1. Land Search First Edition Version 1.2, 24 th June 2014 CD/14/32759

2. 1 Course Introduction  Welcome and introductions  Housekeeping, Work Health and Safety and code of conduct  Competency coverage (PUASAR027A Undertake Land Search Rescue)

3. 2 Course Overview  This training is relevant to you in your role as a land search crew member.  A sound knowledge of land search procedures and search techniques is essential for personnel involved in any type of search activity.

4. 3 Training Program Content Outline During this course we will cover:  The preparation required for search operations.  The techniques required for efficient coverage of search areas and the preservation of clues.  The procedures involved in recalling and standing down search teams.

5. Session One Organising a Search

6. 5 Session One After completing this session, learners should be able to:  State the aim of land search.  Outline the principles of land search.  Describe the five response phases for a search operation.  Describe how a search is organised.  Discuss requirements for pre-search information.  List clothes and equipment required by searchers.

7. 6 The Aim of Land Search  Is to locate the missing person or object.

8. 7 Land Search Principles  Control.  Information.  Communications.  Planning. - Mobile and Flexible  Trained Personnel.

9. 8 Response Phases  Alert. - Search pending, increased level of preparedness.  Stand-by. - Search imminent, ready to respond immediately.  Call out  Activation. - Command to begin, personnel deployed.  Action  Response. - Search and/or rescue conducted  Stand-down. - Search commander declares search over, recall personnel, debrief and release.

10. 9 Setting up for a Search  Search Headquarters.  Assembly Area (staging).  Field Search Headquarters.  Support Base (Logistics/Welfare).  Teams in the Field

11. 10 Requirements of Searchers  Attitude.  Personal Equipment.  Readiness.  Fitness.  Dress.

12. 11 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Hats or caps Overalls Sturdy Footwear Hiking Socks Eye Protection Backpack Gloves

13. Session Two Preparing for Search Operations

14. 13 Session Two After completing this session, learners should be able to:  Outline the different phases of a search operation.  Outline different types of searches.  List available resources for a search operation.  Discuss the similarities and differences between urban and rural search procedures.  Outline advantages and disadvantages of night searching.  Describe how lost person behaviour will affect the search.

15. 14 Search Type  Fast.  Reconnaissance.  General.  Contact.

16. 15 Search Resources  Foot search – human trackers.  Air search.  Vehicle/motor/mountain bike.

17. 16 Search Resources continued  Canine Search.  Mounted Search.  Boat Search.

18. 17 Types of Search  Urban/Built up area.  Rural/Bush.  Remote.

19. 18 Night Searching Advantages:  Tracks show up better in torchlight.  Clues dry out less at night.  Cooler for searchers.  Human voice carries further at night.  Light signals better seen at night.

20. 19 Night Searching Disadvantages:  Risk to searchers.  Risk to missing persons.  Clues disturbed without knowing.  Missing vital clues.  Greater control required to maintain search line.

21. 20 Lost Person Behaviours Categories:  Children.  Youth.  Adults  Despondent.  Mentally affected persons

22. Session Three Safety in Search Operations

23. 22 Session Three After completing this session, learners should be able to:  Outline safety factors to be considered during searches.  Outline the procedure to take if a searcher becomes lost.

24. 23 Responsibilities Searcher Responsible for:  Safety of themselves.  Safety of team members.  Safety of missing persons.

25. 24 Factors to Ensure Safety  Skilled Crew Leaders and crew members. - Explain why communications are so important during a search operation.  Appropriate PPE and equipment.  Survival techniques.  Control of crew.

26. 25 Factors to Ensure Safety  Personal physical fitness.  Take no risks.  Hydration.  Good communications. - Numbering off. - “Action if” procedures.

27. Session Four Briefings and Orders

28. 27 Session Four After completing this session, learners should be able to:  Outline the content of a SMEAC briefing.

29. 28 Definition  Briefing. - The provision of general information.  Orders. - The delivery of specific instructions that are to be carried out.

