F.A.Q.

How do I start? 

First, ANY training you do make sure: 1)  You get certification for the training.  Many people are knowledgeable and can “train”, but only a few can certify.  Certification is what matters. and 2)  Your training follows a standardized curriculum from a reputable source recognized by your state, national, or international standards for certification; (i.e. ASTM, NFPA, NIMS, NASAR, DOD, Mountain Rescue Association, American Heart Association, ASHI, Red Cross, your states Fire Academy or EMA, FEMA, etc).  Avoid anyone or any program that independently writes their own curriculum and tells you it is the best or only way.  Their intentions, personal knowledge, and training may be good but they are narrow minded and miss-leading, generally with an agenda of selfish motives; (many times they have strayed from a recognized training or program they had a conflict with and tried to one-up the old program by trying to make a better one themselves, often short cutting to try to get ahead).  The ONLY single absolute in SAR is safety. Beyond that, there are many ways to accomplish the same goal.  Using certified standards will help you be in compliance with ASTM, NFPA, NIMS, FEMA, and most local program standards recognized by law enforcement, fire departments, or EMA’s who are the authority in charge (a.k.a. Agency Having Authority or Agency Having Jurisdiction) of a search and all responding resources to that area.    

Your first step is to get trained as an individual SAR asset. This is the foundation to all other training and specialty work you will get into.

Where to start?  

There are some great awareness level courses that can be taken online. These will help wet your appetite and help you understand if the particular topic(s) are what you want to pursue with your time and resources. NASAR has great courses in their ISAR (Introduction to Search & Rescue) course with online exams to gain entry level certificates for SARTECH IV & III.  These are NOT designed to prepare you or certify you for field deployment for a SAR event. They are awareness only, to help you have a larger understanding and overview of what SAR is. 

We recommend NASAR’s FUNSAR (Fundamentals of Search & Rescue).  This is an A-Z educational course for search training.  This course is geared for the person who has no organized or formal search training all the way up to experienced hunters, backpackers, guides, and military personnel.  FUNSAR is the prerequisite course which prepares the candidate for the SARTECH II (Search & Rescue Technician Level 2) certification examination.  The operations level certification.  Once you are a SARTECH II, you are operations level trained, certified, and ready to deploy into a field search environment.  Typically you can find the FUNSAR and SARTECH II offered in combination with each other.  The FUNSAR journey begins by contacting NASAR to get your task book and get started.  

Another very important training will be medical.  You may be the first person to contact a missing person and first aid can be very necessary.  Most teams require a minimum of basic first aid and CPR.  This is good.  However, in a wilderness environment, more advanced help may be a while in arriving on scene and thus we recommend more training.  As a minimum, the WFA (Wilderness First Aid – 16 hours) brings a higher level of capability to the victim from the onset, and is a prerequisite for the FUNSAR course.  For anyone who is going to be serious about their SAR career, we recommend a minimum of WFR (Wilderness First Responder).  This is an 80 hour course that gives a very strong skill set for patient assessment, field interventions, and patient transport options; (the next step higher is EMT).  In all cases, medical first aid training is necessary.  Regardless the level of your training or how well you think you are trained, you must always act within the standard operating procedures (SOP’s) of your team or the AHJ.  In other words, if you are an EMT but your team protocol or the local AHJ says nobody can operate beyond basic first aid, you may be restricted to only operating at the basic first aid level.  This is a very hard concept for many EMT’s and Paramedics to swallow and why many develop their own teams (mentioned above) to do it “their way”.  Good education should make you wise enough to understand your limitations and legal limits.  In all cases, advanced medical knowledge and abilities is very valuable!  Be sure to get at least first aid and CPR trained to treat your own needs or those of your teammates; (see the FAQ first aid VS wilderness medicine VS remote medicine topic below).

Other areas you can start your training for FREE which you’ll need with nearly any team or AHJ you work with, (all fire, law enforcement and EMS personnel need for their professional careers too) are many FEMA classes.  You can find them by doing a Google search for “FEMA IS-100” (or whatever number of course you want).  IS stands for Independent Study.  They are on-line courses from FEMA that you get a certificate at the end of the course.  Courses you should consider:  IS 100, 200, 700, 800, 10, 11, 5.  There are many more, but if you get started with these, you’ll get a solid platform for all your trainings across the board.  You may even go on to take a LOT more.  NOTE:  some of the classes may be 100.a, or 100.b, etc.  This is because the curriculum has been updated from its original number i.d.  You want the updated version.  AND…at the end of each course you can print a certificate from FEMA.  NOTE:  IS-100 is now a prerequisite for FUNSAR.  

It may be worth looking into HAM Radio (a.k.a. armature radio).  Many SAR teams are moving to having this as a base certificate too.  When things go sideways and the phone systems are either down (weather incident) or overwhelmed, we need to have a back-up.  HAM’s are often the answer.  Having this diversity in your training makes you much more capable and marketable to a team.  Some of the more active teams in multiple states, not all, make this a base requirement to joint their teams.  Others give up to 6 months to get during a probationary period.  In other words, teams who know what they are doing feel this is important.

Avoid using only one instructor.  Keep an open mind and find a host of professionals who can provide diversity to your training.  One thing BERTS does is compiles anywhere from 2-12 different certified Instructors and certified subject experts for a given course to ensure students hear from many trained professionals who practice in multiple fields of public services including law enforcement, fire, EMS, K9’s, Equestrians, military, Incident Management, public education, social services and many more disciplines.  We also encourage and facilitate networking with teams near or adjacent to your home area of operations, interstate and internationally to help build your skills and training opportunities. 

NOTE:  if the concept of networking and/or using other instructors scares, intimidates, or upsets the powers that be within a given SAR program you want to work with, re-read the above information and determine what that team’s goals and agenda are.  You may find or realize the given team may not be the right one for you…you, a professionally trained volunteer.

DON’T start spending money until you know what you need.  If your budget is bottomless, disregard this advice.  If it’s tight and out-of-your-own-pocket like most of us, network, ask, learn what, why, or why not before dropping money for something you don’t want or need; training and equipment alike.  Trust me, in time you’ll end up with 2-3 closets full of stuff you used and then put aside to get better stuff anyway.  Likely, many of your teammates have stuff you can borrow and try before spending money…and if they like you, should give you the same advice too!

This is not an exhaustive list for your SAR education.  It is merely a map to help you get pointed in a good direction as you get started.  Continue reading more Frequently Asked Questions for more information on other topics.  

Want to help with the search you see on the news?

Please Read This First!

The news reports are troubling.  A young girl is missing.  You can imagine the terror you would feel if it were your child.  You would be horrified.  You ARE horrified.  There must be something you can do.   The incident is on the other side of the county and you don’t have to be to work until Monday.  You decide they need your help and off you go to help this little girl.

As a search and rescue responder who has hundreds of hours of training, half a dozen national certifications in search and rescue, evaluates the national SAR exams, and has thousands of hours in the field, I beg you to reconsider.

I know you’re thinking you can be “an extra set of eyes”, that search and rescue is as easy as walking arm in arm in the pine tree rows looking for a little person.  But, please listen to what I have to say before you head over to start your search.

