to familiarize first responders with basic response procedures and considerations for a missing...
TRANSCRIPT
Search & Rescue:Initial
Operations
To familiarize first responders with basic response procedures and
considerations for a missing person,
and to provide tools to assist them
in responding effectively
Purpose
Insert Information Here
Instructor
Search and Rescue (SAR) The application of all available resources
to locate and assist persons who are, or are feared to be in potential or actual distress.
PLS = Point Last Seen Last place/time/date the person was
observed LKP = Last Known Position
Last location where the person was known to be
Definitions & Acronyms
Increase awareness of key SAR principles among emergency response personnel
Give participants essential knowledge of priorities in initial search operations
Increase awareness of SAR resource availability and common errors
Present an overview of the initial response to a SAR incident by local responders
Objectives
Represents 46 Land SAR agencies or organizations serving Illinois
Education Training Standards Networking Resource Coordination Professional Development
www.illinoissar.org
Illinois SAR Council
Land SAR is its own distinct technical rescue discipline, and requires distinct training
This course gives an overview of what should be considered and performed during the initial response to a missing person search
Additional training or development of specific procedures for your jurisdiction may be necessary to ensure effective response
A Word of Caution
Search & Rescue Initial Operations (3) Initial response & reflex tasking for a missing
person incident Basic Land Navigation (8)
Basic searcher skills, patterns, and techniques G649: Ground Search & Rescue
Operations (16) Basic searcher skills, patterns, and techniques
SAR Water Rescue Level I (8) Land-based search of moving water and self/shore
based rescue Ground SAR Crew Leader(16)
Individual resource unit leader for the Land SAR environment
ISARC Searcher Curriculum
ISARC Management Curriculum
Search & Rescue Initial Operations (3) Covers first 3 hours in which over 85% of incidents
are resolved
G679: Search Management (16/24) Covers first operational period in which 95% of
incidents are resolved
G659: Technical Search Planning (16/24) Covers ongoing incidents beyond 12 hours making
up <5% of all searches
A Brief History of SAR…
Ötzi the Iceman
45 y.o. Male Last seen alive
crossing Ötztal Alps
Ötzi the Iceman
45 y.o. male Last seen alive
crossing Ötztal Alps 1991 by German
hikers Last seen alive 5300
years ago Initially believed to
have died from exposure/hunger
2001 discovered homicide
Ötzi the Iceman
Learning Points Need Police in SAR All searches potential
crime Preserve the site as a
crime scene Through secondary
survey Determining subject
category not always easy
Volunteer Search & Rescue
1863 Swiss Alpine Club
Each valley team of climbers and guides
2006 there were over 3000 SAR members
97 stations throughout the region
First Modern SAR Statistics
1973 Dennis Kelley 308 cases from 1964-71 Montrose Sheriff
searches Several characteristics of subjects described Did not break subjects into categories Survival curves Cited Koopman & Bridges
First Subject Categories
1977 William (Bill) Syrotuck
229 cases from New York and Washington (USA)
Introduced data by mountainous and flat land
Presented some survival statistics, looked at weather
Introduced probability rings
Introduced behavior description
International Search and Rescue Incident Database
Common Errors
Despite years of searches and learning from SAR missions, we still see incidents with:
Lack of leadership or clear authority Confusion and wasted effort due to a
lack of preplanning Failure of responders to implement
pre-plans which do exist (lack of training)
Improper use of resources Failure to begin planning for failure
Price County, WI March 2009 Missing 70 Year Old
Female who suffered from dementia
The news clip you will see is a follow up story on this search
A Recent Case
Movie
We show this case study as a recent example of the need to strive to do better in SAR
‘Common Sense’ is not a substitute for training backed by science and research
Technology, plans, resources, methodologies, and training should always be improving
“If we always do what we’ve always done, we’ll always get what we’ve always had”
Moving Forward
Statistically at any given time in Illinois, there is a search for a missing person somewhere in the state Mostly the young or elderly Cases are not limited exclusively to forested or
wooded areas as thought of in popular culture Local and County law enforcement
agencies are usually the first to be contacted and respond
Immediate actions taken early on will usually “make or break” the search
SAR to the local responder
Search is an Emergency!
Much like HazMat, treat a missing person as an emergency until you know otherwise!
