Basic Search and Rescue Skills

(Commonly presented in a 2 to 5 day course) 

Course Overview and Background  

SAR management and SAR field response has changed greatly in the past few years. Searches no longer last for days or weeks. Usually they are over in 24 to 48 hours. This Course and Handbook recognizes these changes and focuses on current SAR field “best practices” and techniques.  

The Course and Handbook were crafted to provide:  

• Guidance to SAR field responders on the best practices and techniques to use and is designed to be used by both new SAR field responders and experienced SAR field and management personnel.
• Information about the duties and tasks of SAR field responders.
• Current information on SAR field responder clothing, equipment, and how to best utilize these items.
• Details on the latest search techniques, what methods work best, how to search in the field, and how to get the best results during a search.
• Information on SAR specialties such as tracking, survival, emergency medical care, and subject packaging and transport.

   

Course Content:  

• Introduction: SAR Overview; Getting Involved with SAR.  
• Outdoor Skills, Equipment:  Fitness for SAR; Clothing; Outdoor/SAR Equipment; Field Health and Hygiene; Navigation; Foot Travel; Environmental Hazards in SAR; Animal, Insect, Snake Hazards; First Aid.
• Search: Search Management Crucials; Search Area / Confinement; Lost Person Behavior; Search Tactics and Resources; Search Principles and Techniques (How to Search); Search Team Leader; Tracking; Inland Water Search; Evidence Handling.
• Rescue:  Rope Rescue Equipment; Rope Knots and Skills; Rescue and Evacuation Survival:  Survival (Body Management); Short Term Survival Skills.
• Other Topics (Addendums):  Callout / Check-In;  Check Out, Post Mission; Critical Incident Stress;  Communications; SAR Technology; Helicopter Operations;  Air Observer Guidelines;  Cold Weather Nutrition;  Hypothermia; Snowmobile/Winter SAR;  SAR Transportation;  Mountain Bike SAR;  Search Management Actions;  ICS Orientation;  Legal Aspects;  Urban Search;  PSAR; Basic SAR Skills Benchmarks.

  

Search Team Leadership Skills

(How to Search and How to Lead a Search Team)

(Commonly presented as a 2 or 3 day course.)  

Course Overview and Background:  

Searching is the primary activity in search and rescue (SAR) in that a missing person has to be found before a rescue may be carried out.  Not uncommonly, searching is time consuming and may be boring and frustrating. High quality searching requires a variety of skills beyond the basic ones needed for effective work in the environment being searched. Attainment of these skills can reduce frustration and make the act of searching more meaningful.   

Search success is dependent upon a combination of search field skills, search field leadership and search planning. The totality of a search requires that all parts are carried out properly for the benefit of the missing person and the satisfaction of all those involved in the operation.  

This Course and Workbook Are Concerned with Search Field Skills – “How to Search”.    

It is not concerned with management and planning which are properly left to other courses.  The skills being considered include:  

• Skills for the individual – these are the skills needed in order to be able to perform effectively as a member of a search party.  They include Techniques of Observation, Terrain Analysis in the Field, Field Sketching and recording what has been seen and found.
• Search Team Leader skills – these are the skills needed in order to be able to perform as a leader of a search team.  They include the individual skills outlined above plus leadership skills.  Understanding the "Six Step Process" is desirable as is an appreciation of how the style of searching relates to the current phase on the operation.

Leadership is required at all levels in the process of bringing a search to a satisfactory conclusion.  The format of this course must be considered as “Work in Progress” and further developments are to be expected in the not too distant future. It would seem that, over the past 25 years or so, much effort has been expended on search management and search planning.  Search Field Skills have been largely neglected or given relatively little attention.  This Course attempts to consider the skills that impact on “How to Search” and the levels of leadership necessary to ensure that the quality of field work is enhanced.  

Course Objectives:  

• Development of ideas; sharing of information.
• Define terms and concepts.
• Identify Search Team (Party) Leader competencies.
• Applying the practically of leadership.
• Identify individual searcher skills (how to look).
• Identify Team Leader decision making process and tools.
• How to select Team Leaders – Benchmarks.

 

Course Content:   

Team Leader Job, Duties, Responsibilities;  Search Tactics;  Search Skills (Quality Assurance of Searching);  Investigative Skills;  Documentation Skills;  Communication Skills;  Evidence Recognition, Protection Skills;  Brief and Debrief Skills;  Team Leader Decision Making: Use of The “Six Steps”;  Search Team Leaders Roles and Responsibilities While Executing Type 1, 2, 3, Or 4 Techniques;  Monitoring Well-Being of Team Members Skills; Leadership Skills; Tactical Decision Games-Scenarios and Use of The Six Step Process. 
 