Are you willing to undergo a criminal background check?   A good number of people who are gathered in the volunteer pool probably would NOT pass a check.  These “well-meaning volunteers” could include people from the list of sex offenders that are normally investigated in a missing child case, to the felons who have outstanding warrants.  While you may assume that everyone is there to do “good” and help this little child, are you willing to take the risk for your child?  There have been dozens of cases where the person who caused the missing person actually becomes a searcher.  Sad but true – it happens.  Now imagine that 200 people show up to help out.  Do we (as the search incident commander) want to submit them all to background checks before they go out to the field?  Or do we just send them out and take our risks?

Do you know what you are doing?  Facebook pages always light up with the comments about helping out and an “extra set of eyes”.  I have even spotted posts that mock the term “trained search and rescue” personnel, as if anyone can do search and rescue.  After all, how hard can it be, looking for a person in the woods?

Well, it can be hard.  The National Association for Search and Rescue keeps statistics for something called “probability of detection”.   Essentially, it is the probability that a person will detect an object in their search lane.  They have tested this with untrained and trained searchers.  What they found was that a “spontaneous volunteer” (someone who shows up at a scene with no training or certification) has a probability of 20-30%.  A trained and certified searcher?  50%-60%.  That is 2-3 times the ability of an untrained searcher.  Believe me, I have to fail some really good people because their eye sight is bad or they just can’t find all the clues.  You have to train, learn the techniques and master your patience to get that good.

What does trained and certified mean?  A professional trained and Nationally Certified SARTECH II is a person who was “tested” to find at least 50% of the items hidden in their search lane.  They have to “prove” they can find a minimum of 50% of the items before they are certified.  Only then, can they go to the field. 

Then consider other search training in vision theory, sound sweeps, back scanning, triangulation, search exercises and many hours spent practicing protocol and you have someone that law enforcement can trust to send out to the field to find an object.

Add to that all of the other training from Land Navigation, Survival, Crime Scene Preservation, Man tracking, first aid and a number of other items can make a huge difference in the success of a search.

Do you know how to track a person or look for signs of human passage?  Trained & Certified searchers do.  In fact, they have to learn man tracking and prove by exam that they understand the concepts and demonstrate their tracking abilities.   Most spontaneous volunteers not only do not know how to track, they typically destroy evidence by walking, driving, riding horses, and ATVs through the woods on their own.  These well-meaning actions often make our job very difficult and unfortunately impossible in many, many cases.

Do you know our Search Techniques?  As we search an area, every 50-75 meters we do a sound sweep.  A sound sweep is a coordinated effort of all searchers to cover their ears and yell the subject’s name all at once.  Then, we uncover our ears and listen for a response for about 10 seconds.  This works very well in finding a missing child that can still respond.  It works well, UNLESS there are dozens of other volunteers randomly calling a victim’s name whenever they feel like it.  This actually makes it hard to impossible to hear the cries of a little girl calling in the woods.

We also use dogs to search for missing persons.  Some dogs are trained to find “any” human scent, these are called “air scent dogs”.  Imagine the difficulties of searching a 40 acre woods with an air scent dog when 3 spontaneous searchers are spilling their scent for the dog to pick up.   Again, it makes our job very hard and often impossible.

These are only two examples, but there are dozens of other techniques that we use that takes training and practice to understand and master to work with a search and rescue team.

Do you know what to do when the Search Area turns into a Crime Scene?  Another sad but true fact, search areas turn into crime scenes.  Now imagine if you spent hours in the woods that suddenly becomes the scene of a possible, kidnapping or even worse.  Then you realize you just wandered into an area with good intentions and have, in fact, destroyed or altered evidence and because of that, a criminal could go free.  Do you know what to do to protect the scene?  Are you trained to properly document evidence? Handle a suicide victim?  Very few Spontaneous Searchers see the bad side of searches.  This can make our job very difficult.

Trained searchers are trained on how to react to a crime scene.  Their search techniques are careful to preserve evidence, spot evidence, observe human sign and how to handle a crime scene.

Can You Spend 11 hours Searching Rugged, Wooded Terrain?  Trained professional teams have minimum physical fitness standards.  So many times on a search we have to arrange for transportation and care of spontaneous searchers because they can’t search for more than an hour or two.  We have had volunteers just leave the search line 100 yards into a search and return home.   This not only leaves a gap in the search line, but when we take roll call, we realize someone is missing.  Which now has created TWO subjects that we must search for.  Add to the number of volunteers who must be transported back to staging and we have to use a lot of trained resources taking care of those who weren’t prepared for the rigors of long nights in the woods.

Do you have the proper gear?  Household flashlights that help you see when the power goes out or to fix the furnace don’t belong in a search operation.  The typical searcher carries a couple of expensive, lightweight flashlights, with extra batteries for 5-15 hour searches.  The average price range of these flashlights is between $40-$200 – but they are a small price to pay compared to their usefulness in finding a little boy lost in the cold night. These flashlights are designed for law enforcement and tactical operations.  They typically have 10-30 times the lumen power of a standard Maglite and they are small and energy efficient.

Many spontaneous volunteers don’t even bring a flashlight, or proper clothing – or they wear camouflage or black – which makes it very hard to determine if they are a searcher or a victim from the end of a search line.  The gear list of a properly trained searcher is extensive and expensive and it is needed to be effective; (and in compliance with NFPA and ASTM safety regulations). 

Do you have communications, a radio and can you properly use it?  We often get helpful volunteers who request the use of a radio or they have a radio and they spend time trying to be helpful on the radio with their knowledge and advice.  Borrowing an expensive radio so you can talk to the command post is something you shouldn’t ask us about.   And if you don’t have a radio, what do you do when you need help or find evidence or how do you generally communicate?  Cell phones are difficult to use during an operation (for the command post and searchers) and unreliable.  Trained members are typically licensed to use the radio and have training on how to properly use it.

Can you navigate with just a compass and map in unfamiliar terrain?  Many think they can, but they can’t.   To meet the National Standards, there are both day and night navigation tests you must pass, covering as much as 2 kilometers (2,000 meters) and accurately finding your points within prescribed amount of time.  If you are searching for a person lost in the woods, it is painfully obvious that you shouldn’t become lost.  You have to prove you can do it to gain certification.

But during every search with spontaneous volunteers, we are constantly dispatching trained personnel to gas stations, houses, campground offices and every place else to pick up spontaneous volunteers who are lost.  Worse yet, we have to mobilize trained searches to go find lost volunteers.  Add to this all the constant calls from volunteers who can’t find their search location, or searchers who search the wrong location because they lack the map reading skills.  As you can imagine this takes more time away from trained and experienced searchers.  Time that could be used to find the missing subject.

Do you know the rules of Incident Command?  Properly trained searchers spend a lot of time learning about the Incident Command System, National Incident Management System and a variety of other concepts that are used by first responders.  What is operations, tactical deployment, staging, logistics, strike teams and many other terms that are used at an incident?  These concepts help all the responding agencies – police, fire, forest service, search and rescue, DNR, EMS, FEMA – work together and become one unified search.  If you aren’t trained in it, you can’t efficiently operate as a responder.  Spontaneous Volunteers who aren’t familiar with the concepts require more time, education and explanation on scene to get them working. This, of course, takes even more time from trained responders, when they should be doing their search duties.

There are many other reasons why untrained searchers are discouraged from participating in a search.