30. 29 SMEACS  Situation.  Mission.  Execution.  Administration and Logistics  Command, Control and Communications  Safety

31. Session Five Composition of a Search Crew

32. 31 Session Five After completing this session, learners should be able to:  Outline the composition and duties of a search crew.  Outline reasons for marking boundaries.  Describe calling and listening procedures.

33. 32 Composition of Search Crews  Crew Leader.  Deputy Crew Leader.  First Aider.  Pacer.  Navigator.  Caller.  Boundary Marker(s).  Radio Operator/Communicator.  Searchers.

34. Session Six Search Formations

35. 34 Session Six After completing this session, learners should be able to:  Demonstrate common search formations.

36. 35 Search Formations Common Search Formations:  Single File.  Track Sweep.  Parallel Sweep.  Creeping Line Ahead.  Square Search.  Contour Search.  Vehicles in Echelon.

37. 36 Search Formations

38. 37 Search Formations Track Sweep

39. 38 Search Formations

40. 39 Search Formations

41. 40 Search Formations

42. 41 Search Formations Contour Search

43. 42 Search Formations

44. 43 Search Formations Vehicles in Echelon

45. 44 Search Formations Parallel Sweep Multiple

46. Session Seven Observation Skills

47. 46 Session Seven After completing this session, learners should be able to:  Demonstrate observation skills.  Identify relevant clues in relation to the search.  Explain how to protect night vision.  Participate in a search in poor light conditions.

48. 47 Why Things are Seen  Shape.  Shine.  Shadow.  Colour.  Silhouette.  Spacing.  Movement.

49. 48 How to Look Scan:  Foreground.  Mid ground.  Background.

50. 49 Where to Look Look:  In, On, Under, Over.  Through, Behind, Up, Down.  For missing person.  For clues.

51. 50 Night Search  Torches will be required for night searching.  Make sure torch batteries have ample charge before leaving Base.  Use overlapping sweeps of torchlight.

52. 51 Listening Skills  Use calling and listening procedures regularly.  Listen for voices, animal flight, rifle shots, whistles, car horns, movement.

53. 52 Use of Smell  Smoke from campfire.  Cooking.  Tobacco smells.  Decay of corpse.

54. 53 Use of Sight  Smoke.  Footprints.  Clothing.  Trail clues.  Lolly wrapper/drink cans/cigarette butts.  Eye witness.

55. Session Eight Object Indication, Action on Find and Crime Scene Preservation

56. 55 Session Eight After completing this session, learners should be able to:  Describe actions to take when locating a missing person or item.  Describe how to preserve a crime scene.

57. 56 Object Indication  Direct Method.  Reference Point.  Clock Direction and Distance Method.

58. 57 Action on Find  Obey instructions delivered in Orders.  Use appropriate code word if assigned.  Evacuate only under instruction of Field Search Commander.  Preserve clues, scene and evidence.

59. 58 Crime Scenes  Preserve Life First!  Make mud map of scene.  All leave by line of entry.  Cordon off if tasked to do so.  Man area to prevent loss of evidence.

60. Session Nine Search Recall, Debriefs and Stand Down

61. 60 Session Nine After completing this session, learners should be able to:  Describe Recall and Stand Down procedures.  Contribute to an Operational Debrief.

62. 61 Recall For:  Redeployment.  Suspension of search.  Missing person or object has been found.  Termination of search.

63. 62 Procedure  Re-assign or recall to Field Search Headquarters.  Check registration lists on return.  Provide welfare.  Debrief of crews.  Return all equipment.  Remake stores for next duty.  Final debrief before departure.

64. 63 Stand Down  Prepare all personnel ready for return to home base.  Final site clean up.  Documentation responsibilities.

65. 64 Debrief

66. 65 Psychological Debrief May be required when:  Search has been difficult.  Trauma occurred to a crew member.  Trauma situation to missing person.  Deceased find.

67. 66 Signs of Stress  Disturbed sleep.  Irritability.  Upset stomach.  Headaches.  Diarrhoea.  Depression.  Grief.  Confusion.  Fatigue.  Inability to make decisions.  Poor concentration.