Search Management Systems (SMS)

Course rationale:

This 24 hour seminar (with optional 8 hour field lab) is based on the philosophy that all searches have a common beginning.  This initial response phase might last several hours to several days.  Characteristics of the phase include an emphasis on hasty searching and investigation, relatively small number of resources and agencies, a limited overhead staff, and a loosely defined search area.  But regardless of how large or complex a search ends up being, the actions that should be taken in the beginning are identical, and crucial to success.  Effective initial actions maximize subject survivability and detection, minimize the number of incidents that grow into costly large searches, and establish a firm foundation for those incidents that unavoidably become expanded response.  Search Management Systems thoroughly explains appropriate actions to take in the initial response phase; and it also describes the role and function of the incident commander, regardless of incident complexity. 

Overview: 

Example of typical course Agenda,

Day 1 

I   Incident Briefing and Pretest      

1.  Course Philosophy and Purpose  

2.  The Evolution of Search Management    

3.  Initial Response Characteristics                  

4.  Incident Response Process          

5.  Incident Management Principles          

6.  Search Crucials          

7.  Search Resources            

8.  First Notice Actions            

9.  Lost Subject Behavior Profiling         

Day 2

10.  Defining Goals, Objectives, Tasks, and Assignments        

11.  Initial Response Tactics           

12.  Risk Management                

13.  Identifying and Prioritizing Appropriate Actions (see example)  

14.  Defining the Search Area   (see example below)     

15.  Resource Activation            

16.  Demobilization Planning           

17.  Information Management, Briefing, Debriefing       

18.  Incident Action Plan, Searcher Preparedness      

19.  Incident Commander Responsibilities         

20.  Stakeholders and Critical Allies          

21.  Transfer of Command         

22.  After-Action Tasks          

Day 3 

23.  Course Exercise           

24.  POA Consensus          

25.  The Planning Meeting Process (one act play of a Planning Meeting using student actors) 

26.  Suspension Process         

Course Critique          

Final Exam            

UNIT1. Course Philosophy and Purpose

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

At the completion of this search and rescue training, you will be able to: 

• Appropriately initiate a search incident for a missing person.
• Apply the Incident Response Process to form effective decisions.
• Effectively manage a search incident through the initial response phase.
• Anticipate and manage changes in incident complexity.
• Establish the foundation for effective management of an expanded response incident.
• Transition to a relief incident commander or incident command team.

 

COURSE PHILOSOPHY:

Most searches are resolved in hours rather than days, with the remaining small percentage expanding into multi-day events.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Unit 13. Identifying & Prioritizing Appropriate Actions 

INTRODUCTION

Now that you’ve obtained fundamental information regarding the nature of the incident, have determined urgency, understand the application of resources, and can predict likely subject behavior, the next step is to determine what actions are justified.  This unit explores the steps to take in determining appropriate actions, including scenario analysis, prioritizing alternatives, classifying by mobility and responsiveness. 

UNIT OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of this search and rescue training unit, you will be able to: 

• Demonstrate the ability to identify and prioritize situations that may have caused a subject to become missing.
• Recognize the value of using scenario analysis to determine resource needs and appropriate search actions.
• Understand the purpose, and process, for classifying by mobility and responsiveness.

 

 
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Unit 14. Defining the search area 

UNIT OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of this search and rescue training unit, you will be able to: 

• Utilize travel aids, travel barriers, and passages to define and confine a search area having a high POA (Probability of Area)

 

UNIT GLOSSARY 

      Travel aid:    Natural and human-made features facilitating the subject’s direction of movement.

      Travel Barrier:     Natural and human-made features impeding or deflecting the subject’s direction of movement.

      Passages:    Convergence of travel aids and/or barriers. 

(There are too many definitions in Unit 14 Glossary to add to the web site example.  Most Units have Unit Glossaries at the beginning of their Unit) 

INTRODUCTION

So far we’ve explored critical reporting party information, appropriate responses, determining urgency, and through scenario analysis identifying high priority task and the resources to accomplish these task. 

Unit 13 focused on situations where the subject might be injured or otherwise in need of immediate assistance, and perhaps of limited mobility.  This unit focuses on situations where defining and containing the search area is desirable because the subject maybe mobile.  

A review of the original theory for determining where to search will be helpful for understanding the procedures recommended in this workbooks.  That theory was introduces in the original Managing the Search Function (MSF) course and was subsequently adopted in successor courses. 

Defining the Search area in the search and rescue training SMS course advocates the methodology explained as superior to the MSF, and successor courses, process in that it defines a reasonably sized search area confinement effectively minimizing area expansion. 

EXERCISE 14.1  

Read the following case study, and as a team complete the associated assignment. 

