"The humble yet versatile Figure Eight. I've seen this gadget used in many different configurations over the years. Without explanation or endorsement, here are a few." [Emphasis added] —Richard Delaney, Administrator, Rope Rescue Page.
Monday, December 16, 2013
The humble, yet versatile, Figure Eight Device.
"The humble yet versatile Figure Eight. I've seen this gadget used in many different configurations over the years. Without explanation or endorsement, here are a few." [Emphasis added] —Richard Delaney, Administrator, Rope Rescue Page.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Article on urban man-tracking from the Tactical Tracking Operations School (TTOS)
Thursday, December 12, 2013
The Facts & Details About Different Types of Tourniquets
November 2013 issue of NOAA's National Weather Service "Aware" magazine is now online.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
50 reasons to drive carefully when responding to your next foul-weather callout...
If you need a reason why you should drive carefully when responding to your next foul-weather callout, here are 50.
Watch it to the end, as it picks up after the 3:30 mark.
This is from a wreck Sunday on US 41/45 in Germantown, Wisconsin that involved 50 vehicles and left a dozen or so people injured.
Source: Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS)
Watch it to the end, as it picks up after the 3:30 mark.
This is from a wreck Sunday on US 41/45 in Germantown, Wisconsin that involved 50 vehicles and left a dozen or so people injured.
Source: Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS)
October '13 version of "Introduction to the COSPAS-SARSAT System (C/S G.003)" released by COPAS-SARSAT Secretariat in Montreal, Quebec (Canada)
The COPAS-SARSAT Secretariat in Montreal, Quebec (Canada) has released a new October 2013 version of Introduction to the COSPAS-SARSAT System (C/S G.003). Download Issue No. 6, Revision 1 here.
COPAS*-SARSAT** is a satellite system designed to provide distress alert and location data to assist search and rescue (SAR) operations using spacecraft and ground facilities to detect and locate the signals of distress beacons operating on 406 Megahertz (MHz). The position of the distress and other related information is forwarded by the responsible COPAS-SARSAT Mission Control Centre (MCC) to the appropriate national SAR authorities. Its objective is to support all organisations in the world with responsibility for Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, whether at sea, in the air, or on land.
COPAS*-SARSAT** is a satellite system designed to provide distress alert and location data to assist search and rescue (SAR) operations using spacecraft and ground facilities to detect and locate the signals of distress beacons operating on 406 Megahertz (MHz). The position of the distress and other related information is forwarded by the responsible COPAS-SARSAT Mission Control Centre (MCC) to the appropriate national SAR authorities. Its objective is to support all organisations in the world with responsibility for Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, whether at sea, in the air, or on land.
*COPAS is the acronym for Cosmicheskaya Sistyema Poiska Avariynich Sudov, which is Russian for Space System for the Search of Vessels in Distress
**SARSAT is the acronym for Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking
 |
| The COPAS-SARSAT System. |
MapTech/MyTopo releases version 9.5 for Terrain Navigator Pro
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Will your feet be warmer in the winter if you wear 2 pair of socks?
Will your feet be warmer in the winter if you wear 2 pair of socks instead of 1 pair? It depends on whether you can still wiggle your toes. If you can't, the fit is too tight, and your feet will get cold sooner....read what the experts at Backpacker Magazine say about this issue.
Minimum-equipment SAR pack lists from 20 teams—a compilation and analysis by Mike McDonald
If you've ever wondered what gear other SAR teams require in their field rucks, check out Mike McDonald's 4-page, 2002 compilation and analysis of minimum-equipment pack lists from 20 different local and national SAR groups. It's very informative...
• Download your own copy.
Source: Steven Armstrong via the SAR Talk Group on Facebook
• Download your own copy.
Source: Steven Armstrong via the SAR Talk Group on Facebook
Oct 2013 issue of the UK's "Mountain Pro" magazine contains a great article on the magnetic compass by Lyle Brotherton, one of the World's top land navigation instructors
The current issue (October 2013) of Mountain Pro—the United Kingdom's leading magazine for the outdoor professional—is online. See pages 28 and 29 for a good article on how the magnetic compass REALLY works. Entitled "A Space Odyssey," it's authored by none other than Lyle Brotherton, one of the world's leading land navigation instructors and author of the Ultimate Land Navigation Manual. This is an excellent magazine for outdoor operators. Look for a SAR team to be profiled in the January '14 issue. Read the Mountain Pro.
