National Urban Search Rescue Response System Canine Search
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training STM Unit 12 A: Canine Search Operations 1
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Unit Objective Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to identify the Search Team Manager’s responsibilities during canine search operations 2
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Enabling Objectives n Describe the components of the reconnaissance team n List the information that needs to be communicated to the canine team during a deployment n Identify the types of searches employed during a deployment 3
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Enabling Objectives (continued) n List the key safety considerations during search operations n Identify the key considerations associated with victims n List the responsibilities related to postmission duties 4
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Reconnaissance = Detection The reconnaissance team n May be made up of nine members n Is deployed in a detection mode n Structural triage and assessment to be on point n Provides rapid assessment of the assigned area n Uses the Technical Search Specialist and Canine Teams for detection 5
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Search = Location n Search may be l Done simultaneously with recon l Done after recon n It is not unusual for rescue teams to become search teams 6
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Canine Deployment n LCES n Perimeter of the search area n Current weather conditions, including l Time of day l Weather conditions l Air currents l Temperature 7
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Canine Deployment (continued) n Boundaries that have been established n Observers n Type of structure and collapse n Intelligence 8
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Work Time n Time canine is allowed to work is usually 20 minutes n However, time period is variable and dependent on several factors including l Canine conditioning l Environmental temperature l Type of structure involved 9
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Type of Searches n Primary search l Primary search is done in detection mode l Sometimes called “hasty, free, or area” search l This type of search would be done rapidly l Fact: Victims may be missed in the effort to find as many as possible, but areas can be re-searched 10
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Type of Searches (continued) n Secondary search l A secondary search is done in the location mode l The time to locate a victim is after they have been detected l secondary search usually conducted in a smaller area l This type of search is sometimes called a “grid” search l Slower, more methodical search method 11
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Search Considerations n LCES l LCES should be determined at the briefing n Safety l The Structural Specialist will decide as to whether the structure is u Safe for people to enter u Safe for canine entry only u Not safe at all for an entry search 12
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Briefing n Briefing will include safety and site information team needs to know n This briefing will cover l Rescue infrastructure in place l Entrances and exits (blue prints, site map) What area(s) have already been searched l Should include answers to the following questions 13
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Briefing (continued) n What has been searched? n How and by whom? (If possible to talk to them) n Have occupants been accounted for and by whom? n Any sounds from the structure? n Any known missing and where were they last seen? n Can you interview the person reporting the missing? n Have canines searched area, and if so, what were their findings? 14
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Briefing (continued) n Utilities l Are utilities (gas, electric and water) been secured and if so, by who? 15
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Briefing (continued) n Environment l What type of collapse? l Is the building stable? If not, can the canines search it? l Any Hazardous Materials? l Any hazardous conditions (overhead hazards, rubble hazards, equipment hazards, and so forth)? 16
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Briefing (continued) n Decontamination l Is a decon area set up? l If not, what is the contingence? 17
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Preparation for Search n Things to consider l Does the area need to be cleared of rescuers or convergent volunteers? l Is equipment operating in search area? l Check wind conditions and note time of day l Provide for observers to advise handler if canine is out of area 18
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Preparation for Search (continued) n Also keep in mind that the Search Manager will have to wear a safety officer’s cap, too 19
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Search Tactics n (Refer to Canine Search Ops) 20
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training A Few Other Things to Keep in Mind n STM should act as a liaison with other onscene agencies n Use your canine handler’s experience to help determine how to best search the site n STM establishes the search area n Determine if this is a primary search, or a secondary search 21
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training A Few Other Things to Keep in Mind (continued) n Determine, dependent on structural stability of building, how building is to be searched n Canine handler should brief the STM n Use the wind to your advantage and work canines into it n Use your intelligence to your advantage n Try to keep resources as fresh as possible 22
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training A Few Other Things to Keep in Mind (continued) n Weather plays a big part in working a site n If canines are not working they should be down in a rest area, preferably in crate 23
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Detection Versus Location n In the detection mode (primary search) handler should be moving over large areas quickly n The location search mode (secondary search) teams will do a grid search n Canines will be used in conjunction with technical search 24
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training STM’s Duties During a Search n Ensuring the safety for all team members (LCES) n Observing the working canine team n Remembering where alerts were and noting whether the alert was weak or strong n Observing any changes in the canine’s behavior l The change could mean the presence of a cadaver 25
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training STM’s Duties During a Search (continued) n Recognizing search areas not covered and advising handler as appropriate n Preparing to bring in a confirmation canine when needed n Assessing the canine’s performance l Includes obedience, alerts, agility, and teamwork l Done daily and documented for future reference 26
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Debriefing n Canine team should be debriefed on their findings n Handler should draw a map of the search site l Show alerts, and indicate the time and type of alert n Quick “hot wash” of the search can be done 27
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Victims n Live versus deceased l Much discussion on subject l Finding live victims is primary l Will the disaster search dog ever find deceased victims? l Finding and recovering deceased victims does provide many families with closure 28
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Victims (continued) n Alerts l Canine will do bark alert on a found victim l Bark alert says, “I found a victim!” l Canine’s focus and penetration shows where scent is coming out from and victim’s possible location l You may notice the canine’s alerts may decrease when working in blitz mode for long periods 29
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Victims (continued) n Contact with the victim l If contact with victim is made in detection mode, reassure victim resources are coming l May have to leave victim in order to continue recon l Interview victim concerning other possible victims and their location l Also determine if there any injuries l In the location mode, teams will stay with victim and reassurance will be established 30
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Victims (continued) n Confirmation of alert l Alerts and hits may require a second canine team to confirm l First team should mark victim’s location l Second canine team will start down wind of first alert l Second alert is confirmed and location should be marked and documented 31
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Victims (continued) n Marking the victim’s location l Use paint and victim marking system to indicate victim’s location l Do not use flagging as it can be removed, especially when delayering 32
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Victims (continued) n Victim removal l After victim removal, reevaluate the area and do a secondary search l If possible, interview the victim 33
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Additional On-Site Considerations n Decontamination l Establish canine decontamination area at Bo. O or as determined by IST l Handlers usually have shampoo to bathe canines with l Check with HAZMAT Manager to make sure shampoo will not react with contaminants l Handler may only have to spot wash the canine l Be sure to blow dry the canines 34
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Additional On-Site Considerations (continued) n Wet canines l Never put canines back in their kennels wet l Kennels should be washed, dried, and bedding replaced 35
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training At the Completion of the Mission n Stress Relief for the Handlers l Play with the canines and do runaways l Do search problems of site that end with success l Canines should be housed in their kennels on site and at Bo. O 36
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training At the Completion of the Mission (continued) n Documentation l Task force operations report l ICS Form 214 l Mapping of all alerts and hits, confirmation, and location of confirmed victims 37
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Unit Summary and Evaluation 38
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Unit Summary n Describe the components of the reconnaissance team n List the information that needs to be communicated to the canine team during a deployment n Identify the types of searches employed during a deployment 39
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Unit Summary (continued) n List the key safety considerations during search operations n Identify the key considerations associated with victims n List the responsibilities related to postmission duties 40
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Unit Evaluation Please fill out the evaluation form for this unit 41
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