While we all know spontaneous volunteers want to help and we understand the overwhelming feeling of helplessness and frustration when you can’t.  Many of us made the decision to join a team, get the training and “pay the price”.   We respond to the missing child that rallies the community, but we also respond to the missing Alzheimer’s patient, the missing person without a family, the loved and the forgotten.  We give up our holidays, our weekends, family time and vacations to train and to respond to ALL calls.  So before you criticize us, understand we do it for the same reason you want to help – but we have sacrificed to do it.  We have become professionally trained volunteers who are certified as operations level responders. 

Please, before you post your frustrations on Facebook or other social media and mock the “professionally trained and certified searcher” or grumble because you, (uncertified volunteers), have to wait for hours in staging, remember the few points outlined above and let us do our job so others may be found.

Most important, if you respond, please join the search and sign in at the volunteer staging area.  Please don’t just head into the woods without properly joining the effort.

If you want to help, here is what you can do:

BEFORE THE INCIDENT:
Attend a Search and Rescue Open House with a Nationally credentialed Team in your area
Donate to a Search and Rescue Team
Take Nationally recognized certification courses for yourself; (your local team can get you connected).  Do not get confused!  Some teams create their own internal standards which are NOT always consistent with National standards.  Be sure to get the facts and reduce your personal liability. 

WHEN THERE IS AN INCIDENT:
DO NOT go out and search on your own – go to the volunteer staging area
BE PATIENT – we understand the frustration – but for the reasons outlined above, it is important that we do everything according to the nationally recognized standards and protocol
If you are asked by a searcher or law enforcement to do something, please comply.  We have very good reasons to ask
Keep your eyes open, but don’t go searching on your own – many missing are discovered by passer-bys who are not actively searching
Be positive – whether in the staging area or while on social media sites.   Try not to second guess, criticize the family, speculate or encourage people “to go out and search on their own”
Keep posted on what is happening

Most important – thanks for wanting to help out.  We encourage you to work with us, not against us.

Written by:  Chuck Hayden, SARTECH III, SARTECH II and SARTECH I/CREWLEADER, Nationally certified Evaluator for SARTECH Exams, a Technical Rope Rescue Technician, and a Wilderness First Responder.  He also holds many other certifications.  He has been in the Search and Rescue field for over 20 years, mostly as an unpaid professional. 

Registration Information

There is a simple answer that sets NASAR apart from any other curriculum you can find.  You are paying for a standardized certification that meets ASTM, NFPA, FEMA, the National SAR Supplement, CSA, ANSI, ISO, Many state SAR guidelines, and other industry and internationally recognized standards. 

• But why do I care about ASTM, NFPA, FEMA, and all of that? I am walking through the woods looking for someone – I find my keys everyday around the house! Why do I need a class to do that? And why do I have to pay NASAR to get certified? Isn’t this just a money grab? 

No- it isn’t just a money grab. The answer is standardization. NASAR has already done the work to ensure your certification meets the standards identified for wilderness search & rescue among all those acronyms- ASTM, NFPA, and FEMA.  In fact, NASAR has spent several years doing crosswalks and references among them all, including legal reviews, to ensure the curriculum you are studying meets these nationally recognized standards.  And because the industry and world are ever changing, this requires updates and continual monitoring, ensuing any changes in the ASTM, NFPA, FEMA, the National SAR Supplement, CSA, ANSI, ISO, Many state SAR guidelines, and other industry and internationally recognized standards get adopted into the NASAR curriculum. 

Sure, there are people and programs that can teach you information and skills that you can use in the field. The difference is that they do not, and cannot, certify you to these ever-evolving standards.  NASAR does this for you.  This standardization is what will set you apart as a professionally trained searcher from someone who took a similar class but cannot give you the same certification standards as NASAR can.   

This might not sound important now. However, if there are ever legal questions about any of your actions or decisions made in a SAR field, if you stay within your scope of practice and training from a NASAR curriculum, you can identify your training to be in accordance with the national standards.  When it comes down to ‘what would another person of similar training in the same situation do?’, you can have a standard to back your decisions. 

• “What is the cost of the class?”

Here there is not an easy answer.  In keeping with other similar industry standards and qualification systems, NASAR has instituted a Position Task Book, or ‘PTB’, to allow students to progress at their own pace.  This requires the student to make a couple of different payments. First, the student pays NASAR for certification (and standards). Second, the student also pays directly to the instructor/instruction program for a certified instructor/program that will instruct them using the NASAR curriculum. Note that all instructors are volunteers and are not paid by NASAR. As a result, most also have career employment/work and local volunteer SAR team commitments outside of their volunteer instruction roles.  Often, instructors are teaching either using their vacation time or their unpaid days off of work, much like our students. Their focus an passion is being able to provide current and quality instruction to those attending a course.

Back to costs. The courses that you are taking with BERTS may break down like this: 

• NASAR course/certification fee (i.e. FUNSAR & SARTECH II Bundle package or other course as appropriate), (paid by you, the student, directly to NASAR);
• Text book from NASAR Book Store (paid directly by you, the student, directly to the NASAR Book Store);
• BERTS Instructor fees vary by the course being offered (Paid directly by you the student directly to BERTS);
• And for some courses, a site fee for rental of property or facility may be asked (paid to BERTS and we’ll pay a one-time check to the camp/facility for all students).

In short, your professional level of training may seem like a lot, especially if you are new to the SAR industry. If you are thinking, ‘but I volunteer for this!’, please believe, as you progress into your SAR career, you will find professional level certification is exactly that.  In taking a NASAR course, you will stand apart from others,  gaining credentials that will help to shape you into an asset used by law enforcement when requesting professional resources like you are about to become. 

They are different and separate from each other. FUNSAR is an educational class, required prerequisite, to prepare you for the SARTECH II (Search and Rescue Technician Level 2) examination. The SARTECH II is not an educational program, but a written exam and 6 field practical stations to independently test the candidate for competency in their skill sets in a wilderness setting. When a candidate passes the exam, he/she receives the status of being a certified SARTECH II.

One of several prerequisites to get your dog certified for SAR work is to first be a certified SARTECH II as a handler. NASAR has extensive training standards and prerequisites you can review at their web site.

Yes.  You can no longer just challenge the SARTECH II without taking FUNSAR.

Go to the calendar on our site. If there is a course listed/scheduled on the calendar, there will be information there on how to register. If you do not see a course listed you may be interested in taking, contact us at b-e-r-t-s@att.net. Let us know the name of the course and any other information or questions you may have.

The larger question is, “Is there a vendor that has standardized the 24 hour ‘Ready Pack” and first aid kits making all items available for a single purchase at one time?”

We are not aware of any SARTECH ready-made kits for purchase. To be honest, it would be self defeating to purchase ready-made stuff. You need to build your own. Here is why.  The best first aid kits we have seen, from the most basic to the most advanced have been built by the user him/herself; (this includes professional EMS ambulance crews; each station/department builds their own kits). There are so many options and they need to be personalized. Ready-made kits are good, foundationally, but they often have extra this/that which may be neat, but not the best use of space and carried weight in a SAR environment. Further, they may be missing some essentials the person really likes/prefers. It is expensive to purchase ready-made vs building your own too; In many cases 3-5x more expensive and you still have ‘stuff’ you don’t want/need & still have to purchase some items not included in a ready made kit.

