BLACK DIAMOND SEARCH & RESCUE COUNCIL
Uniform Standards
1.
SCOPE
1.1
These Standards describe professional dress and appearance for members of the Black Diamond
Search and Rescue Council, Inc., (the Council), when they are engaged in official activities such as
search and rescue missions or in related training or activities with other emergency response
organizations.
2.
REFERENCED DOCUMENTS
2.1
Black Diamond Search and Rescue Council, Inc., Personal Equipment List, Revised October 2009
2.2
Black Diamond Search and Rescue Council, Inc., Test Method for Recognizing Wilderness Rescue
Technicians, Revised February 2006
2.3
Black Diamond Search and Rescue Council, Inc., Standards of Conduct for Members of the Black
Diamond Search and Rescue Council, Inc. Amended October 2009
3.
DEFINITIONS
3.1
Required Uniform: Council members must display A Black Diamond Search and Rescue Council
issued photo-identification card at chest level on environmentally appropriate clothing, and must
carry a search and rescue (SAR) pack containing personal equipment required by the mission and
the recommended Personal Equipment List.
3.2
Agency Uniform: Clothing with insignia and markings identifying the member as part of an
incorporated fire, emergency medical, search and rescue, or other emergency response
organization. Members of the Black Diamond Search and Rescue Council, Inc. are encouraged to
wear the uniform of their home agency, if it is suitable for search and rescue missions or training.
3.3
Optional uniform: Members may display a printed or embroidered Black Diamond Search and
Rescue Council logo on jackets, raingear, or other environmentally appropriate outer clothing.
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4.
DISCUSSION:
4.1
Members of the Black Diamond SAR Council are required to present a professional appearance and
demeanor in all dealings with fellow Council members, responsible agents, fire, EMS, and
emergency response agencies, and the public with whom the Council and its members interact in
the course of official activities.
4.2
Members of the Black Diamond SAR Council must clearly identify themselves by their required
Council uniform: clothing appropriate to the environment and mission, a laminated photoidentification card, and their search and rescue (SAR) pack containing equipment and supplies to
perform tasks required by the mission.
4.3
Only Council members in good standing may display the Black Diamond Search and Rescue
Council photo identification card, or display the logo of the Council on clothing, packs, hats, or vests.
4.4
All insignia with the copyrighted Black Diamond Search and Rescue Council logo remains the sole
property of the Black Diamond Search and Rescue Council, Inc. Items with the Council logo are
issued to members upon payment of a replacement cost fee. Members who resign or who are
dismissed or suspended are required to return those items to the Treasurer. The Treasurer of the
Black Diamond Search and Rescue Council is authorized to reimburse the departing member prorated replacement costs of the returned item(s).
4.5
Members of the Group should report to each training activity and search operation with the
necessary safety equipment, personal equipment, and supplies required to assume any task for
which they have been trained. Members should refer to the Black Diamond SAR Council Personal
Equipment list and their personal knowledge, skills, and experience in the environment and the type
of mission.
4.6
Safety equipment must be worn and used according to the environment or dictates of the mission at
all times a team member is engaged in training activities or operations. Disregard of safety rules
and common safety practices is a violation of the Standards of Conduct.
4.7
Council members may not display the Black Diamond logo, nor advertise their membership in the
council while engaged in private activities, including providing training to individuals or groups, and
in dealing with landowners or officials.
4.8
If a member improperly represents the Black Diamond Search and Rescue Council by inappropriate
display of the official Council logo or identification card while acting privately with an unendorsed
organization, misuse of Council identification may be cause for dismissal of the individual from the
Council.
5.
REQUIRED UNIFORM:
5.1
The Council uniform consists of a laminated Black Diamond Search and Rescue Council photoidentification card displayed at chest level on environmentally suitable clothing and a search and
rescue (SAR) pack containing search equipment appropriate to the mission and the recommended
Personal Equipment List.
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6.
OPTIONAL UNIFORM:
6.1
Members of the Black Diamond Search and Rescue Council, Inc. are encouraged to wear the
uniform of their home fire or EMS agencies, if suitable for Council training and search and rescue
missions.
6.1
Council members may choose to wear the Council logo on environmentally appropriate personal
clothing for SAR missions and training. Shirts with the Black Diamond Search and Rescue Council
logo should conform to the Black Diamond Search and Rescue Council Personal Equipment List,
and must present a professional appearance to responsible agents, search managers, and the
general public.
6.2
Members may wear professional-appearing Tee- or polo-type shirts with the imprinted Black
Diamond Search and Rescue Council logo or incorporated name in suitable environmental
conditions. Long sleeved shirts are recommended for training exercises and SAR missions for
protection from abrasion and sun.
