1. Canine Search Specialist Training
Unit 10:
Canine Search Strategies and Tactics

2. Unit Objective
At the completion of this session, you will be able to describe how the Search Team interacts with other functions and disciplines during Task Force operations

3. Enabling Objectives Describe the different phases of a mission
Identify disaster types and magnitudes
Describe search and rescue operations
Describe primary and secondary searches modalities
Describe the types of searches conducted (physical, canine, and technical)
Describe structure hazards and marking systems

4. Structure Triage Versus Recon Operations

5. Structure Triage
In most US incidents it will be done by the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)
It could also be performed by a FEMA TF if they were assigned a group of structures in a large or overwhelming incident

6. Typical First Hours of Deployment
Deploy to site
from staging
Typical First Hours of Deployment
Base of Ops
set-up
Four or more bldgs
Structure Triage
2-Structure Spec
2-HAZMAT Spec
(may split into
two teams)
Develop priorities
and plan
Recon

7. Typical First Hours of Deployment-Maybe?
Recon Ops
Recon Ops
Recon Ops

8. Disaster Type and Magnitude

9. Disaster Type and Magnitude
Recon team deployment options are up to TF leadership
Three possible scenarios follow

10. Type 1 Scenario A few bldgs Use TF in blitz mode
Recon team assigned to each building
Recon team stays to aid in rescue operations
A few bldgs

11. Type 2 Scenario 5-10 bldgs Large disaster or limited resources
Start with blitz on highest priority buildings
Recon team must get instruction from TFL after primary search- go to next or stay to help rescue
5-10 bldgs

12. Type 3 Scenario Many bldgs Many small buildings (Kobe)
Recon team deployed for primary search
Rescue should be relatively simple and fast
Deploy rescue without structure or search
Could enhance TF with US Army Corp of Engineers (USACE)
Many bldgs

13. Search and Recon Operations

14. Recon Team Operations
Recon operations are the foundation of the task force's mission

15. Recon Team Ops
Task Force Leaders and Team Managers must implement a comprehensive search plan
TF capabilities and limitations are considered
Input from AHJ or Structure Triage
Understanding of all available search methods
Search operations are what enable the rest of the TF to begin their part of the operations

16. Getting Started (assigned a building or area)

17. Gather Information
Record on TF Search Plan Worksheet, Search Area or Site Plan, Lost Person Data
Type of building? (Occupancy)
Type of collapse voids?
Potential victim location? (stairways, elevator shafts, basements)
Hazards to both rescuer and victim?

18. Gather Information (continued)
What is the source of the information?(size-up and recon, witnesses bystanders, building engineers)
Documentation is the only way to justify your request for support and for your actions
IF IT IS NOT WRITTEN DOWN, IT DID NOT HAPPEN

19. Recon Team Who takes on this task? Information must be gathered
Assessment is critical
Task Force capabilities must be considered
Structural and hazardous conditions must be avoided and noted

20. Recon Team (continued)
Utilities must be secured
Sketches are prepared
A PRIMARY search is done
Victims may be located at this time
Communications with TF Leader is maintained

21. A Recon Team

22. Recon Team (continued)
Recon Team is made up of
Search Team Mgr (1)
Canine Search Spcls (2)
Tech Search Spcl (1)
Medical Spcl (1)
Structures Spcl (1)
HAZMAT Spcl (1)
Rescue Spcls (2)

23. Recon Team (continued)
The Recon Team may function in PRIMARY mode of Search in this Phase One and Phase Two type of search operation

24. Search and Rescue Phases
Phase One-all search operations begin with this phase
Hazard Assessment of the collapsed area
Requires a plot plan, site ID, and is properly recorded on search area or site plan

25. Search and Rescue Phases (continued)
Phase Two-removal of all surface victims as quickly and safely as possible

26. Search and Rescue Phases (continued)
Phase Three-search and rescue of victims from accessible void spaces
Rescue squads usually involved in Phases 3, 4 and 5
Phase Four-selected debris removal to locate and rescue victims
Phase Five-general debris removal and usually conducted after all known victims have been removed

27. Search Modalities
Primary search-conducted in phase two and three to quickly detect the presence of survivors
Secondary search-conducted during Phase 3 and 4 to pinpoint the exact location of victims

