SAR Techniques: Search Management

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SAR TechniquesSearch Management

• KCSARA Academy

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Philosophy and Concept of Effective Search
Management

• Search is an emergency
• Search is a classic mystery
• Know if the subject leaves the search area
• Search for clues, not the subject
• Concentrate on efforts that are
• Important to search success
• Under the control of the Search Manager
• Grid search as a last resort

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The Incident Action Plan Defined

• Dynamic/Flexible
• Updated for each Operational Period
• Only One Plan for each Operational Period
• Transparent

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The Incident Action Plan Includes

• Operational Periods
• Objectives
• Divisional Assignments
• Organizational Chart
• Search Map showing Assignment Areas
• Communications Plan
• Resource Status

• Mission Status Reports
• Weather Information
• Predictions
• Medical Plan
• Transportation Plan
• Subject Profile
• Safety Considerations

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Applying SAR Resources

• Search Is An Emergency
• Search At Night (Dont Wait)
• Create the Plan/Work the Plan
• Establish Containment
• Search for/Protect Fragile Clues Early
• Search for Clues, Not for the Subject

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Considerations When Planning

• Investigation Results
• Subject Profile
• Lost Person Behavior
• Available Resources

• Terrain
• Weather
• Outside Pressures

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Sequence When Planning

• Assign Planning Early
• Assign SITSTAT and RESTAT Early
• Determine Appropriate Action
• Develop a Subject Profile

• Establish Search Objectives
• Determine the Search Area Boundaries
• Segment the Search Area
• Determine the Probability of Area

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Sequence When Planning (cont.)

• Prioritize Segments
• Determine Needed Resources
• Encourage Input
• Prepare Assignments

• Coordinate with Operations
• Debrief
• Crunch Numbers
• Brief Field Teams

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Plan for Operational Phases

• Initial Response
• First Operational Period
• Second Operational Period, etc.
• Rescue/recovery
• Demobilization
• Always plan at least 1 operational period in
  advance

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Investigation

• Begins Immediately
• Continues Throughout
• Conducted by LEOs
• Separate Function

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Determining the Search Urgency
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Determining the Search Urgency (cont.)
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Determining the Search Urgency (cont.)
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Determining the Search Urgency (cont.)
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Determining the Search Urgency (cont.)
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Determining the Search Urgency (cont.)
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Determining the Search Urgency (cont.)
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Determining the Search Urgency (final)

• If any of the 9 categories are rated as one (1),
  regardless of the total, the search may require
  an immediate response.
• Score of 9-17 indicates an URGENT response
• 18-27 indicates a MEASURED response
• 28-33 Evaluate and investigate

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Lost Person Categories

• Children 1 3
• Children 3 6
• Children 6 12
• Elderly Above 65
• Developmentally Disabled
• Despondents

• Hikers
• Hunters
• Berry/Mushroom Pickers, Rockhounds, Etc.
• Fishermen
• Climbers

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Children 1 - 3

• Unaware of being lost
• No sense of direction
• Tend to wander aimlessly
• Will lie down and go to sleep
• Inside a log
• Under thick brush
• Under overhanging rock

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Children 3 - 6

• More mobile than 1 3 year olds
• Will return to somewhere familiar (home)
• Will follow personal interests
• Will lie down and go to sleep
• Might not answer to strangers

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Children 6 - 12

• Much better sense of direction
• Confused in a strange environment
• Might run away to gain attention, avoid
  punishment, etc.
• Might not answer when called
• More willing to be found after dark
• Same fears and problems as adults

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Elderly Above 65

• Consider senility
• Distractible
• Past-oriented
• Likely to overextend themselves
• Sometimes have problem hearing

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Devlopmentally Disabled

• Act and react same as Children 6 12
• Wont respond to their name
• Often hide from view
• Might not move for days
• No physical impairments

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Despondents

• Seek solitude
• Dont respond to searchers
• Within sight/sound of civilization
• Found near prominent locations

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Hikers

• Rely on trails, with set destination
• Cant navigate off-trail
• Cutting switchbacks can loose trail
• Hiking buddies often mismatched

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Hunters

• Concentrate on game more than navigation
• Tend to overextend themselves into darkness
• Typically unprepared for extreme weather

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Berry/Mushroom Pickers, Rockhounds, Etc.

• Intend to stay in one location
• Usually carry no survival gear
• Dressed lightly
• Often mislead by subtle terrain changes
• Dont pay attention to where theyve been
• Higher risk for survival

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Fishermen

• Very well oriented
• Often overdue due to accident
• Often ends in recovery

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Climbers

• Well equipped and self sufficient
• Remain on or near designated routes
• Often overdue due to weather or terrain
• Technical expertise needed for search and rescue

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Probability Zones(miles from LKP)...
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Establishing the Search Area

• PLS, LKP, IPP
• Theoretical Search Area
• Statistical Search Area
• Subjective Search Area
• Deductive Search Area

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Theoretical Search Area
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Statistical Search Area
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Subjective Search Area
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Deductive Search Area

• Putting it all together...

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Containment

• Road Block, Trail Block, Camp-in
• Look-outs
• Track Traps
• String Lines

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Segmentation

• Identifiable on maps and on the ground
• Searchable in 4 - 6 hours
• Without internal barriers

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Probability Of Area (POA)

• An estimate of the probability that the subject
  is within a specific area.

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Probability Of Area (POA)
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Consensus Approach
Evaluator
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Probability Density (Pden)

• POA / Segment Size

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Searching at Night

• Advantages
• Tracks and signs show up better when illuminated
  by a flashlight.
• Footprints and tracks are better preserved
• In hot weather, night travel is much less
  strenuous

• Disadvantages
• Possible risk to searchers
• The subject might be injured whilst attempting
  to move
• Overlooking, or accidental destruction of vital
  clues
• Greater apprehension in the subject and
  searchers
• Greater control problems for

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Why Use Probabilities?

• Distribution of resources
• Searching a segment
• Adjusting a segment
• Adjusting the search area
• Suspending a search
• Rationalizing your actions

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Probability Of Detection (POD)Mathematically

• POD 100 (.5 x spacing)?

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Probability Of Success (POS)

• Goal Increase the total POS as quickly as
  possible

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Search Probability Theory

• POA x POD POS
• POA Probability Of Area
• POD Probability Of Detection
• POS Probability Of Success

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Why do you need probabilities?

• Distributing or Redistributing Resources
• Searching or Re-searching a Search Area Segment
• Increasing or Decreasing a Search Area Segment
• Expanding the Search Area
• Deciding to Suspend an Unsuccessful Search
• Rationalizing Your Actions

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• A good puzzle, it's a fair thing. Nobody is
  lying. It's very clear, and the problem depends
  just on you.
• Ernö Rubik
• Inventor of the Rubik's Cube