

On occasion, RRSAR is requested to assist local law enforcement agencies with evidence searches in support of active or ongoing investigations.

Waterway and Wetland Searches

Following flooding events, we may be tasked with searches in waterways and wetland areas.

Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR)

Preventative SAR events are frequently conducted at Lake Mead and other high-use recreation areas. These events allow our team to engage hikers before they begin trails they may be unprepared for, with the goal of reducing emergencies before they occur.

Community Outreach

RRSAR members participate in community outreach events at schools, nursing homes, and other venues to educate the public about search and rescue operations and to teach safety-focused programs, including Hug-A-Tree for children.

What We Seldom Do

• While we train extensively to provide emergency medical care, the need to administer medical treatment in the field is infrequent.
• We seldom conduct searches within the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (RRCNCA). Although we share the “Red Rock” name, most rescue efforts within the Conservation Area are handled by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) resources, their partnering local fire departments and/or Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Dept Search and Rescue. 

What We Don’t Do

• High-angle rescue
  High-angle rescue operations are managed by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Search and Rescue (LVMPD SAR), which has the specialized training, helicopters, and technical resources required. Those interested in volunteering in a high-angle environment are encouraged to learn more at: https://lvmpdsar.org/join-now
• Swift water rescue
  These operations are conducted by local fire departments.
• Collapsed structure searches
  Searches following structural collapses are performed by fire departments or Nevada Task Force One (NV-TF1).
• Tunnel searches beneath Las Vegas
  Team member safety is our highest priority, and tunnel environments fall outside our scope of training and operations.
• Searches for individuals actively evading detection
  This includes runaway cases.
• Animal intake or surrender services