Rescue Squad members are required to certify to at least the Minnesota First Responder level. However, advanced certifications, including EMT, Paramedic, and RN are welcomed.
Squad members must also demonstrate proficiency on squad equipment, including boats, all terrain vehicles (ATV's), radios, GPS receivers, and other gear.
These skills include:
Helicopter Rappel Team
The Rescue Squad has partnered with the Minnesota State Patrol Aviation Division to field a Helicopter Rappel Team. Team members can rappel into remote areas, as well as short-haul patients to safety.
Human Trackers
The Rescue Squad fields 24 certified human trackers, trained to detect and follow human sign on the ground.
Human tracking is the act of recognizing, interpreting, and following the evidence of human passage on the ground. This evidence can consist of compressed soil, damaged vegetation, etc.
Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV)
The ROV is a miniature submarine, controlled from the surface via a tether. With the ROV they are able to search underwater without endangering the lives of divers. The SeaSprite scanning sonar allows the ROV to search an area more quickly than a diver, even in extremely low visibility conditions such as the Duluth Harbor.
K-9 Teams
St. Louis County Rescue Squad uses 3 types of dogs to assist with searching: trailing dogs, air-scenting dogs, and cadaver dogs.