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 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 5

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 6

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 7

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 8

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? 9

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? 10

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)? 11

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? 12

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 13

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 14

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 Hasty, Primary, or a Secondary search 15

National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training A Few Other Things to Keep in Mind (continued) n Dependent on structural stability of building, determine 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 16

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 17

National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Detection Versus Location n In the detection mode (hasty/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 18

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 deceased victim. 19

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 additional canine when needed n Assessing the canine’s performance l Includes obedience, alerts, agility, and teamwork l Done daily and documented for future reference 20

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 21

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 22

National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Victims (continued) n Alerts l Canine will do bark alert on a live 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 23

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 Hasty search l Interview victim concerning other possible victims and their locations l Determine if there any injuries l In the location mode, teams will stay with victim and reassurance will be established 24

National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Victims (continued) n Marking the victim’s location l Use search stickers and victim marking system to indicate victim’s location l Do not use flagging as it can be removed, especially when delayering l Do not use paint as it can deface structures 25

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 26

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 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 27

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 28

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 29

National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Unit Summary and Evaluation 30

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 31

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 32

National Urban Search & Rescue Response System Canine Search Specialist Training Unit Evaluation Please fill out the evaluation form for this unit 33