The subject may require emergency care The subject may need protection from
himself or his environment Time and weather destroy clues The size of the search area increases with
time Not everyone will, if left alone, survive &
walk out
Four Phases of SAR
1. Locate2. Access3. Stabilize4. Transport
Federal SAR Authorities
Aeronautical SAR Air Force Rescue
Coordination Center (AFRCC)
Maritime SAR U.S. Coast Guard
(USCG)
Other Federal SAR Authorities Inland SAR
National Park Service (NPS) Department of Defense (DoD)
Department of Homeland Security National Incident Management
System (NIMS) National Response Framework
(NRF) Urban Search and Rescue (US&R)
Civil Air Patrol (CAP)
Civilian Air Force Auxiliary component
May be utilized in ground SAR Primary resource for missing
aircraft and ELT searches Aerial assets may be used in
support of missing person searches
Other assets & capabilities are also available to assist local agencies
State SAR Authorities
There is no statutory reference to SAR in Illinois Law – other states vary
An agreement between the Governor and the USAF assigns an “executive agent” for SAR In Illinois, this is the Illinois Emergency
Management Agency This outlines the lead and support
roles for various types of civil SAR missions
Local SAR Authorities
Who get’s the call…911 does! Local Law Enforcement are typically the
first to arrive and begin the SAR response
The actual conduct of SAR typically falls upon units of local government Assisted by local volunteer and nonprofit
groups Jursidictional authorities may vary in
County, State, or National Parks / Forests
Local SAR Resources
Law Enforcement Emergency Management Fire/Rescue/EMS Forest Preserve/Parks & Recreation
Departments Private volunteer non-profit SAR
groups
Initial Response
Gather Information
Interview the reporting party Investigate to confirm the facts Attempt to identify the PLS/LKP Ask people in the vicinity for help Contact subject’s acquaintances Contact people in the area the
subject was planning to go
Is there actually a problem? How serious is it, or could it get? Where is it? Who is already involved? How did it happen? When did it happen? What are you going to do now?Use these to guide your information
gathering
Questions to be Asked…
Evaluate the source of initial information
Evaluate the information itself Circumstantial or eyewitness
Consider the facts Consider the probabilities Consider the possibilities Combine the information objectively Initiate intensive and ongoing
investigation Protect clues that may exist
Evaluate the Problem
Organize essential information on the missing subject, specifically:
Name and address of subject(s) How long have they been missing? What were they doing? What equipment did they have? Age, sex, and physical description Physical, mental, and emotional condition Are they comfortable in the outdoors What is the point last seen (PLS)?Use ISARC Form 502 to document this
information
Lost Person Questionnaire
Some kind of response should always happen immediately
Consider containment actions Consider initial search tasking Action you take will primarily based on
the subject profile and the manpower and resources available
There is a tool available to help you determine how urgent your search situation is…
Initiate Action
Determining Search Urgency
S U R F
Search Urgency Rating Factors
Rapid assessment of overall search urgency based on initial information
Tool to rapidly assess “how bad is bad”
You will not always have all the information you would like – don’t get hung up on it!
Should get you thinking about Initial actions to be taken Initial resources to be called out
Search Urgency Rating Factors
A. Number of SubjectsB. AgeC. Medical ConditionD. Physical ConditionE. Clothing ProfileF. Weather ProfileG. Equipment ProfileH. Subject Experience ProfileI. Terrain & Hazards Profile
Search Urgency Form 503
Urgency
Dead within 1 day 2 days 3 days 4 days more
50% 24% 9% 9% 8%
The lower the total, the more urgent the search
If you have any 1’s on the urgency profile,
initiate action immediately!
A search without a subject is nonsense
Unless the area is contained, the search area continues to expand exponentially
Include prominent non-search areas Home Work Friends Known hangouts
Assign someone to conduct the “bogus search”
Where to Look…
Time vs. Search Area
One Hour
Two HoursTime doubles, search area is now 4 times
as large.
The chance of success is directly related to the size
of the search area.