 

 

 

 

 

(Example of teaching slide - Unit 14)
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1. Select one member of the team to be Incident Commander.  The role of this person is to keep the process moving, and to make decisions when the group isn’t reaching consensus.  Organize.  Delegate responsibilities, and share information. Don’t get bogged down (remember Jane may need assistance).
2. Begin developing a missing subject profile using the “Missing Subject Profile Worksheet” in your workbook.
3. Determine the urgency by completing the “Urgency Determination Worksheet”.
4. Identify and prioritize scenarios that might have caused Jan’s loss, and her possible subsequent activities, by completing the “Scenario Worksheet”.  Develop a minimum of 5 scenarios.
5. Consider and prepare for possible contingencies.
6. Develop goal(s), objectives, and tasks for this incident.  Prioritize the strategies, and determine the number and types of resources needed to accomplish these strategies.  Record the information by completing the “IAP Worksheet”.
7. Define the search area and establish confinement following the below steps, and with these assumptions:

 

• Jane has now been missing eight (8) hours.
• The map grids are one (1) square.
• Estimate Jane’s rate of travel on roads/trails at ¾ mile per hour.
• Estimate Jane’s rate of travel cross-country at ¼ mile per hour.

 

1. Identify and calculate travel distances from the IPP for each travel aid and selected cross-country routes.
2. Delineate the theoretical search area’s boundary by connecting the end points of the plotted distance.
3. Identify passages and select key ones for confinement, preferably within the theoretical search area.
4. Sweep travel routes toward the IPP and establish confinement at the chosen passages.

 

8. You have 40 minutes to complete this search and rescue training exercise.  

 
 

SMS PRACTICUM

(Commonly presented as a 1 day course) 

Goodman and Associates announces a new follow-on course to the popular Search Management System (SMS) course.  SMS PRACTICUM is an eight-hour seminar utilizing case studies to explore and reinforce the Search Management System (SMS) course principles.  Designed to refresh and update SMS course graduates (see below for description of the SMS course). 

The SMS PRACTICUM incorporate all the concepts taught in SMS, but from an application – not lecture, rather perspective.  The course starts with using SCORPA as the initial report.  SCORPA and the Field Notebook for the initial response.  

Using another student’s Field Notebook (mimicking passing on the Field Notebook to the next IC) to develop the Initial Action Plan (IAP) for the 2nd Operational Period including and the use of the ICS-202.  No handouts of clue information will be handed out (the instructor will give all clues verbally and by PPT).  The students will have to record all clues in the Unit Log section of their Field Notebook.  Later in the course the students will develop a complete large incident IAP including using an ICS-215.    

In the final exercise (10 day search) the class will develop Probability Of Area (POA) as well as manage operational periods IAPs.  Information to help the attendees develop the IAPs will be given by the instructor.  Each team will be given all clues found during the just ending operational period.  This will prevent the students from reacting to clues; however, it will be using the clues to develop objectives and assignments for the next period. 

Field Notebooks, ICS forms, etc., will be included as well as laminated maps used during the exercises.  

Search Management for the  
Initial Response Incident Commander

(Presented as a 2- or 3-day SOP & checklist driven management course.)

Course rationale and background:

Most SAR missions are received by personnel who have little or no background/knowledge of SAR, yet because they are the responsible agency, they must begin actions.  We have developed a "best practices" SOP (6 steps) and field guide that leads the course participant through the "must do" tasks for the first operational period (0 to 24 hours).  A series of "dick and jane" worksheets assist the process.  

This course is based on the philosophy that all searches, whether short or long term, have a common beginning, called the "initial response phase." Regardless of how large or complex a search ends up being, the management of the initial response phase is identical; and crucial to its success.   

This "initial attack" course introduces concepts, but uses no numbers or math calculations.  Surveys conducted in the US, UK and Canada show that most missions are resolved within 24 hours (70 to 80% of the time). This course focuses on the first operational period.   

This course and text focuses on the management of the initial response, and is designed to provide a clear, systematic, practical approach.  The course materials do not dwell on theory or discussion of different and sometimes conflicting concepts.  The materials are designed for the search practitioner (the deputy sheriff, park ranger, police officer, fire department officer, search team leader) whose primary concern is what to do when acting on a report of a lost person.  This course also recognizes that it is impossible to predict when a search will grow into a major incident, and therefore includes actions to take so as to establish a firm foundation and a smooth transition should an expanded response become necessary. All procedures and techniques in these courses are field proven and current.

NOTE: A 2-day advanced course focuses on the "second operational period and beyond."  The advanced course focuses on the incident action planning process that usually begins as the mission continues and more experienced/knowledgeable personnel arrive to run the show.  This course educates participants on all the latest in search theory and tactics.  The basic course is SOP driven, and the advance course is process driven.  

Course purpose:  

• To give the participants enough training and experience (through table tops) to conduct a search mission immediately using a “best practices” standard operating procedure (SOP) 6 step process.
• Provide an orientation on both Search and Rescue management concepts, with emphasis on the basic concepts that will assist the participant in the planning of the “initial response” operational period.
• Orientation to the Incident Command System (ICS) and “initial response” procedures.
• Development of an “initial response” SOP.