As for a 24 hour ready pack, same concept applies. There is no one size fits all. The closest thing is the minimum equipment list NASAR puts out. It is up to the individual to individualize his/her pack in a manor which meets their own likes and dislikes. Some people want name brand stuff and others can only afford lesser $$$ items which still meet the need. Personal budgets dictate this a lot. Additionally, and for the same reasons, the type, color, style, manufacturer, and other factors go into what type of pack a person wants to use; Some want internal frames others external, still others want military style Molle tactical packs.  Regardless the style, packs range from $45-$750. Some like to carry more than the minimum gear on NASAR’s list while some can only physically handle the weight of the minimum; (i.e. K9 handlers have to carry their load plus everything for their K9 certification requirements and still travel nearly 2-3x faster than typical ground pounders following their 4 legged partners). This is the ‘base’ 24hr ready pack. When you start moving into technical aspects of SAR and more advanced levels, your weight increases dramatically. Example: When I made the upgrade to SARTECH I / Crewleader, I had to increase my medical supplies and add rope. This added a lot of weight.  Not because a few more band aids weigh that much, but because as a pre-requisite to the advanced level, I had to have advanced level 1st aid. As a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) I had to add many medical items not on NASAR’s list to be able to provide services to the level of my medical scope of practice (legal issue). When I became a Wilderness-EMT, more stuff and more weight to be able to meet scope of practice. Additionally, I had to add rope which is over 10lbs /100′. I have 150′ because I am also Rope Rescue certified. This means I have to be able to perform to the level of that certification too. In short, I cannot go out using a standard SARTECH II 24 hour ‘ready pack”. I have to carry the gear which allows me to be ready to perform my assigned duties.

If it were as easy just getting “one off the shelf”, someone would have already had them out there. Trained personnel understand there is no such thing. Your Ready Pack and First Aid kit will be a continually developing and changing item as your SAR career goes on, you learn more skills, seasons change, and your SAR environments change (i.e. mountain vs flatlands, snow fields vs flood zones, etc).

Registration Information

This is going to be up to your own organizational protocols.  However, if head protection is warranted, our personal and professional recommendations regarding head protection for ground SAR and other taskings are the same as it is to all of our students from all across the country.  Not because we have superior wisdom or training, but because we have done research, asked people – paid and volunteers- in the industry, field operators and technicians, manufacturers, and wholesalers, distributers, and safety directors in multiple fields of rescue work.  As result, the following is our recommendation:

1)  Must be a helmet, not a hat or bump cap – and capable and designed to sustain and protect from more than a single impact from multiple directions and angles.  Must be designed for all day wear and comfort.  

2)  Must be rated per recognized certification relevant to SAR type work – Mountaineering rated:
a)  CE EN 12492 – MUST/REQUIERED  – standard rating for mountaineering helmets.  [requires twice the vertical energy of the EN397

Industrial standard].  It is also rated for lateral, dorsal, and frontal impact of falling mass, (i.e. hit from any side/angle). 

b)  EN397  – strongly encouraged – standard for industrial strength helmets.  [Co-certified with CE EN 12492]. 

c)  UIAA – strongly encouraged – Only ‘globally recognized’ standards for mountaineering equipment.  

d)  LT – Low Temperature – strongly encouraged.  Many areas see temps below 20 degrees for several months in the winter season.  We need protection to meet this environment where slips and fall potential increases.

e)  ANSI z89.1-2009 Type I Class C – we do not recommend this as a mandatory critical criteria.  We see this as a good concept if there is going to be USAR or light USAR type tasking, but otherwise it is not a requirement or needed where it does not provide the level of protection needed in a wilderness environment.  An active MRA team is trying to go away from this sort of rating, especially Type II ratings.  Most technical rescue teams in a wilderness environment do not use this as a sole-standard; although there are a couple of helmets with the standard CE EN 12492 & EN397 which have the additional ANSI z89.1-2009 too.

3)  Must be vented.  We have a responsibility to be proactive and prevent or reduce heat related injuries by personnel who are working harder than normal, wearing backpacks, and working in extreme conditions.  Some models offer vent closures for wet or cold conditions.  

4)  Chinstrap should be mountaineering helmet type – They are designed for all day comfort of wearing; not an aftermarket clip/add on style that would go onto a hard hat.  Mountaineering chinstraps withstand higher forces than the E397 rating to prevent breaking and slipping forward or backwards as an aftermarket style which clips onto a helmet as an extra accessory item.  In short, it keeps the helmet in place where it should be;  (allowing protections from multiple angles of impact).  

5)  Must have head lamp strap capability built into the helmet for commercially available lamps from stores such as Wal-Mart, Cabela’s, etc. ($12-$25 per lamp (i.e. more disposable) vs $45 per lamp and up for hard hat specific lamps which are heavy and bulky).  While there are aftermarket clip on clip options, they can fall off and become lost, thus rendering the helmet useless in dusk or dark working situations.  

6)  Highly recommended that adjustable retention system(s) be of a wheel design, adjustable with gloves on to reduce distraction and safety – in all temperatures, all conditions without removing gloves (PPE) of leather, medical, or insulated cold weather type.  

We feel we need to look at some standards which not only meet our need, but also reflect the status quo in SAR universally across the country and internationally.  There are a couple of helmets which typically appear to dominate nearly every helmet search on google, top magazines, gear suppliers, and web-sites which sell SAR specific gear.  We are not naming them here, as this is not intended to sway any opinion to one given helmet or manufacturer.  However, the SAR industry offers a very narrow selection of helmets when it comes down to putting head protection as the priority in determining helmet selection.

Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.  Resist suggesting only 1 model and 1 color.  While it is a neat uniformity concept, in the long run it may prove to be an act of futile vanity.  Whatever is new, popular, and best today will be replaced by a “new & improved” model next year.  You won’t be able to maintain uniformity but for a moment.  Getting something today will not guarantee new membership coming on board 6, 12, or 18 months from now will be able to get the same item.  Thus, there will always be different types, styles, and brands.  Additionally, many members on teams have already purchased head gear which meets and/or exceeds their current certified and recognized training standards.  Duplication of service in having to purchase another helmet does not make fiscal sense of membership’s personal resources.

Therefore, our recommendations to address this are:

1)  Identify safety certification specifications which you will require as an organization.  You can recommend a given type and color for all future purchases.  However,

2)  Allow membership to determine which brand, model, and style fits his/her own personal budget; as long as they meet established certification specifications.

3)  Grandfather anyone who already has a helmet meeting the required protection standards.

4)  Have a common, standardized decal set for the helmet.  Regardless style, manufacturer, or color, it will still produce a common uniformity.

In conclusion, look like a professional.  If you want to be perceived as a professional in the SAR world, do not show up looking like a CERT team volunteer or construction worker wearing a hard hat.  Show up wearing gear and PPE other professionals are wearing.  Not only will you look like professionals, you will be protected at the level you perform at AND have the respect of the professionals you are called to assist.

It typically takes 6-8 months to plan and set up courses which take more than one day, (i.e. 2 day or 2 weekend type events). To host an event we require a minimum of 8 students. All fees and expenses will be paid by the host agency. Mileage is calculated based on the current governmental allowance and meals are based on your local per diem. Lodging will be factored in as well. When you contact us, we will provide you with a written quote for you to review.
NOTE: if you only have a few people in your area and cannot produce 8 students, let us know. We have people contacting us weekly who want to join a class. We may be able to help. Just ask.
Registration Information

Write us at b-e-r-t-s@att.net and let us know what you want or need. It may be best for you to give us a little idea of who you are and what your goals are. We can try to answer your questions from there.

