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Washington State’s

Search and Rescue Search and Rescue VolunteersVolunteers

Helping Others – Saving Lives

Presented by Art Jordan President of the Search & Rescue Volunteer Advisory Council

of Washington State and Senior Coordinator for Cowlitz County SAR

Prepared with assistance from Rick Hood of Navigation NorthwestSelected materials from ERI-International slide library. All team photos, logo, and information

by/from acknowledged unit links at www.wa-sar.net, unless otherwise noted.

Part Two

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Man Tracker Examples

One dedicated mantracking team

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Dive/Swiftwater Rescue Examples

Seven Dive Rescue Units

Lewis Co. Dive Rescue

San Juan Co. Dive Rescue

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Mountain Rescue Examples

Skagit Mountain Rescue

Central Washington MRA

Nine Dedicated Units

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Explorer Search and Rescue

Skagit ESAR

Six ESAR Teams

King Co. ESAR

Pierce Co ESAR

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Joint SAR Examples

Twenty-three Joint SAR Teams

Lewis County Teams

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Some Additional Team/Examples

Northwest Horseback Search and Rescue

Three Dedicated Mounted Units

Twelve Dedicated Communication Units

Dedicated Air Search Units

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To Obtain SAR Resources

• Following protocols serve all well– In county

• Responsible Law Enforcement Dept / DEM

– Out-of-County• County DEM / State EMD

– Do• Avoid contacting individual out-of-county teams for

missions directly, but...

• Consider contacting other teams and agencies for familiarizing and training opportunities.

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King County ESAR Example

July 13: John Wayne (Iron Horse) Trail   

“While hiking a railroad grade off of the John Wayne / Iron Horse Trail, a hiker fell

on his hip and could not make it out. ESAR responded with the Snoqualmie Fire

Department (volunteer), and helped the subject to the road.”

53 Missions Logged in 2000 Including...

(www.kcesar.org/gmission00.shtml)

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CCSAR 2/01 Evidence SearchMission Example

© CCSAR photos

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Key Issues for SAR T.E.A.M.S.

• Training

• Equipment

• Access to Facilities

• Membership

• Support from Others

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Equipment

• Volunteer normally have to pay for their own equipment.

• Teams generally have to pay for their team equipment.

• Some support from the Sheriff’s Office, DEM is available and is greatly appreciated.

• Many teams seek grants and conduct fundraisers.

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Training

• Essential to perform as we and the public expects.– Non-paid, but professional in all cases at all times

• Costly.– Dollars and hours

• Larger counties and teams open training to other SAR groups at little or no cost, when possible.

• Quality training often requires outside or paid instructors.

• Regardless, the cost of not training or maintaining level of performance is unacceptable.

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Training Specifics

• WAC 118-04 Requirements

• Team Standards

• County Standards

• SARVAC Guidelines

• National Guidelines

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Washington State SAR Conference

Training Examples

Lewis County 2000 Conference

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General Search Procedures

• Information and Resource Management (ICS)

• Investigation*

• ID Initial Planning Point

• Confinement / containment

• Passive searching

• Active searching– General and specialized hasty teams

– Area or route searching * ongoing throughout search

Some of the “Science of Search”

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Interagency Coordination Is Critical

The trend in search management is towards interagency mutual aid agreements, central resource coordination points, and greater utilization of highly

trained, specialized resources..

The level of care expected by the public...is higher than ever before.

Some of the “Science of Search”

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Categories of Lost Subjectsas per William G. Syrotuck, 1977

Children – different age groups1 to 3 / 3 to 6 / 6 to 12

Elderly Despondent Hunter Fisherman Hiker / backpacker Climber Photographer Berry picker

How many more?

Some of the “Science of Search”

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A Search Approach(An Overview of Probability of Success)

Probability of Success

Probability of Area

Probability of Detection= x

POS = x

15% 50%

90%

25%

Some of the “Science of Search”

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Four Methods of Establishing the Search Area

Theoretical Statistical Subjective Deductive Reasoning 4

1

2

3•

Some of the “Science of Search”

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To Search One Square Mile*

POD Spacing Searchers X Hours =

TotalTotal

SearcherSearcher

HoursHours

50% 100 foot 53 X 3.5 = 185.5185.5

70% 60 foot 88 X 3.5 = 308308

90% 20 foot 264 X 3.5 = 924924

Some of the “Science of Search”

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Searcher Fatigue

Searchers are most effective during the first four hours.

Thus many trained searchers are often needed to effect a timely response.

Some of the “Science of Search”

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A New Search Tool – Critical Separation

Critical Spacing = 1 = POD of 50% + Distance0

% Chance

100%

Some of the “Science of Search”

Distance where can just see intended

object in similar conditions

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Thanks For Listening

© CCSAR photos

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Final Thoughts

• We want to work with you and your agency– Link, learn, & leverage

• For more information, please visit/contact:– http://wasar.bizland.com

– www.wa.gov/wsem/2-ops/sar/sar-idx.htm

– www.wa-sar.net & associated links

– www.sarinfo.bc.ca

– asjordan@kalama.com

– C.Long@emd.wa.gov

– rick@hoodcs.com

• Together we can achieve even more