Abbreviations
PLS
Point Last Seen (PLS): It is essential to know as precisely as possible where the person was last seen, and the exact time he/she was seen there. The expected or observed direction of travel from that point is also important.
LKP
Last Known Position (LKP): Sometimes the search subject has no PLS but was known to have driven his vehicle into a general area. When the vehicle is located it provides a strong clue similar to the PLS. It becomes the Last Known Position (LKP), rather than the PLS. It differs from the PLS in that the subject was not actually seen there
Initial Notification
When a requesting agency (usually the police authority) decides to request activation of a SAR Group, they may contact the EMBC Emergency Coordination Centre, or in many cases they will contact the Duty SAR Manager directly
LAST
The four basic phases that define the progression of a SAR operation are: Locate, Access, Stabilize and Transport (LAST).
Who decides to terminate or suspend a search?
The decision to terminate or suspend a SAR operation is ultimately made by the SAR Commander (police authority), in consultation with SAR Management.
IPP
Initial Planning Point (IPP): More recently, SAR Managers have begun to identify an Initial Planning Point (IPP). This is the geographic reference point upon which the search planning process is based. The IPP is the place and time that the search began and it does not change during the search. It may be the PLS, the LKP or an entirely different point.
POA
Probability of Area (POA) is the chance that the subject is in a given search area, expressed as a percentage. The subjective search area is divided into regions where the SAR Management estimates the POA to be the same across the whole area encompassed by the region boundaries. The boundaries of a region are defined by probable subject behaviour, as well as natural boundaries or obstacles, such as fences, trails or watercourses, where there is a higher probability of the subject being on one side rather than the other. If a region is too large to be searched in a 4–6 hour period, it may be further divided into segments.
Team Member Call‐Out
Once the SAR Manager has decided that team members are required, the call‐out procedure is initiated. The call‐out procedure for team members varies between different SAR Groups, with many Groups using pagers, phone trees or an automated notification system to alert members that their assistance is required. The information provided at this point will normally include the type and location of the incident and the rendezvous point. WorkSafeBC coverage for operational tasks begins when the registered SAR volunteer is notified of the event.
Once you have given consideration to your current work and family commitments, health status, and how much time you are able to put towards this particular SAR incident, SAR Management should be advised immediately.
The duration of a search is generally impossible to estimate. The most effective searches expend considerable effort within the first 48 hours, while the subject can still respond and has the best chance of survival. It is important that GSAR members responding to a wilderness search be prepared for 24 to 48 hours, depending on local policy and conditions. If GSAR members are being called out to provide mutual support in an incident requiring substantial travel, they need to prepare to be away for at least 72 hours.
Locate
During this phase, SAR Management will develop an Incident Action Plan and create team assignments. Search teams will be deployed to the field to carry out their assignments, and then report back to the ICP before potentially being sent out on another assignment. SAR Management will be continually gathering and incorporating new information and assessing risk to ensure teams are acting on the most current information available, and that appropriate safety measures are in place. For an extended search, fresh team members and SAR Management personnel will be called in until such time as the subject is found, or the search is terminated.
Demobilization
When field searchers hear that the search has ended, no matter what the reason, this should not be taken as a signal to disperse and head for home. There is still a great deal of work to be done before the response is considered complete. All searchers are expected to return to the ICP or other designated location at the conclusion of a search
POD
Search Managers use coverage and Probability of Detection (POD) to determine what spacing they want the searchers to be at (track spacing). Probability of Detection is the probability of the search object being detected, assuming it was in the segment searched (Cooper & Frost, 2000). POD is also expressed as a percentage.
POS
POD is also used to calculate Probability of Success (POS) which is a measure of search effectiveness. SAR Managers continue to reprioritize search regions, reallocate search resources and determine POS as well as continuing investigation until the subject is found or it is determined that the search should be suspended
Travelling to the Rendezvous Point
With the heightened anticipation that goes along with an emergency call‐out, there can be a tendency to want to rush to the rendezvous location or SAR site. However, as SAR volunteers in BC, you do not have the authority to drive your personal vehicles above the speed limit, have flashing lights on your vehicles, or otherwise ignore the rules of the road. The minimal time that may be saved is not worth the risk to your safety, or the safety of others on the road.
SAR Management may advise you of travel arrangements at the time of call‐out, or you may be required to make your own way to the designated location. Whenever possible and practical, try to carpool with other GSAR members or travel in one of the SAR vehicles rather than crowding the site with vehicles that may become obstacles to ambulances or other emergency vehicles needing to access the site.
Access
Once the subject’s location is determined, the appropriate methods of access can be evaluated. In some cases, no specialized skills will be required to access the subject, and the GSAR team can safely approach and evaluate the subject’s condition.
However, if the subject is found to be in terrain that cannot be safely reached without more advanced skills—for example, a cliff ledge or near swiftwater—the GSTL will advise the ICP immediately, and the appropriate rescue team and equipment will be deployed to the site.
Documentation
After every SAR response the SAR Manager is required to submit a SAR Task Report to EMBC. The report is used to inform EMBC about details of the response and to submit related expense claims. As a GSAR team member you will not be filling out one of these reports, but the SAR Manager will need your Expense Reimbursement Request form to submit with the report.
IRT
On most searches, once the SAR Manager has gathered enough information to safely begin initial actions, Initial Response Teams (IRTs) are deployed. IRT members are usually very fit, fast and experienced responders, capable of quickly searching the high probability areas while SAR Management continues to refine the search plan and develop additional team assignments in the event that the subject is not found during these initial searches.
PLB
Personal Locator Beacons are small emergency alerting devices, some of which can be carried in a shirt pocket. They cannot activate accidentally as they require manual activation involving at least two actions.
Signing In
Once at the designated rendezvous point, find the person who is in charge of the sign‐in sheet and sign yourself in. This is very important as the SAR Manager needs to know who is present to formulate an Incident Action Plan and to make sure everyone is accounted for at the end of the task.
Stabilize
If the GSAR team is able to safely access the subject, the next step is to stabilize the subject medically, protect them from hazards in the environment/terrain, and/or move them to a safer or more accessible location in order to stabilize their medical condition and prepare for transport.
Maintaining State of Readiness
At the end of a SAR operation, everything possible must be done to ensure that the SAR Group will be ready to respond to another call‐out. There have been many times in BC when a SAR Group has just completed one incident when they get called out to the next, so it is important to maintain a state of readiness at all times.
APRS
APRS is a digital communications system that allows for the exchange of GPS (position data), map objects and short text messages over the amateur frequency band.
Many position reporting systems allow only a central base station to see accurate location information of all users. APRS allows all users to have the ability to see the location of other teams or vehicles at any one time (VHF 2m band 144.390 MHz). Users of APRS must possess an amateur radio operator’s certificate.
RIT
A Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) is a team consisting of a reserve of qualified and competent personnel that are available to provide rapid technical rescue and/or medical rescue for SAR personnel in the field. The role of the RIT is, in short, to rescue the rescuers, when and if it becomes necessary.
Initiating a Search Stages
Initial Notification
Team Member Call‐Out
Travelling to the Rendezvous Point
Signing In
Transport
If the subject is not injured or physically weakened, and the First Aid Attendant is in agreement, it may be possible for the GSAR team to walk the subject back to the ICP. However, it is often necessary to transport the subject by stretcher to a waiting ambulance or helicopter, either at the ICP or at a more convenient location identified by the SAR Management Team and BCAS.
Sign‐out
The final critical step before leaving the staging area or ICP is to be sure you have signed out on the Check‐In List. The SAR Manager needs to be certain that they can account for everyone involved in the operation before demobilization can be completed.