The missing child…FOUND

By Jerry Whaley, LSW

 

You are part of a SAR team which has trained for years.  You are on a call-out for a missing child.  You employ all of your technical skills and located the child.  She is alive. Now what do you do when she discloses to you that she has been abused, abducted, or sexually assaulted?  Your search training, specialty skills trainings, and even technical skills training have not prepared you for this.  What do you do now? 

 

Most of the information available for crisis intervention comes from the studies of real life events.  Each time a new large scale event erupts we gain a new perspective of how victims, witnesses, family members, rescuers, and communities are affected and respond.  Other information can be found in clinical studies and from a clinical approach to help resolve the situation after the crisis has dissipated; typically counseling and therapeutic approaches.  It is important to understand potential mental processing’s of our victims.  It may help us to determine the priority for a given search urgency, technique, tool, or resource.  There are no established time frames suggesting how long an individual may linger in a given mindset as each individual has different levels of maturity, knowledge, real life experiences, and coping skills. 

 

Remember, how the victim feels is important to them.  If you accept this and can meet them on their level, the place where they are functioning in the crisis, you gain a greater chance of gaining their confidence, building rapport and Positive Mental Attitude.  You do not have to play ‘Dr. Phil’.  Just listen.  You can learn where they are and understand how to involve them in the rescue process. 

 

Adults have experience based tools and coping mechanisms.  From pain management, (i.e. cuts, bruises, sprains, strains, fractures, or surgeries), and financial budgeting to planning, broken relationships, employment, and parenting, adults have been in many challenging situations.  Every time we encounter a new situation we rely on our experiences to help us make new decisions.  Children on the other hand, do not have the same mental, developmental, or life experiences to draw upon.  The younger the child victim the less experience they have.  Generally, they have not developed enough to problem solve in a crisis situation.  They may remember a teacher, parent, or commercial discussing to call 9-1-1, stop-drop-and roll, or other catch phrase.  However, when faced with a crisis outside of the rehearsed fire drill or lock-down drill at school, they may not have the tools or ability to reason what they need to do.  Just because you show up and announce “SAR team you are saved” it may not mean anything to the child who feels bewildered, confused, apathetic, and helpless.  You must enter the child’s frame of reference.

 

A crisis can be any number of situations too great to name them all.  However, in all cases there is still need for the basics of life:  “The Will to Live/Positive Mental Attitude (PMA), Air/Oxygen, Shelter/Clothing, Rest, Signals, Water, and food”.  Your first aid and rescue training should help you to establish protocol for food, water, shelter and oxygen/airway support.  Most basic, fundamental and technical trainings fail to address the first and most essential necessity of life, the Will to Live/PMI.  The following addresses the PMI as the sense of safety. 

 

A child who has been missing, abducted, abused, or otherwise in crisis needs to feel safe.  In the realm of Child Protective Services it is a standard practice to establish rapport with a child by listening.  “Are you hungry? Thirsty? Cold?”  Initially providing him/her with food, water, and a blanket or jacket just established several things.  First, you asked what they wanted/needed.  Children are egocentric.  Chaos has brought them back to ‘self’.  You met them where they were.  Secondly, you listened and provided what they needed.  Third, they now see you as a person who can be trusted to some level.  You helped.  You did no more harm.  You can provide when he/she needs something. 

 

Your technical training will teach you how to search, access, and treat a child victim.  However, most training courses do not teach you how to talk with a child victim.  Good interviewing skills take years of daily practice to master.  The good news is you do not have to be a professional or master interviewer to talk with kids.  Therefore, the following provides what you need to know about talking with a child victim – the basics:

– If you are involved in a search for a missing child, get the family code word while in briefing.  Make sure everyone on your crew knows the word.  This is exactly the situation why mom and dad made one in the first place.  The child may not talk to strangers, even if they have a “cute rescue doggy.”

– Do not make any promises.  You may not be able to keep them.  You must be alert and aware of what you are saying.  You have to build trust.  If you promise and do not produce, even once, you may have lost your rapport with the child. 

– Do not pretend.  Honesty is the only way to continue to build trust.  If you do not know the answer, say “I do not know.”  Feeling inadequate and unsure what to do or say next is OK.  Most people feel awkward and out of place not having an answer.  SAR work is no different.  It is even OK to try to find out an answer if you can do so without jeopardizing sensitive information over the radio. 

– Do not lie.  One lie, even done with good intentions, can destroy all rapport and the child is again left without anyone to trust or make him/her feel safe. 

– Do not tell them “everything is going to be OK”.  You do not know the concern on their mind.  Further, you cannot assure further traumatic circumstances will not develop; (i.e. physical pain during transport or learning mom or dad died in the incident, etc.).  You can tell them you are here to help them. 

– Get down to the child’s level.  Do not bring them up to yours by sitting them on a counter top or picnic table.  Get down to them eye-to-eye by squatting down.  This shows them they have your attention.  Let’s them feel what they have to say is important to you, ‘Mr. Rescuer’.  Then, listen! 

– Talk to the child.  Do not be afraid of him/her.  Nobody has all the right techniques.  The child is a person.  Treat him/her like they are a person.  Avoid the desire to push a child off to the nearest female team member if you are a male.  Just because she is a woman does not mean she has the maternal instincts to nurture the child.  There could be situations where a child is fearful of a woman or man.  Listen and pay attention.  

– Empower the child.  Once you have met his basic needs, give him more simple closed ended choices (i.e. do you want this or that) and then follow the child’s choices.  Make requests of other personnel on behalf of the child and personnel should respond and support the requests you make;  (food, water, crayons, toy, blankets, to play with radio or other equipment, let him/her be the Dr. and bandage you in a splint, etc).  This builds rapport and puts some confidence back in the child.  It builds their Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) by knowing you, ‘Mr. Rescuer’, can deliver.  It may seem simple and silly, but it works.  The child now knows you have authority over others.  You have done what the child says.  This means the child now has some influence and authority through their new found ‘hero’ over others and the child is no longer helpless. 

 

As a Search and Rescue Technician or volunteer you never know the entire reason a child has gone missing.  It may be abduction.  It may be the child escaped a perpetrator.  What do you do if a child discloses to you that he/she is the victim of physical, sexual, or other forms of abuse?  You start by being prepared.  While you cannot ever be fully prepared for the details of disclosure, you can be prepared to help the child by knowing how to listen. 

 

As said before, you must enter the child’s frame of reference.  Children are limited in their ability to provide eloquent or ‘proper’ anatomical explanations or examples.  They may use terms which are not within your own vocabulary, some may sound funny, and others may be vulgar crude, nasty and for many, hard to even hear.  Regardless, if you think it was hard for you to hear, how hard do you think it is for a 6 year old girl to say one or more of these words out loud, to you, a total stranger?  Possibly afraid she might get into trouble for saying a bad word?  Perhaps embarrassed and afraid you might laugh, giggle, or worse, not believe her?  I think you are starting to get the point.  But what do you do if she discloses this information to you? 

 

First, do not act surprised.  If you do, the child may feel they are to blame and not say anything further or feel you do not believe him/her.  You may be horrified and even angered.  You may want to pulverize the _____(your choice of adjective here) who did such an unthinkable evil act to this innocent child!  But you have to act as a professional.  Suppress your emotions and anger.  Your job is to get the child to safety.  But, how do you keep from getting a horrific look of overwhelmed surprise on your face?  Focus and ask probing questions related to the mission only.  Your job is not to do an investigation.  What you ask should answer questions of the child’s safety, current needs, information about parents, etc.  Do not try to be a hero and get the scoop.  Let professionals do that.  A highly trained professional interviewer should ask questions related to the abduction, mistreatment, or sexual abuse.  NOT SAR teams. Nobody wants to tell the story over an over and over.  Especially a child who feels shame.  A story told repeatedly from a child changes and can be considered “tainted” and thrown out of court.  That lets a guilty perpetrator walk!  This applies to males and females of all ages, not just children. 

