11 Wilderness Search and Rescue

11 Objectives (1 of 2) Identify the need for wilderness search and rescue (SAR) operations. Describe various types of wilderness SAR emergencies. List general hazards associated with a wilderness SAR incident and understand how to reduce those hazards. Describe the resources needed to conduct wilderness SAR operations.

11 Objectives (2 of 2) Describe response planning and incident management requirements related to a wilderness SAR incident. Describe initial actions that will expedite operations and lay the groundwork for specialized rescue units.

11 Missing Person Search SAR organizations may include: –Fire service –Law enforcement –EMS –Government agencies –Private organizations

11 Public Land Use Includes National forests National parks Bureau of Land Management lands Tribal lands State lands

11 Wilderness Act of 1964 Definition of Wilderness “A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.” “An area of undeveloped Federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions.”

11 NFPA 1670 Definition of Wilderness “An uncultivated, uninhabited, and natural area usually, but not necessarily, far from human civilization and trappings.”

11 Wilderness SAR Considerations Involve USDA Forest Service if it occurs in federally designated wilderness. Consider wildland–urban interface (WUI) as another location for incidents. Remember timeliness may mean the difference between life and death, especially with a missing person.

11 LAST Mnemonic

11 Applicable Standards NFPA 1006, Standard for Technical Rescuer Professional Qualifications NFPA 1670, Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Search and Rescue Incidents: –General requirements in Chapter 4 must be met by any organization operating at wilderness SAR

11 Initial SAR Size-up Grid

11 Determining Need for Wilderness SAR Consider topography, vegetation, and access of landscape. Consider the most likely area to search. Consider distance to the nearest road. –Areas several miles from a road likely require wilderness SAR

11 NASAR Form Helps Determine Urgency

11 Things to Consider Where will operation take place? Where should the incident command post and staging areas be located? Which resources will be needed? How urgent is the situation? How will site control be managed?

11 Passive Search Tactics (1 of 3) Attraction techniques to draw subject toward rescuers: –Sound: sirens, horns, whistles, yelling, etc. –Visual: strobes, beacons, spotlights, flares, fires, etc.

11 Passive Search Tactics (2 of 3) Containment techniques to keep search area as small as possible: –Identify likely exit points, stage personnel there –Run flagging, with arrows and signs, to direct missing person

11 Passive Search Tactics (3 of 3) Investigation techniques focus incident by obtaining details. –Interview friends, family members, co-workers –Find out subject’s backcountry experience, plan, equipment taken, general health, medical problems, personality –Rely on law enforcement to assist

11 Search and Rescue Form Courtesy of Jon Trapp

11 Active Tactics Include Three Search Types Type 1: –Rapid or hasty search uses “hasty teams”. Type 2: –Quick area search covers large area fairly quickly and systematically. Type 3: –Thorough area search is often used when other search types have failed.

11 Notes on Clue Detection Many clues exist if you know how to find them. Clue seekers must practice skills frequently to maintain proficiency. Professional trackers may be required to assist. Examples of commonly encountered clues include trash, depressions in vegetation, broken branches, and tracks.

11 Important Search Concepts (1 of 2) Define search area to the smallest practical size. Determine PLS from information gathered from someone who saw the missing person last. Determine LKP from evidence and clues that the missing person was physically there.

11 Important Search Concepts (2 of 2) Any search should be considered emergency because subject’s condition is unknown. Knowledge of local terrain is invaluable.

11 Rescue Considerations (1 of 2) Activities like accessing, stabilizing, and transporting victim are equally critical as the search. Most people require rescue because they cannot take care of themselves. Diverse special rescue teams may be required, but will depend mostly on local area and the time of year.

11 Rescue Considerations (2 of 2) Courtesy of Cascade Rescue Company

11 Contents of SAR Ready Pack

11 Other Specialized Equipment (1 of 3) Rope rescue equipment Swiftwater equipment Avalanche beacons, probes, and shovels Litters (collapsible, rigid, wheeled) ATVs, snowmobiles, four-wheel-drive trucks Laptops, GPS, TICs, other technological equipment

11 Other Specialized Equipment (2 of 3) Courtesy of Jon Trapp

11 Other Specialized Equipment (3 of 3) Courtesy of Jon Trapp

11 Individual Skills and Training Maintaining good physical condition (strength, flexibility, endurance) Knowing importance of proper clothing and equipment Understanding backcountry travel and navigation Possessing basic survival skills Knowing backcountry first aid Understanding incident command system

11 Wear Clothing in Three Layers Courtesy of Robert Rhea

11 EMS Resources (1 of 2) Response is determined by IC. Fire or EMS responders may have special training and comprise wilderness medical team in some areas. EMS responders should be on standby during wilderness SAR when potential for injury exists.

11 EMS Resources (2 of 2)

11 An Effective ICS Works for incidents of all sizes Requires standardization to ensure seamless integration of outside resources Handles situation that continues for several day stretches: –Most SAR incidents resolve within 24 hours.

11 Response Command Structure IC: manages all aspects of incident Liaison officer: coordinates with other agencies Safety officer: oversees safety of involved personnel Information officer: deals with media; may assist IC in interviewing friends, family, bystanders

11 Duties of Operations Chief (1 of 2) Receives initial report and guidance from IC Coordinates with other involved agencies and landowners Obtains initial search planning information Gathers critical information to give to search team Evaluates available and en route resources

11 Duties of Operations Chief (2 of 2) Determines immediate needs of operations team and informs IC Supervises operations team members Determine communications protocol Tracks field team’s current location and findings Maintains field team tracking board

11 Planning Section Responsibilities Developing IAP Collecting and evaluating incident situation status Displaying event support information Tracking overall resources; anticipating future resource needs Providing daily briefings, strategies, maps and topographical data, weather tracking

11 Response Planning Sections for Larger Incidents Logistics section: supports all needs related to incident: –Obtains personnel, facilities, equipment, transportation, food, supplies, staging areas Finance/administration: –Tracks payroll information, processes damage or injury claims, maintains records of money spent

11 Three Aspects of Scene Size-up (1 of 2) Safety assessment: –Ensure individual safety first, followed by partner’s safety, public’s safety, and finally patient’s safety Mechanism of injury assessment: –Gather clues about causes; avoid additional injuries.

11 Three Aspects of Scene Size-up (2 of 2) Numbers assessment: –How many victims and rescuers present, how many more rescuers needed, other possible victims

11 Environmental Hazards Assessment (1 of 2) Temperature: –Current temperature; expected highs and lows in next 12 hours; relative humidity Weather: –Current weather conditions; forecasted weather Landscape: –Concerns; presence of impassable rock faces, rivers, crevasses, topographic features preventing radio communication

11 Environmental Hazards Assessment (2 of 2) Water: –Available water sources; do rescue personnel need to carry water needed Altitude: –What is altitude; chance for altitude sickness; will altitude hinder helicopter evacuation Wildlife: –Presence of poisonous or dangerous animals; ways to minimize human–wildlife conflict

11 Summary (1 of 2) Wilderness operations create unique SAR situations that require thorough planning, specialized equipment, and trained personnel. Remember acronym: LAST—Locate, Access, Stabilize, Transport Passive search tactics include attraction, containment, and investigation. Active search tactics occur within search area and include: Type 1 (hasty search), Type 2 (quick area search), Type 3 (thorough area search).

11 Summary (2 of 2) SAR team members should keep a “ready pack” loaded with essentials. SAR need a strong understanding of backcountry navigation, map and compass, GPS skills, and basic survival skills. Safety, mechanism of injury, and numbers issues are considered as part of scene size-up.