Confinement is the initial tactical procedure used to limit the size of the search area
It is imperative to establish a search area with specific boundaries beyond which the subject could not have reasonably passed
Because of time criticality, initial resources should be used to establish confinement
Confinement
Road or trail blocks Perimeter patrols Lookouts Track traps
Confinement Methods
If arriving within the first two hours since the person was last seen, suggested containment distance is:
Children under 10 0.5 mile radius Children 10-15 1.0 mile radius Alzheimer’s/Dementia 0.75 mile
radius Autistic / Mental Deficit 0.75 mile radius Despondents 0.5 mile radius
These recommendations are based on lost person behavior profile statistics for each
group
Confinement Recommendations
Initial Search Search of high probability points and
routes with immediately available resources
Efficiency Search Search of high probability areas using
techniques that cover high probability areas rapidly using small groups of specially trained searchers
Thorough / Evidence Search Slow systematic search of all areas using the
most thorough techniques
Search Types
Expedient search of high probability points and routes by immediately available resources
Check the obvious or likely locations effectively
Initial search should never last beyond 3 hours During initial search, contact a trained Search
Manager for assistance and have them respond to assist you
Search manager can find resources to expand the search if initial search is unsuccessful
Use the ISARC initial search checklist Form 501
Initial Search
Search area immediately surrounding the PLS to 100 yards in all directions – repeat often with different personnel
Search likely places that the subject may have reason to be at (points)
Run trails and paths (routes) looking for the subject, or someone who may have seen the subject
Protect clues and scent articles which may exist Establish & continue confinement activities Continue investigating and gathering information Call out additional trained resources to assist in
the search Begin planning for search expansion if initial
search is unsuccessful in locating the subject
Initial Search Considerations
Bike Model for Initial Reflex Tasking
Bike Model Steps Tasks
Axial 1. Mark the IPP Preserve IPPImmediate locale searchIf structure, search and re-search repeatedlySigncutters/trackersTracking/trailing dogs
Rim 2. Use statistical lost person data to mark 50% and 95% rings.3. Reduce search area using subjective and deductive.4. Mark search area boundary on map.
Establish Containment.Consider camp-ins, road/trail blocks, track traps, patrols, attraction, and string lines.
Hub 5. Immediate locale search Canvass campgrounds/ if appropriate.Thoroughly search to 25% when less than 350 yards (0.2 miles)
Spokes 6. Hasty travel routes Hasty trails, roads, drainages, and other travel routes leading away from IPP.
Reflector 7. High Probability areas Send hasty teams to areas of high probability, high hazard, historical locations of finds.
Resources
Untrained searchers Source of manpower Not ‘clue aware’ Unknown quantity
Trained SAR teams Trained specifically for SAR Certified to a particular standard and
have known capabilities Have to be called and available
Resources – Basic
Search Dogs Must know what standard they are
trained to, and what capabilities they have
Tracking – nose down Trailing – nose everywhere Air scenting – nose up
May not be readily available Have limited time during high
heat / humidity Have special considerations for use
Resources – Specialized
Mounted SAR Horses also use their senses to search Must be trained and available
Man Trackers Specialized vehicles
ATVs Watercraft Mountain bike
Resources – Specialized
Fixed wing aircraft Low POD for objects as small as a
person without extensive SAR observer training
Useful for route searches for vehicles or overdue aircraft
Usually limited to daylight search Have relatively long time on station Require airports for landing May require hours before response
Resources – Aviation
Resources – AviationRotary wing aircraft POD as high as 65% in open
areas with qualified observers
Capable of ‘low and slow’ search when terrain & conditions allow
May serve as an attraction Possibility of rescue &
medical transportation May use hasty landing zones Have limited time on station Require special fuel Response time varies
Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) "Sees" heat, but is blocked by vegetation Useful in detecting an object with a different
temperature from its background POD much lower than visual search Touchy - must be used by a qualified operator
Hand Held Thermal Imaging Devices Much the same as FLIR, less range, easier to
operate Night Vision Devices
Not useful unless the user has been trained to operate with the device in the search environment
Hi Tech (Toys-R-Us)
OPTIONAL
This slide can be used to discuss local resources, such as those from the host jurisdiction or your jurisdiction
Stay focused on completing the tasks outlined on the checklist
Ensure you are documenting what is done and who did it
Continue to develop your ICS structure
Begin planning for what you will do if your initial search does not find the subject
As the Initial Search Unfolds
Benefits of Good Search ManagementProperly managed
searches: Are statistically more
successful Enhance searcher safety Allow for more efficient
use of resources Are well executed and
documented, which will help in any litigation
Developed by Anthony Marzano, CEMIllinois SAR Council
Photo / Image Credits
Patrick KeaneIllinois Emergency Management AgencyUS Air Force Rescue Coordination Center
US Coast GuardWill County EMA
SARBCNational Association for SAR
Halifax Regional SAR (Canada)
“Peanuts” © United Feature Syndicate, Inc. All rights reserved. Images used exclusively for educational use.
All animal action was supervised and simulatedNo animals were harmed in the production of this presentation.
Portions of this power point are original works that may be subject to copyright law.
Unauthorized use or distribution is prohibited.
Produced by Anthony Marzano 2003-2010
Acknowledgements