 

What do we do when the child wants to talk?  Do not silence the child.  Be silent and let the child talk all they want/need to.  Listen.  Do not take notes.  It is distracting and the child may stop talking.  Write it down to the best of your recollection later.  NOTE that all information you take will be turned in as part of the investigation or incident.  When the child is done talking about it, move on.  Again, yours is to get the child to a place of safety, not conduct an investigation. 

 

As SAR personnel, we are taught to photograph scenes.  In doing so always practice within your training and in accordance to your certification.  In the event of a disclosure of abuse, do not take photos exclusively of the child without guardian, Law Enforcement, or Incident Command approval.  In all cases, never photograph any unclothed area of the body which would typically be expected to be covered by a swimsuit.  Photos of the crime scene within your trained scope of practice are fine and expected.  Photos of the child victim to indicate abuse must have consent and should only be done by a trained professional.  Failure to comply could be grounds for dismissing the evidence or worse, letting a guilty perpetrator walk free. 

 

When you have information from a child disclosing information, do not broadcast this on a radio!  Everyone including family, media, community, etc. has the ability to be listening too.  Arrangements should be made with Team Leaders at briefings as to how to communicate child status upon discovery. 

 

Persons in positions of command should be prepared to handle situations with all victims.  In the event of a child victimized by abuse Command Staff should already have protocols and the training to handle a given situation.  If they do not, they will most likely have law enforcement, Park Rangers, EMS, or other professional personnel who have experience, training, and knowledge how to handle the situation.  If you are thrust into the position of being an Incident Commander by proxy of being the most qualified or first person on scene, be sure to consult Law Enforcement before making decisions.  Do not feel compelled to make an immediate hasty decision just because you are wearing the vest that says you are in charge.  Get the answers you need.  Waiting to take action until fully informed is a decision of good leadership.  A further note for persons who plan to get into incident command type positions, get further education about child abuse.  Learn how to prepare parents for what they can expect to see, hear, be told or that their violated child may be separated from the safety of their arms for forensic interviews.  Be prepared to have Law Enforcement assigned to the family to prevent an enraged parent, sibling, aunt, uncle, or grandparent from becoming a vigilantly and make worse an already horrible situation.  Become educated so you do not terrify parents but so you know how to use the resources available or how to procure them. 

 

Where do you get your training?  A very good, and typically free, resource is your local county Children Services Agency.  Most all counties will have someone who can provide training to groups, organizations, volunteers, professionals, schools, churches, etc.  Trainings can be tailored to the specific needs of the group and may even be able to include certificates and/or Continuing Educational Units (CEU’s) for professionals who are required to accumulate them. 

 

Finally, do not forget to get follow up help for yourself!  You just experienced a horrific and most likely unparalleled event.  When the adrenaline of the search event is over and the child is safely in the hands of family or officials you will crash.  And you will crash hard.  It is physically and emotionally draining.  The anger, rage, disbelief, and multiple other emotions are something you need to have immediate help to process and debrief or ‘hot-wash’ from.  Not just immediately following, but you need to consider having some sort of professional follow up 3-5 days after the event as well.  Potentially more too.  Nobody, not even seasoned professionals are able to face what you just did and walk away unaffected.  Doing nothing can harm you emotionally and even physically.  Nobody is saying you are sick.  If you had gone into a HAZMAT situation you would have a team to help decontaminate you following.  You need to do the same thing following involvement in an abuse situation.  You need to decon or you will become sick and ineffective.  This is something worth discussing with a professional crisis counselor prior to an event and writing into your team’s Standard Operating Procedures.  It is preservation for self, your team members, and your own family. 

Invisible wounds: First Responder Stress

When we respond to a call for help, it is hard for responders to tell what the extent of a person’s injury is if they are not showing any signs of pain.  The same holds true when it comes to treating and identifying psychological wounds.  Unless someone is suffering from high levels of anxiety, you may not recognize it.  We need to learn how to recognize the signs and take care of ourselves and each other.

Whether you have responded to a gruesome deceased subject scene, searched for a missing child where the outcome was not good or been exposed to a different tragedy on a scene, we as Search and Rescue professionals are far more likely to experience a traumatic event than that of an average person on the streets.  Though these “worst case” scenarios can be extremely damaging to one’s mental health, it is typically the accumulation of smaller incidents that build up over time and take a very serious mental toll.  The honest truth?  Stress is the very ember that may cause a raging forest fire if left unchecked!

We all tend to work challenging schedules in our normal day to day lives.  We then respond at a moment’s notice when the phone rings for a call out.  Lack of sleep can deprive the body of serotonin and dopamine that affect our moods.  These call outs can also cause us to interrupt or miss important events such as anniversaries, birthdays and holidays that can cause problems in our home lives.  It also makes exercising regularly and eating on a normal schedule, or eating the proper foods near to impossible.  Mix these with the excellent pay and benefits that we receive for responding to a call-out and that makes everything good, right?  I don’t think so.  Most of us are volunteers that not only do this work for free, but we also have to buy our own gear and equipment to respond with.  This can lead to financial hardships if we are not careful.  While each of these alone may not seem too significant, piling them up can very easily weigh one down.  For example, a long day and night of searching can lead to a not so pleasant subject find.  We then return home to a family that is not too happy with the fact that you left on an important day which can lead to an argument.  Then add the fact that you are behind on some bills.   These factors can add up very quickly to extremely high levels of stress and anxiety.

How do we recognize stress? 

Stress can come in both cognitive (thoughts and feelings) and physical (things we can physically see) forms.  Some examples include pacing, noticeable weight loss or gain, mood swings, irritability, personality changes, sleep deprivation, lack of motivation, loss of interest in things that were once important to us, nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance of people, places or things that remind us of the event, feeling jumpy, on edge or are very easily startled and/or problems with alcohol or drugs.  Any indication that an individual is suddenly not themselves should be taken seriously and followed up with further conversations and appropriate action.

How do we help? 

First, we must understand that WE ARE NOT ALONE!   Trauma is a normal response to an abnormal situation.  If you had no reaction to a horrible event or having the feeling of helplessness at times, it would be very abnormal.  We are all wired differently on how stress and trauma affects us.  We can all build a resiliency to it, but left unaddressed, can lead to much, much more.

Next, we must also get rid of the old cliché that we are invincible and nothing we see, hear or do will ever bother us.  For those that have been in public safety services longer than 10 years, you know what I am talking about.  For those that have not, there once was an attitude that if you dealt with a horrific call, you needed to “bury it”, “deal with it” or “suck it up”.  For most that meant go home and consume copious amounts of “refreshing adult beverages”, which lead to a spiraling decline.  If you said something about your feelings or admitted that you needed help, you were labeled as weak, a wimp, or any other adjective that you want to insert here by your peers and you were classified as not fit to perform the job any longer. 

