ROPE RESCUE: More than half of all lowering accidents in the last decade occurred when the rope-end shot through the belay device, dropping the climber

Read article here.

MAN-TRACKING: How to track the neutral-pitch-angle subject

To learn more about Greenside Training, LLC, point your Internet browser here.

SAR MAGAZINE: The March 2014 issue of "Waypoint AirMed & Rescue" is online

Download and read current issue here.

SAR MAGAZINE: The Jan/Feb 2014 issue of "Rescue," published by the Idaho Mountain Search & Rescue Unit, is online

Download and read it here .

GPS: Free, 8-page, pocket-sized guide for Garmin GPSmap 60CS & 60CSx

Download, print, trim, and laminate PDF pocket guide here.

Source: Adapted from material provided by the US National Wildfire Coordinating Group's (NWCG's) Geospatial Subcommittee (GSC)

Off-Road 4WD Operations: How to ford a river

SAR CONFERENCE: 2014 National Search & Rescue Conference (USA), a joint convention of the Mountain Rescue Association (MRA) and the National Association for Search & Rescue (NASAR) hosted by New Jersey Search & Rescue (NJSAR), June 5-7, 2014, Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey

More conference info here.

Rope Rescue: How to rig the Munter-hitch belay, by Tom Briggs, author of the "Vertical Academy"

Source: This article was Adapted from Vertical Academy, by Tom Briggs, Copyright © 2013. All Rights Reserved. Excerpted with expressed written permission.

To purchase your copy of this book, point your Internet browser here.

Tom Briggs is a fire service veteran of over 33 years and author of Vertical Academy, a vocational rope rescue textbook.

Before retiring as a Captain in 2008, he was assigned to the Special Operations Division at Metro Fire Sacramento, California as the Rescue Services Manager.

He was also a Rescue Team Leader for FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Taskforce 7.

An instructor for the State of California and Rescue 3 International, Tom coordinated and taught many training courses specializing in the rope, trench, confined space, and water rescue disciplines to scores of agencies, often alongside many well-known rescue training luminaries.

The National Association of Search and Rescue (NASAR) recognized Tom’s training contributions in 1996 with the Higgins Langley Award.

SAR Magazine: February 2014 issue of 'Aware' magazine, published for the Emergency Management Community by NOAA’s National Weather Service

K9 Handlers: How to release a dog caught in a conibear trap

Learn more about how to release a dog caught in a trap here.

Helicopter safety, by Rob Thomas, author of the new book "Helicopters as a Rescue Tool," as excerpted in "Park Ranger Magazine"

This article is brought to you through the generosity of our friends at Park Ranger Magazine.

Published by TR Media Ltd., in Waterlooville, England (UK), Park Ranger is the magazine for operators worldwide involved in:

• wilderness EMS
• wilderness SAR
• wildfire
• heli-ops
• and law enforcement

All Rights Reserved. Excerpted with expressed written permission.

To learn more about this magazine, or subscribe, point you Internet browser here.

Wilderness Gear: The 24-ounce-capacity Space Saver Mug weighs only 3.8 ounces and stows around a Nalgene water bottle

Order it here.

Feb 21, 2014 "Emergency Manager’s Weekly Report," by the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM)

Download it here.

Wilderness First Aid: The sling & swath—how to use triangular bandages, bandanas, or cravats to immobilize an arm, shoulder, or collarbone injury. By Tod Schimelpfenig, NOLS

 

• NOLS

UK & Irish Mountain Rescue Conference: September 12-14, 2014 in Cairngorms National Park, Aviemore, Scotland (UK)

Learn more about this conference here.

Knot tying—The Figure-9 and Figure-10 knots, by Schalk van der Merwe, "Technical Rescue Magazine"

To learn more about Technical Rescue Magazine, which is published in the UK, point your Internet browser here.

K-9s: Introduction to Scent Theory “Pheromone” Communications, by Charles E. (Chuck) Melvin, North American Search Dog Network (NASDN) Gazette

Scent theory and “pheromonal” communications are attempts to explain to dog handlers in simple scientific terms what stimuli their dogs may be responding to in the search arena.

Neither category of stimuli is well understood and hence is often controversial.

Controversy notwithstanding, the basic understanding of what scent might be and how the dog might process it would seem to be baseline required knowledge for all search and rescue canine handlers interested in finding the lost subject most efficiently. 

Because both topics are occasionally called into play within a court of law, both need to be understood and articulated professionally.

Basic scent theories currently proposed are the raft theory and the chemical theory. Both theories have newer supporting research.

As is often the case, the truth is likely composed of elements of both...Read article here.

Survival gear: The Compass-LED-Firestarter survival bracelet accessory unit is coming soon from Columbia River Knife & Tool (CRKT)

A cool new survival bracelet accessory that includes a compass, LED flashlight, and firestarter will be released soon by Columbia River Knife & Tool of Tualatin, Oregon, USA.

Weighing only one ounce and measuring 1.95 inches in length, this glass-filled nylon unit will fit onto paracord bracelets and some other wristbands.

CRKT on their forthcoming Compass-LED-Firestarter survival braclet accessory unit...

Because you never know when your adventure might get crazy.

Being prepared is a lifestyle. It takes careful training of both mind and hands to make your environment work to your advantage. And that's where these paracord bracelet accessories, designed by Tom Stokes, help you mold your situation to give you every chance of survival.

The compass, LED and fire starter combo is the premier accessory in the line. It features all the essentials and it fits perfectly on the CRKT Para-Saw™ Bracelet . It's made from a durable injection molded, glass filled nylon that will stand up to rough weather and intense adventures.

• The magnesium fire rod is 1.125 inches (28.575mm) long and detaches from the main housing to set your tinder ablaze.
• The LED light has an included LR41 battery that's ready for use and replaceable.
• The compass will help you get your bearings and make your way to safety.

To attach to a paracord bracelet, simply unscrew the disc-lock on the underside of the accessory, slide it over the bracelet, then reattach the disc-lock to keep the accessory from sliding.

The accessory is designed to fit snugly on a "Solomon Bar" weave bracelet made from 550 paracord and may fit other similarly sized paracord survival bracelets as well. The opening of the accessory is .9 inches (22.86 mm) wide and .43 inches (11.43 mm) tall.

The Survival Bracelet Accessory helps you get home from your latest adventure so you're still around for your next adventure.

Also available in a Compass and Fire Starter Version , and a Compass and LED Version.

Learn more about this product (No. 9703) here.

Source: Soldier Systems—An Industry Daily

Rope Rescue: How to lighten your wilderness litter loads, by Andy Maguire, "Park Ranger Magazine"

This article is brought to you through the generosity of the fine folks at Park Ranger Magazine.

Published by TR Media Ltd., in Waterlooville, England (UK), Park Ranger is the magazine for operators worldwide involved in:

• wilderness EMS
• wilderness SAR
• wildfire
• heli-ops
• and law enforcement

All Rights Reserved. Excerpted with expressed written permission.

To learn more about this magazine, or subscribe, point you Internet browser here.

Lost Person Behavior: Children 1 to 3 years old, by the Arizona Search and Rescue Coordinators Association