28. Types of Searches

29. Types of Searches
Physical
Canine
Technical

30. Physical Search
Must have an organized approach to victim locating

31. Physical Search (continued)
Most effective during daylight hours
Most easily implemented
Can be done with available resources
Requires minimal training

32. Physical Search (continued)
Probably done prior to TF arrival
Locates surface and readily accessible victims
Must make sure not to miss any area
Searching same area twice is probable

33. Physical Search (continued)
Should involve safety personnel
Structural Specialist
HAZMAT personnel
Documentation is imperative

34. Physical Search (continued)
ID and remove surface victims
Note location of any other victims
Call out utilizing the hailing system

35. Physical Void Search

36. Physical Void Search (continued)
Used in initial phase and throughout the rescue operation, as necessary
Must be organized and systematic to avoid duplication of effort or missing areas
Begin operation in most likely areas of survivability

37. Physical Void Search (continued)
Talk to persons who may have knowledge of the building or of possible persons inside
Care must be taken because of need to be within the damaged structure during this operation
Remember safety is your number one concern
Know the evacuation plan and signals

38. Hailing System
Can be quickly trained incorporating the help of locals, which also builds good will
Personnel are spaced 25' to 50' apart around the site to be searched
Must call for silence and halt work around the site (may be very difficult to do)

39. Hailing System (continued)
Each searcher calls out saying "If you can hear me call out for help or knock five times" (searcher may also knock five times on an object, usually metal, to elicit a response)
An attempt to get a "fix" on a response is made
Triangulation of the sound is the means to locate the source and victim

40. Search Patterns Must be an organized approach Includes mapping and GPS
Remember, documentation is important

41. Basic Search Patterns
Should use a right hand pattern maintaining contact with the wall at all times
A need to exit can be done by reversing your direction maintaining a left-hand contact with the wall

42. Line Search
Line search is used for a large open area

43. Canine Search

44. Canine Search
Certified canine team provides the best way to locate trapped victims in a large area in the shortest amount of time
They are able to access areas that are either to small or to unstable for us to enter
Can be used in both a primary and secondary search operation
A redundant alert is most desirable in victim verification

45. Canine Search (continued)
A safety observer is needed during this time since the handler is focused on their partner and may be unaware of surrounding hazards
Handler must constantly be aware of the condition of their partner (hydration, any injuries, and fatigue)
Alert those on the site as to what to look for when your dog is working and what their conduct should be

46. Canine Search (continued)
Canines can be used to confirm potential victims located by technical equipment
Optimize canine performance by using them in appropriate scenting conditions
Canines are the best tool for detecting unresponsive victims
Strategies

47. Technical Search Three types of electronic search equipment Search Cam
Fiber Optic
Acoustic

48. Search Cam
Monitor attached to a probe with both visual and sound transmission and receiving capabilities

50. Search Cam (continued)
Can give a positive verification to an alert by canine team
Assist with victim position and entrapment in rubble
Limited to a straight line of entry into rubble with a 90-degree movement at the end of probe

52. Fiber Optic
A flexible tube of glass rods used to transmit an image back up to a lens
End of flex tube has the ability to be moved at a 90° angle
No sound transmission abilities
Difficult to guide tube into desired location
Also, many TFs use rigid borescopes

53. Flexible fiberscope
Rigid borescope

54. Electronic Search Tools
Delsar® Compact Life Detector

55. Electronic Search Tools
Used in much the same way as the hailing system
Best as a detection device
Can triangulate the location of a victim who is making a noise to attract attention
Can be used for detection, by using two sensors (rotate one around the other to “point” at the victim’s sound)
This can be very slow process

56. Electronic Search Tools (continued)
May have the site shut down some operations to be able to listen for the victim
Newer systems can filter out machine sounds
Continued training is necessary to competently operate system

57. Typical Collapse Patterns
These are the typical collapse patterns that are used to predict where victims may be found
These are patterns that are taught thru-out the world, but mostly apply to URM buildings.
Their recognition is useful in predicting victim location, as well as areas in need of shoring