This is simply not the case any longer.  We need to get that stigma out of our brains.  A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.  A responder can sometimes feel like the weakest link, if we allow our stigmas to get in the way of reality.  In public safety training, we always stress the importance of safety and the “two in, two out” rule.  A fellow brother or sister responder should NEVER feel alone in any battle they face!  Regardless of rank or position, we should always be looking out for one another.  Get to know the responders that you are working with so you can identify when something “seems off”.  If you do identify something, do not be afraid to confront the issue.  We all make life or death decisions in the roles we play as responders but it seems that we are too afraid to talk to our brothers and sisters about the things that could also have life or death implications!  We MUST take the time to listen, empathize and help them repair what has been damaged.  Sometimes all they need is someone to listen and not problem solve, but to listen and assure them that things are going to be ok.  Other times they need something more.  If they are struggling to cope and exhibiting signs of severe stress discussed earlier, make a recommendation that they seek professional help though a peer support team or an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).  Then set an alarm on your phone to follow up 24-48 hours later to support them, which may also take the form of urging them to seek this help. 

Nothing will shut down a brother or sister quicker than downplaying their stress or making light of it.  Regardless of what you think, stress is relative.  What affects you may not have the same effect on someone else and vice-versa.  For example, let’s look at the pain scale chart of 0 to 10 with 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain you have ever felt in your life.  A broken finger may be a 2 for some and an 8 for others.  Coping with stress is no different.  For instance, the death of a pet may be a 3 on one person’s scale but extremely devastating for another and be a 9.  Making a conscious effort to see things from others’ views can make you more helpful in the long run. 

Helping them stabilize and manage the stress by engaging in self-care techniques does not mean that we are getting them “back to normal?”   Quite the opposite.  The old “normal” will never be felt again.  We will be helping them get to a “new normal” that will need to be managed and understood from that point forward. 

Do not forget to acknowledge our own problems!  It is sometimes much easier to see the signs of stress in our brothers and sisters than it is to see in ourselves.  Give your brothers and sisters the “green light” to approach you and identify your moods or behaviors that they are identifying.  Do not get upset or angry with them.  Be extremely thankful that they are taking the time to care about you and making sure that you are alright.  Spend time listening and then reflect on what they have said. 

What is self-care?

Name one piece of machinery that does not require routine maintenance.  Can you think of one?  I can’t.  Our Search and Rescue equipment and vehicles all need to be maintained and kept ready to deploy at all times.  The human body is no different!  Actively engaging in self-care addresses our mental health, takes note of our current stress levels and takes action in addressing these issues.  In the public safety world we spend so much time helping others that we sometimes forget to take care of ourselves!

Engaging in self-care is nothing more than doing something that makes us happy.  For some it may be going to the gym.  For others it may be hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, building models, painting, reading a book, or crafting.  ANYTHING that you get enjoyment out of.  Whatever your passion, you need to continue doing these things in order to keep you happy.  Once we stop taking time out for ourselves, we become overwhelmed and stressors build to a “raging inferno”.  There is clear evidence that myocardial infarction, stroke, depression, anxiety, and even some disease-prone immune processes, including pro-inflammation, are all common disease denominators that are critically associated with stress. (Tobias Esch, 2013)  Stress may not be preventable but if we learn to better manage our stress, we can become better responders and prevent adverse health effects.

Addressing Burn-out and suicide

A common term that is becoming more widespread across our profession is “Burnout”.  Burnout occurs when we do not participate in self-care activities and allow the stresses to build out of control.  According the National Fire Academy (NFA) about 100 firefighters die annually in the line of duty.  More than half of those deaths are from sudden cardiac arrest.  All the more reason for self-care and physical health standards.

Here are the staggering numbers.  In 2018, at least 159 police officers, 103 firefighters and 63 EMT/Paramedics committed suicide.  Unfortunately, the actual suicide number is much higher than that.  Because there is no mandatory reporting for responder suicides, FDIC International estimates that only 40% of suicides are even reported. (Ali, 2017)  That means that around 455 first responders committed suicide last year.  The Journal of Emergency Medical Services reports in a 2015 survey of more than 4,000 first responders, that 37% had contemplated suicide and almost 7% had attempted it. That is more than 10 times the rate of the general population. (Fisher, 2018)

Due to the staggering number of attempted and completed suicides, we should all reflect in what we are doing to take care of ourselves.  Whether it is working out at the gym, engaging in an outdoor activity, trying your hand at your artistic capabilities or taking a simple 5 minute break in a quiet room, do not neglect self-care.  It is the on-going maintenance that we need to take care of ourselves, our brothers and sisters and the communities that we serve.

 

Article written by:

Craig E. Spieker

PASSIVE SAR BOX

 

What problem needs to be solved? How to expand “manpower” with limited personnel in remote, hard to access areas…on a budget.

 

The professionally trained volunteers with the David Thompson Search and Rescue Team in Libby, Montana introduced the staff of Buckeye Emergency Response Training School, (BERTS), to the “Passive SAR Box”. Libby is tucked into rugged mountain country and, like many teams, manpower is not always plentiful and…not every responder has the mobility of a mountain goat. The terrain limits access by traditional means of motorized assistance, thus requiring improvised methods to still execute SAR operations for the weekend warriors and mountaineering enthusiasts. Enter the “Passive SAR Box”, a device which can be utilized in many ways, limited only by your imagination. As such, we will give some examples only to start provoking your own inventive ideas.

What is it? The basic principal is a sturdy, water and animal proof container that has limited life-saving contents and information. The box can be of varying materials, but it has been found a .50caliber ammo can meets the specifications and capacity to meet the needs of most teams. Some teams may have a budget permitting a pelican type case. No matter the type of box, it should be painted or purchased in a bright color contrasting with natural colors and have reflective tape on all sides, including the bottom; (animals do get curious and may nock them over). There should be clear messages written on the sides, “Stay with the box. Do not move from this location”. “Use the contents of the box”. Other messages can also appear on the box, (see photos as example). Each box should be numbered or have an independent I.D. of its own to help identify it once deployed. For example, box 1 placed at camp site Pine Ridge, box 2 placed at intersection of River trail and Look-out cliff trail, etc. The box should be of a size and weight that one or several can be carried in a backpack for time and distances common to your potential area of operation.

Inside the box should be a list of the boxes contents and some basic directions for some items. Note that picture demonstrations should also be considered in case of language or reading barriers. A brief list of instructions, (see below), should also be included. These can be taped to the inside lid of the box so they are quickly observed upon opening. You may even want to put SAR event tailored information in a Zip-lock baggie in the top, inside, with a photo(s) of the missing person(s) with information of what to do or who to contact “if seen”.

One thing which cannot be stated strong enough is there are NO maps or navigational tools, (i.e. compass or GPS), supplied. We want the person(s) to stay put and not move from the location of the box. The box will have some basic first aid supplies, water, food, shelter material/tarp, fire starting materials, rain/wind protection, and a flashlight. A list of the box’s content and directions are included below.

A “PVC” section antenna is in the box so that it is a complete and portable unit. The antenna should be erected upon placement. The antenna can be affixed by using zip ties or by having old bicycle inner tube sections pre-screwed or riveted to the canister; (rubber should produce a seal to maintain waterproof). A number of attraction devices can be utilized on the antenna which can elevate the attraction to about 4ft above the box. These devices will dependent upon your budget and need. They can range from a chemical “snap” light stick, to a dog collar strobe light, to a higher dollar strobe, and/or a device which emits an audible signal, (i.e. chirp). Attraction in light and/or dark conditions is the key.