 

 Objectives, upon completion, a participant should be able to:  

• Manage a search (first operational period).
• List the “Crucials” of search management.
• Explain the value of a SAR Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (HVA).
• List components of an effective SAR program.
• Apply incident management principles (use of ICS).
• Apply the 6-step incident response process.
• Identify, apply, discuss search management principles (essential fundamentals).

• Initiate an effective and appropriate response to a missing person report.
• Apply initial response resources in a SAR map exercise.
• Anticipate and manage changes in incident complexity (or be able to set stage for multiple operational periods).

• Manage crucial search management information.

 

Course content:  

• Search Management Philosophy, Crucials, Concepts.
• Components Of An Effective SAR Program (Local SAR Capability Assessment for Readiness): SAR program development and management.

• Incident Command System (ICS).
• SAR Mission Overview (Anatomy of a Search).
• First Notice.
• Initial Response (SOP Driven).
• Search Area Identification (Probability of Area).  Where to Search: Discussion of the Process and Basic Principles to Establish the Search Area.

• Search Tactics (Probability of Detection).  How to Search:  Discussion of
• Search Methods and Probability of Detection.
• Extended Operations Overview: How To Set The Stage.
• Rescue / Recovery Operations.
• Stakeholders and Critical Allies (External Influences).
• Mission Termination.
• Post Mission.

 

  

Urban Search Management for the  
Initial Response Incident Commander

(Commonly presented as a 2 or 3 day course)

 Course purpose and background:

Managing urban search and rescue operations can be amongst the most difficult and challenging Search and Rescue (SAR) tasks the experienced Incident Commander may ever be asked to undertake. Yet, no text or course has previously existed that focuses and adapts the principles of wilderness/rural search management on the urban situation.  

Though the general Search principles that we have learned for the wilderness setting will generally apply to the urban area, specific procedures used during most wilderness SAR operations will not directly apply to the typical urban SAR incident. The wilderness procedures for containment, travel aides, subject behavior and geographical barriers do not readily translate into workable techniques for the urban SAR incident.  

Additionally, the urban environment of concrete and asphalt also adds a complexity to Urban Search planning. Travel distances are often much greater in the Urban setting. Travel on pavement is much easier than through fields and countryside. The presence of Rapid Transit Systems, Buses and Taxi Cabs make it possible for the missing individual to be out of the search area before the Search even gets started. Couple this with the significant possibility of potential criminal activity, and of large scale public involvement, and the incident can quickly expand into one that is very difficult to manage in an organized and effective manner.  

The purpose of this course and text is to address urban search. It is based on the rural/wilderness oriented “Search Management for the Initial Response Incident Commander” text and course and has been developed and written by a panel of urban search management practitioners. This text and course utilizes “the Six Step Process,” a recognized approach to tackling an operational problem. It specifies a sequence of steps to take from the point at which the problem first manifests itself up to the implementation of the action needed to resolve it.  

As in the rural or wilderness setting, the initial response to the urban incident should also be rapid, protect the scene, provide a quick analysis and alert of the situation, and move to quickly confine the movement of the subject. (Remember, “search is an emergency.”) In this course you will learn that it is imperative that the “1000 foot rule” be observed on every search. The 1000 foot circle around the point last scene must be the first and most thoroughly searched segment (and the subject’s residence should be searched a number of times).  

Course design:

• To give the participants enough training and experience (through table top exercises) to conduct an urban search mission immediately using a “best practices” SOP (6 Step Process).
• Provide an orientation on both urban search and rescue management concepts, with emphasis on the basic concepts that will assist the participant in the planning of the “initial response” operational period.
• Orientation to Incident Command System (ICS) and “initial response” procedures.
• Development of an urban search “initial response” Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

 

 Objectives, upon completion, a participant should be able to:

• Manage an urban search (first operational period).
• List the “crucials” of search management.
• Explain the value of and conduct an urban SAR Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (HVA).

• List components of an effective urban SAR program.
• Apply incident management principles (use of ICS).
• Apply the 6-step incident response process.
• Identify, apply, and discuss urban search management principles (essential fundamentals).
• Initiate an effective and appropriate response to a missing person report.
• Apply initial response resources in a SAR incident.
• Anticipate and manage changes in incident complexity (or be able to set stage for multiple operational periods)

• Manage crucial search management information.

 

Course content:

Size up the Situation; Identify Contingencies; Determine Goal and Objectives; Identify Resources Needed; Build a Plan and a Structure; Take Action; The Second Cycle and Beyond; Introduction to Search Management Philosophy and Theory; Incident Management; Considerations When Developing Objectives and Tasks; First Notice, Investigation, Interviewing; Missing Person Behavior: Data and Checklists; Urban Search Techniques; Criminal or Non-Criminal Search.