By: Nelson S.R. No. 126 1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION 1-3 WHEREAS, The First Response Search and Rescue Team is 1-4 providing the citizens of Texas a valuable professional resource 1-5 during times of great crises, and the Texas Senate is proud to 1-6 commend this group of dedicated individuals for their extraordinary 1-7 contributions; and 1-8 WHEREAS, The mission of the First Response Search and 1-9 Rescue Team is to provide highly trained personnel to search 1-10 and rescue lost, missing, and abducted persons without charge or 1-11 remuneration; it also provides educational services to train and 1-12 promote all aspects of search, rescue, and prevention-related 1-13 efforts; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Working exclusively with governmental agencies, 1-15 the volunteer professionals are ready to begin response within 1-16 minutes of being called at any time 24 hours a day, seven days 1-17 a week; they provide a unique service to our communities that 1-18 lack funds to maintain a specialized search resource; and 1-19 WHEREAS, Operated as a business, the First Response 1-20 Search and Rescue Team has a board of directors whose members 1-21 bring years of experience in search and rescue as well as 1-22 business management in conducting the day-to-day operations 1-23 of the team; focusing on the skills that must be mastered, 2-1 the organization has virtually eliminated a high turnover 2-2 rate found in many volunteer organizations and has increased 2-3 its membership to over 60 in less than two years; and 2-4 WHEREAS, Before being accepted into the basic training 2-5 program, each member must complete an extensive application 2-6 process which includes a written application, reference checks, 2-7 criminal background investigation, and interview; before a 2-8 member can be fielded as a searcher, each one is trained to 2-9 a basic level of proficiency which exceeds the level of 2-10 "SAR-TECH II" as established by the National Association of 2-11 Search and Rescue; and 2-12 WHEREAS, After SAR-TECH certification is received, 2-13 members continue intensive training to obtain a 40-hour Texas 2-14 ECA First Responder medical certification and an eight-hour CPR 2-15 certification; they are encouraged to advance to higher levels 2-16 of training or to one of the specialized skills; and 2-17 WHEREAS, In addition to the response by the team to 2-18 emergencies, the First Response and Rescue Team is working 2-19 with local agencies to prepare for such incidents by establishing 2-20 written policies and procedures with a coordinated preplan in an 2-21 attempt to eliminate the loss of valuable time and needless loss 2-22 of life; now, therefore, be it 2-23 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas hereby 2-24 recognize the members of the First Response Search and Rescue 2-25 Team for their exemplary work in responding to the needs of 3-1 their communities and offer its wholehearted support in this 3-2 vital effort; and, be it further 3-3 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared 3-4 for this distinguished group as an expression of the high 3-5 regard and gratitude of the Texas Senate. 3-6 ______________________________________ 3-7 President of the Senate 3-8 I hereby certify that the above 3-9 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-10 on February 6, 1997. 3-11 ______________________________________ 3-12 Secretary of the Senate 3-13 ______________________________________ 3-14 Member, Texas Senate