58. Lean-to
Vee
Pancaked
Cantilever

59. Lean-to Collapse Coalinga 1984

60. Pancake Collapse Mexico City 1985

61. Cantilever and V-Shape Collapse Coalinga 1984

62. Lean-Over Building
Many of these occurred during earthquakes in Kobe and Taiwan
Not to be confused with lean-to collapse
Caused by weak or “soft” 1st story

63. Overturned Collapse Taiwan 1999

64. Vehicle Involvement

65. Structure Hazard and Search Marking Systems

66. Structure Hazard and Search Marking Systems
Information gathered by TF personnel must be represented in a standardized fashion to ensure uniformity and clarity
FEMA TF Marking System is divided into two sections
Structure and Hazards Evaluation Marking
Search Assessment Marking

67. Structure and Hazards Evaluation
Will be conducted by your Structural and Hazardous Materials Specialists
As first action of Search and Recon Team
Structure ID may be done at this time
If not already done by AHJ or Structure Triage Team

68. Structure and Hazards Evaluation (continued)
Structure and Hazards Marking
Should be made when Structure and HAZMAT Specialists leave a building
Provide the Info to anyone who follows

69. Structural Markings (2 ft orange square at all entries)
BE EASY
BE CAREFUL
NO GO
No significant hazards OK
but some hazards
* High Risk Hazards
Do Not Enter
until mitigation has occurred
* Canine may search perimeter

70. Structural Markings 14OCT04 2015 HRS HM - NATURAL GAS OR-1
Arrow indicates safest way to enter

71. Maintaining Markings
As new searches are made or conditions change new information will be written below original information or a new box will be made
Marking boxes may also be applied to interior rooms or areas denoting conditions in separate parts of the building
Not often done with Structure/Hazard Mark
More common with Search Mark

72. Search Markings
A separate and distinct marking system is necessary to denote information concerning victims and hazardous locations within the searched area
It is to be used in conjunction with the Structure/Hazards Evaluation marking system

73. Search Markings (continued)
When you ENTER
CA-2
2-24
1150
Search Team Identifier
Date of Entry
Time of Entry
Single slash
Structure or room

74. Search Markings (continued)
When you exit - incomplete search
Date and Time
Search Team
left the structure
2-24
1520
CA-2
2-24
1150
RATS
Hazards
2-L
3-D
Total victims
still inside
the structure

75. Search Markings (continued)
When you EXIT – completed search
2-24
1520
Date and Time Search Team left the Structure
CA-2
2-24
1150
RATS
Hazards
2-L
3-D
Total Victims still Inside the structure
Floors Searched/
or Quadrants
Floors = F
Quadrants = Q
F 1 - 4

76. Search Markings (continued)
Interior Search Markings
When you ENTER
When you EXIT
Identify
Any
Hazards
Identify Any Victims

77. still inside structure still inside structure
Date and time Search
Team left structure
2130
HRS
Task Force
Identifier
CA-6
RATS
Hazards
1150
1 - L
3 - D
1 Live Victim
still inside structure
3 Dead Victims
still inside structure

78. Internal Search of Buildings
While inside the building a 2’ “X” will be placed at the entrance to each room or area with only information relating to victim numbers (live or dead) and any hazardous conditions contained within that area
Main entrance and internal markings must be updated with corrected information whenever new searches are made

79. POTENTIAL VICTIM
REMOVED VICTIM
CONFIRMED
LIVE VICTIM
CONFIRMED DEAD VICTIM

80. Search Assessment and Victim Marking Examples

81. Plan view of 5 interior spaces, 3 victims, and 1 hazard
Exit
Empty
Water
Entry

82. Go right and stay right (may go left or split and go both ways)
Exit
Entry
Exit
Start

83.      Exit Entry Water 1-Live 2- Dead 10/12/04 1500 HR CA-6 Water
1430
1-L D

84. Unit Summary and Evaluation

85. Unit Summary Describe the different phases of a mission
Identify disaster types and magnitudes
Describe search and rescue operations
Describe primary and secondary searches modalities
Describe the types of searches conducted (physical, canine, and technical)
Describe structure hazards and marking systems

86. Unit Evaluation
Please fill out the evaluation on this unit