New Mexico Search and Rescue Field
Certification Study Guide Exam fully
solved & updated Questions and Answers
When selecting hiking boots, what things should you consider? - Correct answer-
Comfort and fit, ankle support, sole thickness. They should be waterproof. Also,
leather boots will keep out cactus spines that other expensive materials will not.
If your hands or feet are cold.... (most body heat is lost...) - Correct answer-... put
on your hat. (...through the head.)
What two types of gloves are required? - Correct answer-Sturdy work gloves (for
terrain, rope rescue, litter carry) and warm gloves/mittens for cold weather.
When are hard hats or helmets vital? - Correct answer-When doing any rock work,
when performing a cave rescue, or any time you are around a helicopter.
Are cotton socks suitable for hiking? - Correct answer-No, not even in the summer.
What is the ideal combination for hiking socks? - Correct answer-One inner layer
of nylon, polypropylene, silk, or wool and
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,one outer pair of medium weight wool (hiking sock thickness). A clean pair of
socks in your pack is required.
When dressing in layers, what is the trick? - Correct answer-The trick is to keep
warm enough without sweating and getting wet from the inside out.
Inner layer includes what? - Correct answer-basic underwear and long underwear
Middle layers should be warm. Outer layers should protect from what? - Correct
answer-wind and water.
Anywhere in New Mexico, at any time of year, you may need to protect yourself
from what? - Correct answer-Hypothermia
To pass the gear and clothing check section of this Certification, you must: -
Correct answer-• Have silk, synthetics, or wool for the inner layer (next to your
skin),
• Wool or synthetics for the middle (warm) layer, and
• A breathable wind/water protective outer layer.
When packing food for yourself, for how long should you plan? - Correct answer-
24 hours
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,How much water is required for the certification for a 24 hour period? - Correct
answer-2 quarts (containers only are required for the certification, do not have to
be filled with water)
How accurate must your compass be for this certification? - Correct answer-within
5 degrees
A vehicle driver or passenger should have a duffel bag or similar container which
could be _______ ________if a walkout were necessary. - Correct answer-easily
carried
On average, doing day-to-day activities, you lose about _____ ounces of water
through urine
production and another ____ ounces through perspiration and respiration. - Correct
answer-48, 24
We recommend you carry _____ or _____ GALLONS if you are searching for two
to four
hours in hot/dry weather. - Correct answer-1, 2
When working in a cave, how many sources of light may be required - Correct
answer-three
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, By far the most efficient communication method is.... - Correct answer-... face to
face
Before going into the field, you and your team should be briefed.... - Correct
answer-... face to face
Cell phones are ___ _______ _______ in search and rescue. - Correct answer-of
limited value
If cell phone communications are necessary, try _____ ______ so that you may be
within line-of-sight of a cell tower. - Correct answer-going uphill
Satellite phones must have what in order to operate? - Correct answer-A clear field
of view to a relatively large area of sky. They are not useful from the bottom of
deep, narrow canyons or in areas with dense tree canopy.
The vast majority of communications within an incident occur on what? - Correct
answer-two-way radios
Where can you find information about types of communication and associated
radio frequencies in use for an operation? - Correct answer-The mission's
Communications Plan. DO NOT go into the field without this information
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
Certification Study Guide Exam fully
solved & updated Questions and Answers
When selecting hiking boots, what things should you consider? - Correct answer-
Comfort and fit, ankle support, sole thickness. They should be waterproof. Also,
leather boots will keep out cactus spines that other expensive materials will not.
If your hands or feet are cold.... (most body heat is lost...) - Correct answer-... put
on your hat. (...through the head.)
What two types of gloves are required? - Correct answer-Sturdy work gloves (for
terrain, rope rescue, litter carry) and warm gloves/mittens for cold weather.
When are hard hats or helmets vital? - Correct answer-When doing any rock work,
when performing a cave rescue, or any time you are around a helicopter.
Are cotton socks suitable for hiking? - Correct answer-No, not even in the summer.
What is the ideal combination for hiking socks? - Correct answer-One inner layer
of nylon, polypropylene, silk, or wool and
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,one outer pair of medium weight wool (hiking sock thickness). A clean pair of
socks in your pack is required.
When dressing in layers, what is the trick? - Correct answer-The trick is to keep
warm enough without sweating and getting wet from the inside out.
Inner layer includes what? - Correct answer-basic underwear and long underwear
Middle layers should be warm. Outer layers should protect from what? - Correct
answer-wind and water.
Anywhere in New Mexico, at any time of year, you may need to protect yourself
from what? - Correct answer-Hypothermia
To pass the gear and clothing check section of this Certification, you must: -
Correct answer-• Have silk, synthetics, or wool for the inner layer (next to your
skin),
• Wool or synthetics for the middle (warm) layer, and
• A breathable wind/water protective outer layer.
When packing food for yourself, for how long should you plan? - Correct answer-
24 hours
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,How much water is required for the certification for a 24 hour period? - Correct
answer-2 quarts (containers only are required for the certification, do not have to
be filled with water)
How accurate must your compass be for this certification? - Correct answer-within
5 degrees
A vehicle driver or passenger should have a duffel bag or similar container which
could be _______ ________if a walkout were necessary. - Correct answer-easily
carried
On average, doing day-to-day activities, you lose about _____ ounces of water
through urine
production and another ____ ounces through perspiration and respiration. - Correct
answer-48, 24
We recommend you carry _____ or _____ GALLONS if you are searching for two
to four
hours in hot/dry weather. - Correct answer-1, 2
When working in a cave, how many sources of light may be required - Correct
answer-three
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, By far the most efficient communication method is.... - Correct answer-... face to
face
Before going into the field, you and your team should be briefed.... - Correct
answer-... face to face
Cell phones are ___ _______ _______ in search and rescue. - Correct answer-of
limited value
If cell phone communications are necessary, try _____ ______ so that you may be
within line-of-sight of a cell tower. - Correct answer-going uphill
Satellite phones must have what in order to operate? - Correct answer-A clear field
of view to a relatively large area of sky. They are not useful from the bottom of
deep, narrow canyons or in areas with dense tree canopy.
The vast majority of communications within an incident occur on what? - Correct
answer-two-way radios
Where can you find information about types of communication and associated
radio frequencies in use for an operation? - Correct answer-The mission's
Communications Plan. DO NOT go into the field without this information
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
