DSSAR Jeopardy

First Aid

100

What is the most common complaint of victims in the desert and what should you do to treat the complaint?  

Dehydration

Provide water and electrolytes.  

Seek medical care if necessary. 

200

What is in your first aid kit?  

Bandages, dressings, ointment, otc medication, gauge pads, gloves.  

Discuss what team members First Aid kits. 

300

You encounter a victim who appears to have had or is experiencing a heart attack.  Victim is conscious. Explain the next steps.  

911

Conversation with victim, obtain any history, see if patient is amatory, determine best option to get victim to a higher level of care. 

Team discussion on local vs. remote area.   

400

When performing CPR, what is the compression rate?

100-120 compressions per minute.  

500

What is the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke?  What is the treatment for each?  

_{Heat Exhaustion symptoms:  Weakness, heavy sweating, fast heart rate, nausea or vomiting, pale/cool skin, and possible fainting.  Treatment of move to cooler area, cool down, water or sports drinks.}  

_{Heat Stroke:  Temperature greater than 103. Rapid heart rate, possible or loss of consciousness, and hot, red, dry, or moist skin.  Treatment:  Medical emergency, call 911.  need to cool the body immediately.  Possible death.}  

600

What does alert and oriented x4 mean?  

To assess a patient’s level of alertness and orientation by asking them four questions: 

(1) Who are you? 

(2) Where are you? 

(3) What is the date and time? 

(4) What just happened to you?

700

FAST is an acronym for what? 

What does FAST stand for? 

• Facial drooping: A section of the face, usually only on one side, that is drooping and hard to move. This can be recognized by a crooked smile.
• Arm weakness: The inability to raise one's arm fully
• Speech difficulties: An inability or difficulty to understand or produce speech
• Time: If any of the symptoms above are showing, time is of the essence; call the emergency services or go to the hospital.

800

You come across an injured person on a hiking trail about 45 min from the trail head.  The person is bleeding from their head, alone, and speaking in jibberish.  What do you do?  

Assess the situation for your safety.   Any falling rocks or other hazards.  Identify yourself and ask if you can help them.  Get consent.  Ask the person for their name, what happened, and if they know what time and day it is ?  AOCx?  Determine next steps based upon response.  Discuss next steps if the victim is mobile or not.  

900

Show how to splint an ankle with whatever you have in your back packs right now!  

The first part of splinting is immobilizing the moving parts. It's always best to immobilize the next joint up from the injury, if possible. If a foot appears to be broken, splint up to the ankle. If an ankle seems sprained, splint up to the knee. If the knee is tweaked, splint up to the hip. Padding is another chief concern. Ample padding helps to stabilize the injury and it also provides pressure to keep swelling in check. Wrap the limb or joint in any bandages or padding that you have available. For the stiff part of the splint, you'll need to find some bark strips, sticks, or other rigid material. Don't allow any hollow spots under the rigid splint material. Tape or tie them around the splint padding on the injured limb. Make sure that you don't tie the splint or any of the wrappings so tight that you cut off circulation.

1000

What are the signs of dehydration?  

name 6.

Symptoms of Dehydration

1. Dizziness and headache

2. Tiredness and weakness

3. Thirst and dry mouth

4. Decreased urination

5. Constipation

6. Delirium or confusion

7. Sunken eyes and dry skin

8. Low blood pressure

9. Rapid heartbeat and breathing

Navigation

100

What is the altitude of Palm Springs? 

What is the altitude of the San Jacinto Mountains?  

Why is this important to know?

479'

10, 833'

Possible altitude sickness.  

200

What is your current UTM?  

What is your current lat and long?  

Use Gaia.  

Why is it important to know both?  

300

Show how to record a track on Gaia. 

Then how to take a photograph recording the location of the photo.

Lastly, how to save the track.  

Show how to operate on Gaia. 

400

What is magnetic declination and why is in important?  Show how to set the declination on a compass?  

Magnetic declination is the true north. Typically in our area the declination is 12 degrees.  Failure to account for declination will guide off by 12 degrees.  

500

In Gaia, show how to set a waypoint to 

11S 532977 3741510

What is the location?  

Long Valley Ranger Station

600

Your cell phone went dead, you have no backup. Your team radio is broken.  You have been separated from your team for the last hour.  You have a map of the area.  It is getting dark.  What your going to do?  

Stay in place, wait till morning. 

Can you accurately retrace your steps?  

Do you have a map and compass and know how to orient to get where you need to go?  

Whistle or yell.  

Follow water.  Orient your direction based upon sun or stars.  

700

What are the basic colors of a map, and what does each color represent?

• Black - Indicates cultural (man-made) features such as buildings and roads, surveyed spot elevations, and all labels.
• Red-Brown - The colors red and brown are combined to identify cultural features, all relief features, non-surveyed spot elevations, and elevation, such as contour lines on red-light readable maps.
• Blue - Identifies hydrography or water features such as lakes, swamps, rivers, and drainage.
• Green - Identifies vegetation with military significance, such as woods, orchards, and vineyards.
• Brown - Identifies all relief features and elevation, such as contours on older edition maps, and cultivated land on red-light readable maps.
• Red - Classifies cultural features, such as populated areas, main roads, and boundaries, on older maps.
• Other - Occasionally other colors may be used to show special information. These are indicated in the marginal information as a rule.

