Introduction

All Sauvetage Bénévole Outaouais – Ottawa Volunteer Search and Rescue (SBO-OVSAR) members play an important role in the administration, operations, and sustainability of the team.

Through their involvement with SBO-OVSAR, the members receive basic training, advanced skill sets, personal development opportunities, recognition for their contributions, and a sense of contributing to their community and helping people during times of emergency.

In return, SBO-OVSAR members are expected to conduct themselves and their efforts in a manner that allows the values and mission of SBO-OVSAR to be achieved.

The following Code of Conduct applies to all circumstances where SBO-OVSAR members participate in searches, training, meetings and other team events.

Objective

Teams returning to base after exercise search scenarios.

Teams returning to base after exercise search scenarios.

To ensure the integrity of SBO-OVSAR, its members, and our clients by establishing a “Code of Conduct” that identifies acceptable and unacceptable behaviours and actions expected of all SBO-OVSAR members.

Definitions

“SBO-OVSAR”
Sauvetage Bénévole Outaouais – Ottawa Volunteer Search and Rescue.
“Incident”
A search or other incident for which SBO-OVSAR members have been called out by an authorized tasking agency.
“Team Events”
Fundraising, promotional events, presentations, and competitions.
“Members”
All members of SBO-OVSAR either operational and/or support member.
“Clients”
All groups or individuals for which SBO-OVSAR provides services, including police services, municipalities, lost persons, lost person family members/friends, government officials, and other search and rescue organizations.
“Incident Commander”
The SBO-OVSAR member with overall responsibility of SBO-OVSAR resources at an incident.

General Member Conduct

Members shall demonstrate courtesy and respect for other members and clients at all times and shall demonstrate respect for diverse lifestyles, values and opinions. Prejudice regarding race, religion, ethnicity, lifestyles, or sexual orientation will not be tolerated.

Members shall refrain from public criticisms of fellow members, clients, and public officials.

At an incident, all members shall respect the chain of command. There is a “zero tolerance” level for behaviours which undermine the authority of team members in positions of authority, including but limited to: 

  • questioning authority at a search;
  • intentionally disobeying specific tasking/instruction; and/or
  • failing to operate as a member of a team.

Members shall use caution if/when smoking in the field. Extreme care must be taken by the individual to carefully put out all matches and cigarettes. Cigarette butts, packs (with wrapping), and used matches shall be packed out and properly disposed of. (Not doing so could result in false clues and misdirected search efforts.)

Members shall not attend searches if they have been consuming alcohol or any other substance that could impair their judgement.

Members shall not bring friends and/or relatives to assist at searches without the prior approval of the Incident Commander.

Members shall take the initiative to become familiarized and abide by the constitution, by-laws, policies and procedures, and operational guidelines of SBO-OVSAR.

Members shall respect the dignity of others; behaviour that constitutes harassment or abuse is unacceptable.

Members shall ensure the safety of themselves, their teammates, and our clients.

Members shall refrain from the use of profane, insulting, harassing or otherwise offensive language while at searches, training, meetings and other team events.

Members shall wear appropriate attire at all SBO-OVSAR operational incidents, training and promotional events. Inappropriate attire includes: 

  • clothing with offensive language
  • halter tops
  • jeans
  • footwear not suitable for the environment.

Members shall not wear clothing from a different affiliation such as: police, fire, military or other team clothing for which they are not a member of and/or are not representing while at the event.

Confidentiality

Members shall maintain the confidentiality of all proprietary or privileged information to which they are exposed while serving as a SBO-OVSAR volunteer, whether this information involves another volunteer, a client, SBO-OVSAR, or another organization.

Copyright / Ownership

Materials produced by members for SBO-OVSAR, including graphics, web page designs, databases, research, instructional texts, documents, etc., becomes the property of SBO-OVSAR unless otherwise negotiated. Members will receive credit for their contributions.

Conflict of Interest

Full Disclosure

SBO-OVSAR members in decision making roles shall make known their connections with groups doing business with the organization. This information should be provided annually.

Board Member Abstention from Discussion and Voting

Board members who have an actual or potential conflict of interest shall not participate in discussions or vote on matters affecting transactions between the organization and the other group.

Member Abstention from Decision-Making

Members who have an actual or potential conflict of interest shall not be substantively involved in decision-making affecting such transactions.

Representation

Members shall always represent SBO-OVSAR in a positive manner and promote the vision and objectives of the organization.

Members shall not contact organizations or individuals on behalf of SBO-OVSAR unless they are given written direction to do so by the Board of Directors or designate.

Prior to any action or statement which might significantly affect or obligate SBO-OVSAR, members should seek prior consultation and approval from the appropriate authority. These actions may include, but are not limited to, public statements to the press, coalition or lobbying efforts with other organizations, or any agreements involving contractual or other financial obligations.

Participation

Members shall support the organization’s non-search related activities through participation in training events, social activities, fundraising events, recruitment drives, regular meetings, Annual General Meetings, and other activities that require their support to ensure the success of the organization as a whole.