A Course of Study on Search and Rescue

Nimisha Thakur

Sometimes a search turns into a rescue. However, because a search is an unknown situation, it is always an emergency and usually necessitates a quick reaction. This guidebook from the University of Utah covers the fundamentals and training required to carry out various types of Search and Rescue missions. Topics covered in this manual are as follows:

  1. Wilderness safety, preparation, and survival

  2. Incident command system

  3. Lost person behavior

  4. Search techniques

  5. Navigation

  6. Patient Assessments

  7. Technical Rope work in Search and Rescue

Many accidents in search and rescue activities are the result of inadequate risk identification and management. Risk management should be a continual effort. The majority of errors and injuries are caused by controllable circumstances. Searchers should not act as though they are immune, thinking, "It can't happen to me." At the end of the day, they do not want the search and rescue professionals to be searched and rescued.

There are some common human blunders that contribute significantly to Searchers falling into trouble:

  • Fatigue - This is regarded as the leading cause of human error.

  • Communication breakdown - A failure to exchange information.

  • Complacency - A lack of awareness and the rise of arrogance.

  • Inadequate knowledge - Inadequate experience or training in the task.

  • Distraction - Anything that distracts your attention away from the task at hand.

  • Inadequate resources - Insufficient equipment and manpower to complete a task safely.

  • Lack of assertiveness - Failure to speak up when something does not appear to be right.

  • Stress - Being stressed out causes human error.

Wilderness Safety, Preparation and Survival

This section of the book touches on the type of clothing personnel should wear during the search and rescue mission. The choice of footwear is also a crucial piece of gear to consider. When a person goes out into the wilderness, they should constantly consider the resources they will need, such as food, water, equipment, and gear. It is critical to stay hydrated throughout the missions. It also discusses the types of terrain and injuries that could occur, as well as what a person can do in those situations. If you're going on a mission in the wilderness, it's crucial to know what kind of flora and wildlife can be present and how they can help you. And how to deal with unanticipated problems, such as snakes.

Incident Command system

The Incident Command System (ICS) is the gold standard for command, control, and response coordination and offers a way to coordinate the operations of various agencies as they work toward the shared objective of stabilizing the incident and safeguarding people, property, and the environment. This section touches on the main components of ICS and the responsibilities of the incident commander.

Lost person behavior

This section discusses the lost person behavior groups and where you can find them. Some lost person behavior groups are as follows:

  • Children – have poor navigational skills, and tend to wander aimlessly when lost.

  • Elderly - In the urban environment, 50% of all dementia patients were discovered 0.7 miles (1.1 km) from where they were last seen. The urgency of performing appropriate early steps for subjects in this category is increased by the fact that none of the dementia subjects screamed out for aid to searchers and 45% were found dead.

  • Other groups such as hunters, hikers, mental, despondent, berry pickers, photographers are also discussed in this section.

Link to the book 
(Salt Lake County Search and Rescue) - Dan Hadley MS, FAWM, Richard J. Ingebretsen, MD, Ph.D. Medical Director,  Jason Tanner, MD, Ph.D. ,  Todd Taylor,  Copy Editor Lisa Plante, M.Ed.