USAR involves the location, extrication, and initial stabilisation of people trapped in a confined space or under debris due to a sudden-onset large-scale structural collapse such as an earthquake, in a coordinated and standardised fashion. This can occur due to disasters, landslides, accidents, and deliberate actions.

在大规模的建筑物倒塌（如地震）突然发生时，USAR 需定位、解救和初步稳定受困在狭小空间或者被埋在瓦砾下的人员，其中需要与多方协调并以标准化程序进行。USAR 对自然灾害、山体滑坡、意外事故和人为因素引发的灾害进行援助。