When a person(s) becomes reported as unaccounted for, the Passive SAR Box can be deployed to likely areas where the party has the most likely probability of encountering it. An example might be an established camp where nobody is present when SAR personnel arrive or trail crossing/intersections or campsites suggested by a known itinerary. The possibilities are limitless. The box is a tool which might substitute the need for a human resource. It will require human resources to check on all deployed boxes at intervals determined by the Incident Command. It may, however utilize fewer human resources while helping to contain a missing party to a known location if it is discovered. The use of air support may be utilized in deploying a box, (i.e. helicopter), or quickly taking visual checks of box locations by fly-overs. In poor or dangerous weather conditions, the box continues to serve its intended purpose without having to risk human resources unnecessarily. It may even be left in its deployed location for several days until it is safe and/or resources become available to retrieve.

The printed list of contents we have in our Passive SAR Box are:

 

Passive SAR Box contents:

– Strobe to attract attention of person(s) wandering by (might be best fiscally to substitute with chem light stick)

– 4 piece PVC tower/antenna for attraction light device. One or more should have reflective tape – 1 road flare (15min. to fit into box) – flint & steel fire starter

– 15 waterproof matches in water proof container (medicine bottle and zip-lock bag)

– lighter (windproof best but expensive)

– fire starting material (5 starter logs/sticks)

– 1 long burning candle (9hr)

– 1 flashlight (durable – mini mag-light, or LED for longer life)

– extra bulb for light, if not LED (in handle of mini mag-lights)

– extra batteries for light – 2 bottles water – 1 commercial mil-spec MRE’s or one homemade (Tuna, Power bar, drink mix spoon)

– shelter material 10’x12’ (i.e. tarp with instructions and drawing/photo)

– 2 large leaf trash bags – 30′ 550 cord – small folding knife (inexpensive)

– 2 towelets (wet-ones or alcohol type for cleaning & first aid)

– add 1 Israeli or similar trauma dressing

– add 1 cravat (sling material)

– 1 foil space blanket

– add 2 chem light sticks (one for attraction other for victim to utilize)

– 2 hand warmers (1 set)

 

It may be necessary to modify your contents to meet your special geographical needs. Some regions may be extremely dry and having fire starting tools or flairs may be more harmful than helpful, and you may elect to remove them. Perhaps an extra water bottle might be more necessary and better use of space. In some regions where communication towers or airborne repeaters, (i.e. onboard aircraft), may be “in play”, placing a portable radio or telephone can be added. The idea is not go overboard but to utilize tools to help locate and sustain a party until trained help can arrive.

The printed instructions taped inside our box are:

 

Passive SAR Box Instructions:

 

1) Stay here with this box. Do NOT leave. We will check this location often for you. If you leave, we may not find you. Stay here.

 

2) Use the contents of this box as needed to eat, drinking, build shelter, and fire for warmth, treat injuries or wounds as best you are able: (see 4 & 5).

 

3) Finding this box means there is an organized search for you. Professionally trained teams with medical and other specialized training will come back here to assist you. Stay here.

 

4) DO NOT BUILD FIRE if conditions are dry and unsafe. If conditions are wet, road flare may help start fire of wet wood and grasses.

 

5) If wet conditions, use large trash bags for rain poncho by making face hole before putting over heard. Other bag can be used to protect you from damp ground. Stuff it with leaves and grass to make pad and insulate you from cold ground.

 

This is not intended to be a complete survival guide. It is intended to provide persons in need with basic information and instruct them to “STAY HERE” and let them know help is on the way. Keep it simple.

It has been suggested that a Passive SAR Box be developed as an off-the-shelf ready-to-go product. It could be done. However, like a pre-packaged First-Aid kit, the concept sounds good but they can be costly, have many items you don’t want or need, and still not have other items you do want or need. Therefore, you will likely find that building your own Passive SAR Box will be both more cost effective and be tailored to meet your own specific, identified needs.

The Passive SAR Box is not the end-all solution but it may be an economical tool in the overall outcome of a SAR event. As much as the information in this article is meant only to present a concept, we hope it provokes more discussions and idea’s to share among the SAR community.

(“Contents list” and “Instructions” lists are available in word format upon request (no need to re-invent the wheel.  contact us as b-e-r-t-s@att.net).

First-aid VS Wilderness medicine VS Remote medicine…what is the difference?

 

Many thrill or solitary seeking enthusiast likes to leave the urban settings and head off road to remote areas.  Campers, canoers, kayakers, mountain bikers, backpackers, hunters, mountain climbers, Scout troops and other organized camp programs.  The list goes on and on.  What happens when the fun turns into an emergency?

 

First-aid is the first, initial aid rendered by the first person on scene to a person who is ill or injured in some way. Typically, the steps of care are along the lines of: 1) CHECK the status of the patient; 2) CALL 9-1-1 or similar emergency number to initiate EMS; and 3) CARE for the patient until EMS arrives in a matter of a few minutes to the exact location of the patient and takes over patient care and transports them to definitive care at a hospital.

 

Wilderness medicine is geared to help the first responders understand and master the basic and advanced principals of modern medical practices and interventions at a given level of training.  In addition to the typical knowledge utilized in an Urban or Suburban setting to assess and treat a patient, the wilderness first responder is trained to “think outside the box” and improvise with all available resources immediately available to provide treatment interventions, stabilize and provide specialized packaging and evacuation of a patient who may be one or multiple hours from common means of transportation to or arriving at a definitive care center, (i.e. hospital).

 

Remote medicine is designed to pre-plan, prepare, and bring as much definitive care equipment and trained personnel to a remote location to treat a patient on site rather than having to evacuate them to a definitive care center, (i.e. hospital).  It is essentially taking trained medical professionals outside of the sterile emergency room or clinic and placing them in the remote location(s).  As with Wilderness medicine, improvisation within scope of practice and under established medical protocols may be required.

Buckeye Emergency Response Training School…”BERTS”…is not the know all/end all. We take search research and theory, best practice, real world experience and put it into a structure for the student to use effectively both as volunteers and paid professionals. We use a hands-on approach to help you learn and be able to apply your skills. One advantage to the BERTS program is having two or more Instructors with advanced level search and rescue training who are NASAR SARTECH I’s, Wilderness-EMT’s or have other advanced wilderness medical training.   We bring multiple levels of SAR and real world perspectives to the classroom beyond the book. We are prior military, backpackers, and hunters. We are trained as professionals in emergency and public service disciplines such as Law Enforcement, Firefighting, EMS, Social Work, Rope Rescue, Swift Water Rescue, Underwater Rescue/Recovery, Lost Person Behavior, HAZMAT, SAR Incident Command, Public Education and Higher Education.  This is provided only to let you know our program is more than a “couple of guys” who simply regurgitate what comes from a book. 

What our students have said

 “To start with, let me thank you for the positive and morally clean atmosphere you provide in your classes.  It enhances learning, at least for me.  Not having the distraction of off-color comments, etc. is a benefit and blessing that I have failed to appreciate enough.  May your cups run over.”

“Craig and Jerry are fantastic instructors! They (and their cadre) more than meet expectations- the environment is one of respect and great opportunity to learn.” 

“Instructors help out a lot, went out of their way to explain and made a hard course easy to understand.”

“Instructors were great! Exceeded my expectations!”

“Never imagined I would have learned as much as I did!”