PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Cospas-Sarsat Global Search and Rescue Day on 10 September (Annual observance to recognize contributions to Saving lives through international search and rescue across land, sea and air)
Montreal, 10 September 2025 — The International Cospas-Sarsat Programme has established this day as Cospas-Sarsat Global Search and Rescue Day, to celebrate the vital contributions of personnel across the Cospas-Sarsat Programme and the wider search and rescue (SAR) community.
Cospas-Sarsat was conceived and initial by Canada, France, the United States and the former Soviet Union in 1979— the International Cospas-Sarsat System uses satellites to detect and locate distress beacons activated by aircraft, ships, and individuals in distress situations. Serving the search and rescue missions of ICAO and IMO, its international network of satellites, ground stations, and Mission Control Centres relays critical information to authorities, enabling timely responses that save lives worldwide. Today, 45 countries and agencies participate in the Programme. The Cospas-Sarsat System monitors the world for distress alerts and can send a distress alert to any country, assisting in saving an average of ten lives per day.
The Cospas-Sarsat Council approved the establishment of Global Search and Rescue Day following the initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The date commemorates the first rescue credited to the Cospas-Sarsat System, which took place on 10 September 1982 in British Columbia, Canada — a milestone validating the System’s operational effectiveness.
International recognition of the Day will be marked annually through activities in Mission Control Centres (MCCs), Rescue Coordination Centres (RCCs), and national SAR networks, including seminars, poster displays, social media campaigns sharing rescue stories.
Global Search and Rescue Day marks the Programme’s commitment to international cooperation and humanitarian service. It also honors the dedication of SAR professionals and volunteers worldwide, particularly MCC operators, whose expertise continues to enable the saving of lives.
The Cospas-Sarsat Secretariat has launched a social media campaign to raise awareness and promote the upcoming Global Search and Rescue Day.
What’s new: New! – 10 September is Cospas-Sarsat Global Search and Rescue Day – International COSPAS-SARSAT
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DOO_tmFjvmg/
Twitter: https://x.com/cospas_sarsat/status/1964066800993177894
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InternationalCospasSarsatProgramme/
Downloadable Poster (English, French, Russian): https://cospas-sarsat.int/images/cospas_sarsat/pdf_uploads/GlobalSARDay/GlobalSARDay2025Poster.zip
Programme History Videos: https://www.cospas-sarsat.int/en/search-and-rescue/new-programme-history-videos