Transcript Search and Rescue Volunteers Helping Others – Saving Lives

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Washington State’s
Part
One
Search and Rescue
Volunteers
Helping Others – Saving Lives
Presented by Art Jordan
President of the Search & Rescue Volunteer Advisory Council
of Washington State and Senior Coordinator for Cowlitz County SAR
Prepared with assistance from Rick Hood of Navigation Northwest
Selected materials from ERI-International slide library. All team photos, logo, and information by/from
acknowledged unit links at www.wa-sar.net, unless otherwise noted.
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We Are...
the dedicated volunteers, from all
walks of life, that train for and
respond to Search and Rescue needs
in our home county and, when
requested, across Washington State
and beyond.
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Our Basic Mission
“Search and rescue is the act of searching for,
rescuing, or recovering by means of ground,
marine, or air activity any person who
becomes lost, injured, or is killed while
outdoors or as a result of a natural,
technological, or human caused disaster...”
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We Also...
• Conduct essential evidence searches for local law
enforcement.
• Provide disaster assistance, when requested, by the
local Department of Emergency Management or
statewide, through the Emergency Management
Division.
• Perform an on-going preventative “stay safe in the
outdoors” role.
• Provide meaningful training and service
opportunities for Washington State’s best that have
a desire to help others.
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State SAR Response System
Legal Foundation
• RCW 38.52
• WAC 118-04
• RCW 47.68
• WAC 468-200
• State and Local CEMP
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State SAR Response System
Responsibilities
• Chief Law Enforcement Officer Conducts SAR
Operations.
• Local DEM Registers Volunteers and Coordinates
Support.
• Director EMD Appoints State Coordinator of SAR
Operations.
• State SAR Coordinator Administers the Emergency
Worker Program.
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State SAR Response System
Emergency Worker Program
• RCW 38.52 / WAC 118-04.
• Liability assumed by the state.
• Medical, property loss, fuel, and extraordinary
expense reimbursement.
• Missions, evidence searches, and training events.
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In Washington State, We Have...
• One or more teams in 26 counties
• 13 response types
– Ranging from general to highly specialized
• Function
• Terrain
• 4000 plus volunteers
– Volunteer hours per year exceed 100,000
• A ready to respond 24 / 7/ 365 status
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Washington State Non-Paid
Professionals Tally
~~700
missions a year*
* Chris Long, EMD, best source of information statewide;
county DEM office best source for local mission tally.
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SAR Sequenced Approach
• Search vs. Rescue
– Search
• Seek
– Rescue
• Assist to safety or medical facilities
• Locate  Access  Stabilize  Transport
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Accent the “Search” for...
the search role usually requires the
greatest number of resources as the
“uncertainty factor” is high.
(Search is a classic mystery.)
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A SAR Flow Cycle
Pre-planning
Critique
Suspension
Notification
Incident Planning
Tactics / Operations
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The Local Response...
Is the responsibility of the county sheriff or chief law
enforcement officer.
Conditions for use of resources varies among
counties.
Regardless, the response is usually performed by
non-paid professionals (volunteers).
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Hence, The SAR Volunteer...
is the backbone or core responder, under the
direction of the local law enforcement
agency, for people
in distress throughout this state and country.
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We Approach Our Responsibility
From the Perspective That...
1. Search is an emergency.
2. Search is a classic mystery.
3. Search for clues, and subject.
4. Concentrate on aspects that are...
- Important to search success.
- Under the control of the search manager.
5. Know if the subject leaves the search area.
6. Close space grid search only as a last
resort.
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For Example,
Search Is an Emergency Because...
• The subject may need emergency care.
• The subject needs protection from self and
environment.
• The subject may only be responsive for a few
hours/days.
• Time and weather destroy clues.
• An urgent response lessens search difficulty.
• Urgent response permits the use of more efficient
search techniques.
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Factors Affecting Urgency
• Subject profile
• Weather profile
• Equipment possessed by subject
• Subject’s experience
• Terrain hazards
• History of incidents in area
• Time
• Political sensitivity
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Ways of Considering SAR Resources
•
How the resource will be used in the
field
• Mission “LAST” paradigm
• Confinement, management, clue seeking,
communications, medical, air transport, etc.
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Where the resources will be used in the
field
• Water/river, high angle rock, snow and ice, etc.
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The qualifications of a particular
resource
• Experience, capability, availability, location, etc.
•
The parameters of a resource class
• Dog teams, scuba, mountain rescue, close order
grid, etc.
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K-9 Examples
Twelve Dedicated K-9 Teams
Handler:
K-9:
Breed:
Specialties:
Call Sign:
Shasta
Fison, Paul W
Spirit
Belgian Malinois
Air Scent, Operations Leader
Dog 5
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4 x 4 Examples
Six dedicated
4x4 & ATV teams