6.3
The Personal Equipment List requires trousers of cotton-polyester twill, wool, poly-wool or ripstop
BDU fabric that will dry quickly and are suitable for the mission and the season. Members may
choose light or dark colored trousers that present a professional appearance. Shorts are not
approved for wear on missions or training events.
6.4
Cotton denim shirts or trousers and cotton thermal underwear that do not dry quickly are not
approved for wear on SAR missions: the higher elevations of the Black Diamond Search and
Rescue Council’s operational area feature sudden weather and temperature changes in all seasons
of the year.
7.
INSIGNIA:
7.1
The official Council photo identification card must be displayed at chest level on all outerwear, such
as on the left shirt pocket flap or on the left SAR pack strap.
7.2
A printed or embroidered cloth name tape or a plastic or metal name bar may be centered on the
left pocket flap seam of a member’s long sleeved optional uniform shirt, above the official Council
photo identification tag.
7.3
A member may indicate his or her level of training by cloth patches, such as Emergency Medical
Technician centered on the right shoulder of his or her optional uniform shirt or jacket. Training may
also be shown by items of jewelry on the right pocket flap of an optional uniform shirt.
8.
FOOTWEAR
8.1
Footwear should be climbing-quality lug-soled boots in good repair. Boots with good ankle support
and suitable for rough terrain are required for SAR missions or training. Light Nylon liner socks with
heavy wool socks or two-layer socks are recommended.
8.2
Soft-soled or smooth-soled footwear such as tennis or casual shoes are not authorized for mission
or field training wear.
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8.
HEADGEAR
8.1
Wool or polyester baseball-type billed caps with the Black Diamond Search and Rescue Council
logo are approved.
8.2
UIAA or CE approved mountaineering style helmets with 3 (or more) point suspension and nonelastic chin straps are required for Field Team Leaders in semi-technical search operations.
Helmets are mandated for all personnel in underground, vertical or high angle, or other
hazardous environments. Helmets should have means to attach a headlamp for night or
underground operations.
8.3
Helmets should be professional in appearance. Personal color code striping, qualification decals, or
the Black Diamond Search and Rescue Council logo may be affixed.
8.4
Members may not display the Black Diamond logo or official identification card, while engaged in
strictly private activities. The Black Diamond name or logo on a helmet or personal equipment
should be covered or obscured with tape or other means if confusion could arise from the public
assuming a member’s official actions due to the presence of the Council logo or name.
9.
OUTERWEAR
9.1
The official Council photo-identification card should be displayed outside of jackets and raingear
required by environmental conditions,. The Council logo may be embroidered or printed on jackets
or other outerwear.
9.2
Members may wear tactical or "bush" vests with the Council logo and/or other organizational
patches over outer clothing.
10.
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
10.1
The member’s search and rescue pack must be carried at all times as part of the official uniform,
with maps, rations, water, clothing, raingear, and other items selected according to the environment,
mission, and the Black Diamond Search and Rescue Council Recommended Personal Equipment
List.
10.2
The member must be dressed in environmentally suitable clothing, including boots, gloves, and
outerwear according to the Recommended equipment list.
10.3
Helmets and gloves are required for all semi-technical and technical tasks. Vertical and cave
missions require additional personal protective equipment such as climbing harness, ascending and
descending systems, with additional equipment and additional lights.
10.4
Council members may need to add gear bags for vertical equipment and personal items required in
a cave or vertical environment.
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10.5
Members of the Black Diamond Search and Rescue Council are expected to be self-sufficient for 24
hours when dispatched to SAR missions. It is recommended that sleeping bags, pads, and shelter
tarps, tents, or bivouac bags be pre-packed in duffel bags or other containers, ready for mission
callout.
11.
UNIFORM ACCESSORIES
11.1
Additional utility and personal protection items such as pagers, radios, flashlights, or glove and
mask pouches are authorized for uniform wear, as appropriate to the mission.
11.2
Multi-purpose tools or rigging or other folding knives are approved if carried in packs, pockets or in
belt pouches. Fixed blade sheath knives should not be carried on the person due to the danger of
injury from falls on uneven search terrain.
12.
UNIFORM APPROVAL AND REVISIONS
12.1
Uniforms are approved by action of the elected Directors of the Black Diamond Search and Rescue
Council. The Directors may revise Standards as necessary.
12.2
The Coordinator is responsible for interpretation of Uniform and other Standards of the Black
Diamond Search and Rescue Council, Inc.
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