Occupational Hazards Among SAR Providers

Occupational accidents pose significant risks for search and rescue (SAR) providers, as evidenced by a comprehensive review of insurance claims from the Italian CNSAS organization. Over a 20-year period, 784 providers were injured in 755 accidents, with 41% occurring during rescue operations and 59% during training sessions. The study highlighted that high-energy falls were the most common cause of trauma, representing 44% of cases, while vehicle-related accidents contributed notably to fatalities—indicating that operations under challenging conditions elevate the risk significantly. Ultimately, the findings suggest that the majority of injuries are non-fatal and occur more frequently during training, underscoring the need for heightened safety measures in such high-risk environments.