800

What is an azimuth?

A horizontal angle, measured in a clockwise manner from a north base line, expressing direction. For example, a celestial body due North has an azimuth of 0º, one due East 90º, one due South 180º and one due West 270º.

900

Your team has been assigned to be inserted into a remote area of Joshua Tree.  It is springtime, 12 PM, your assignment is to clear a dry wash that runs for 6 miles.  The area contains large boulders and drop offs that are difficult to maneuver.  You have been assigned an extraction area.  What time do you instruct the helicopter to meet your team?  

What is the MPH your team will be able to hike? Fast is 18-20 min mile.  

Discussion:  What factors do you need to take into account?  Terrain challenges, density, gear, breaks, weather, skill level and hiking speed of team.  Only as fast as your slowest member.  Slower the hike, the higher the Probability of Detection.  

5 PM?  

1000

How many satellites in the US GPS Constellation?  

The GPS constellation calls for 24 satellites to be distributed equally among six orbital planes. A satellite constellation is a group of artificial satellites working in concert. Jul 13 2019

Search Management

100

What is ICS and why is important?  

According to FEMA, Incident Command System is the management system designed to enable effective and efficient domestic incident management by integrating a combination of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications operating within a common organizational structure.  

200

What does SERT and CERT stand for? 

What is the difference? Who is our contact with SERT? 

Sheriff Emergency Response Team

Community Emergency Response Team

Marcus Abbey

300

You receive a call from dispatch stating there are two teenagers stuck at the top of Eisenhower Peak.  Its dark, they don't have any flashlights.  Weather is 70 degrees.  There is no report of injuries.  The victims have two self phones half charged.  What should you advise dispatch?  

This is not a life threatening situation, therefore does not qualify as an emergency.  Victims are young, they have phones, the weather is ok, the victims will have to wait til morning to return down the mountain.  

400

What is a hasty search and when is it completed? 

A hasty search is usually the first tactic used in the early hours of a search.  This is a quick and efficient search by small teams that travel quickly to the likely spots and by the route of least resistance.  

500

What are the available resources to consider at the initial stages of a lost hiker?  

Team members, RMRU, Aviation, Drones, Dogs, SERT, CHP, other outside agencies.  

600

What is POD?  

Probability of Detection.

Discussion on what factors affect POD?  

Speed of travel, # in team, terrain features, Area known for hiking?  

What is a normal POD?  

700

Name the different types of search dogs and what they do?  

Trailing Canine - A search dog that will follow the scent trail of a specific individual, after the dog has been allowed to smell an article or object that has been in contact with that individual.  The trailing dog is scent discriminating (the ability to distinguish the scent of one person and follow it).

Air Scent Canine - A search dog that will detect airborne human scent.

A cadaver dog or human remains dog is a special type of police dog which has been trained to search for cadavers and human remains.

800

What is LKP and why is this so important?  

LKP - Last Known Position - The last known location for the missing subject as determined by physical evidence such as a discarded object or a footprint. Can also be PLS - Place last seen.  

Important to know the time of LKP..  

Starting point of a search where you develop time/travel rings of possible areas where the subject may be located.  

900

What is a debriefing and why are they important? 

Debriefing - a meeting after a search or after a team has been called in, in which all information found is disclosed and where suggestions can be made for the future.

1000

What is a Mutual Aid search and how is it activated?  

Part 2 - What is the motto of the search and rescue community?  

Mutual Aid Search - A search that is too large scale to be handled by one organization.  One or more organizations or groups outside the initial group are called in to assist in the effort.  Activated through SERT.  

 Motto of the search and rescue community is 'That others may live.'

Aviation

100

What equipment do you need to be in a helicopter and hoisting?  

Helmet, eye protection, Ear protection, Harness, personal gear.  

200

You receive a call from DSSAR leadership that two DSSAR members are needed to assist with a hoist of a stranded hiker in the local area.  What are you next steps?  Explain.  

Confirm assignment details, location, times, aviation pickup point (Thermal or Palm Desert), appropriate gear and communications.  

300

What do you say to a victim before they are hoisted to up to the helicopter?  

Explain where the Victim is to hold onto, collar of the screamer suit, Where to look, where to hold on to, walk through what they will experience with the TFO. Explain the seat belts.  No flash camera.  Discussion.  

400

What is the difference between Static and Dynamic Hoist?  

Static is when the helicopter is in a fixed location hoisting.  

Dynamic is when the helicopter lowers the cable as they fly into the landing zone and immediately take off forward when connected.  

500

When would you use the litter?  

Explain the process of putting the litter together, securing the victim, and hoisting the litter.  

Hinges on the litter.  

Color coded straps to secure the patient.  Red to the head.   Padding.  Securing any loose clothing or blankets.  Tag line, signals.  

600

When do you approach an operating aircraft?  

What direction do you always approach the aircraft?  

When told to do so by the pilot or TFO.  

From the front.  

700

Explain how to operate the door on the A-star?  

Open - Moving handle slowly, easy slide til locks. 

Closing - Unlock safety latch at top rear, slow close, push or pull door inward, lock door.   

800

Show three hand signals for RSO Aviation.

Part 2, what are the signals for CHP Aviation?

Hand on top of head - ready to hoist. 

Hand at waist - Unhooked. 

Slash throat - cut line, cut loose.  

OK - thumbs up

900

Name four safety considerations when working on or around helicopters?  

Loose garments, bags, clothing blowing, loose cords or rope. 

Double check harnesses and carabiners on the ground. 

Double check hoist hook and carabiner before hoisting.  

Rotor height.  Hiking or tent poles sticking up out of pack.  

1000

Name three situations where RSO aviation may not be able to assist with a SAR mission.  

inclimate weather, high winds, fog, rain.  

Equipment maintenance or fuel. 

Other priority calls. 

Pilots are out of hours or off duty.  

Knots/systems

100

What ropes do you have in your SAR pack?  

Prussic, 7 mm rope, and webbing.  

200

What is the minimum rated carabiner we use?  

21 Kilonewton.  Kilonewton equals 224#.

300

Why do we use locking carabiners?  

What is roll out?  

Reduces the likelihood of the carabiner accidently opening.  

Roll out occurs when someone is using a non locking carabiner or an auto locking carabiner.  Fails to double check the locking carabiner.  Poorly positioned, cross loading.  Using incorrect system.  

400

Tie a Figure 8 on a bight. 

 

500

Show how to tie a wrap two, pull one anchor using a water knot.   

 

600

How many pulleys are used in a 5:1 MPD hoist?  

3 plus the MPD. 

700

What is a MPD?  

What are the benefits of using an MPD?  

Show how to use it.  

MP can be used as a lowering device on the main line and belay line systems and be quickly changed over to a raising system without switching out or replacing hardware. The combination of essential features into a single device simplifies on-scene rigging, expediting the rescue.

Increases user safety with:

• Reduced Weight
• Fewer Components
• Faster Rigging
• Quick Changeovers
• Simplified Training
• Lower Risk

800

Set up a 3 to 1 MPD Hoist system?  

 

900

Show how to do a Munter Hitch.  What is it used for?  

Repelling:    

1000

Do you know how to set up a 5:1 MPD hoist?  

 

Potpourri

100

What year was DSSAR formed?  

1998

200

It summer time, how much and what type of fluids should you take on a 7 mile hike?  

Three Liters plus sports drinks.  

300

How many calories are estimated to be used hiking 5 miles, 2k in elevation, you weigh 190# and are carrying a 30 # pack?  

Uphill is estimated to be 793 calories and down hill is estimated at 310 calories.  

400

Who is the current Sergeant that DSSAR reports and what is their phone #?  

Sergeant Jard Howe

Cell - 951-722-5320

500

You and another DSSAR team mate decide to go explore an area that you have not been before.  During the hike, you fall and fracture your right ankle. Would you be covered by DSW or workers Comp?  

No as the hike was not a sanctioned or sponsored DSSAR or RSO event.  

600

You get injured on a SAR Mission, what do you do?  

Immediately report the injury to your team and command.  Seek appropriate medical care at the guidance of the incident command.  

700

Why do we log all our hours in Mission Manager?  

Volunteer hours are tracked by the Riverside County Sheriff to provide an accurate picture of contributions of the volunteer forces.  It also assists with future financial planning, fundraising and grants.  

800

You are responding to a Mission in your personal vehicle.  You left from your home, you are wearing your SAR uniform and have your SAR gear.  You get involved in an auto accident resulting in you being transported to the hospital as result of your head impacting the B Pillar.  There is $8k in damage to your vehicle.  Luckily, no other vehicles were involved.  Are you medical bills and vehicle damages covered under DSW or Workers Comp?  

Unlikely no. 

You are driving your personal vehicle on your way to the SAR Mission.  Workers Comp coming and going rule would likely apply.  

Technically, you have not signed in and started the SAR mission.  

Discussion:

900

If it is 38 degrees Celsius, what is the temperature in Fahrenheit?  

100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. 

1000

On February 2, 2019 Search and Rescue Team member Jeff Dye was struck and killed he stopped to assist with an accident scene while enroute to a training exercise near Castaic.  What are some of the key take aways we can learn from this tragedy?  

Discussion: 

The California Highway Patrol said it started receiving calls around 7:15 a.m. about a Nissan Murano that had rolled over at the center divider.  

The Search and Rescue team was on its way to a training exercise when they stopped to help out the driver.  As L.A. County Fire Department personnel rendered aid to the driver, a Ford Expedition heading north hit the Fire Department truck and the Search and Rescue crew.

Multiple vehicles were involved.  Three other members of the Search and Rescue team were injured—two who remained in critical condition and another who has been discharged from the hospital.

A Los Angeles County firefighter was also hospitalized with unknown injuries.  Cpt. Tony Imbrenda with the Los Angeles County Fire Department said. "We have a situation here that could've been prevented." 

Stay within the scope of our training!