Monday, December 9, 2013
How to tape a sprained—but usable—ankle
How to tape a sprained but usable ankle (video)—courtesy of the National Outdoor Leadership School's (NOLS) Wilderness Medicine Institute (WMI)—with:
- 3 Stirrups
- 3 "J's"
- 3 Figure 8's
2013 annual issue of the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group's newsletter is now online
New Facebook Group Page for SAR Operators: "SAR Talk"
It's all about SAR.
It's currently 1,317 strong.
It's moderated against SPAM by Dave--aka: Red Rock SAR Dave--the commander of Red Rock Search and Rescue, Inc., in Las Vegas, Nevada.
And it's the place to be on Facebook if you're a SAR operator, or you want to be.
Hope to see you on Search and Rescue / SAR Talk!
Is a paradigm shift needed in the leadership of field teams involved in wilderness search and rescue operations?
The change I am referring to involves leadership of field teams during SAR operations. All too often leadership is determined or assigned to the individual with the greatest technical skills.
The operational Standards I have been involved in reviewing are just one example of this tendency. The Standards define 3 operational levels and as the level increases so does the leadership and technical skills required for that position. At the end you have a SAR level 1 with basic skills, a SAR level 2 with mid-level skills who oversees SAR level 1s and then a SAR level 3 with enhanced technical skills and who oversees SAR level 1s and 2s.
Adapted from Issue No. 1 of Park Ranger—the magazine for SAR, Mountain Rescue, Cave Rescue, Heli-Ops, and Wildland Firefighting operators. Copyright © 2013. Published by TR Media Ltd in the United Kingdom. All Rights Reserved. Excerpted with expressed written permission. Subscribe today at www.RangerMagazine.com.I have been working on Standards for Wilderness Search and Rescue a lot lately and believe a paradigm shift in the wilderness SAR community needs to take place. The shift I envision will hurt many egos but will enhance safety and team leadership in the wilderness SAR community as a whole and enhance the professionalism of the field.
This sort of paradigm leads to conflicted leadership. To appreciate
what I am talking about, let’s examine the fire service, where hundreds of
in-the-line-of-duty deaths over a century have lead to a true culture of
leadership development and safety awareness. The key element that the fire
service maintains in its chain of command and through its leadership positions
is Situational Awareness.
One of the best (or most simple) definitions I have found is in a
United States Coast Guard training manual:.
Situational Awareness is the ability to identify, process, and comprehend the critical elements of information about what is happening to the team with regards to the mission. More simply, it’s knowing what is going on around you.
While working as a firefighter in Orange County, California, I truly
learned to appreciate my Captain’s role on scene. However, that appreciation
came over time. As a “newbie” I first looked at the Captain as being too
“selfimportant” to get his hands dirty. He always stood back and directed from
afar. It was only many years after I left the department did I appreciate his role
– the resources were always there when I needed them, that he was maintaining
the “big picture” view while I was deep in the minutia of the call at hand.
Essentially, he always had my back when I did not (and I was not even aware
that I did not have my back).
Back to Wilderness SAR – all too commonly, the most skilled individual
is assigned as the field team leader, but he or she commonly has the most
technical skills. Essentially, how can this person be the team leader and say
literally lead the team up a WI2 ice couloir. The moment he or she starts
leading the WI2 section they are no longer maintaining Situational Awareness,
at best it is severely degraded and putting the entire team at risk.
Another example, how often on your team is the highest medical person also assigned the field team leadership role? How can this person care for the patient and effectively serve as team leader? I honestly do not believe you can be “the patient advocate” and team leader at the same time because those hats are mutually exclusive. How often on your team or on missions does this occur?
Another example, how often on your team is the highest medical person also assigned the field team leadership role? How can this person care for the patient and effectively serve as team leader? I honestly do not believe you can be “the patient advocate” and team leader at the same time because those hats are mutually exclusive. How often on your team or on missions does this occur?
Like I first stated, it is time for a true paradigm shift. I suspect
many will have their egos hurt when an incident commander assigns a “less
experienced” person as the team leader. I am sorry – but my job is not to make
those people feel good… rather it is to enhance Wilderness SAR overall.
How can we start making this paradigm shift? We can start by incorporating
the following concepts and ideas into our training:
- Truly understand and practice the concepts of Situational Awareness
- Understand that “more skills” does not equate to leadership.
- Break leadership into a separate training tract for members
- Add leadership challenges into training scenarios
- Train leaders that practice good leadership practices
- Seek expert advice/input
- Admit mistakes
- Appropriately recognizes other’s efforts/skills
- Are accountable and appropriately hold others to account
- Asks questions
- Are respected and have good command presence
- Are decisive
- AND maintain Situational Awareness
I challenge each of you - look at your organization. You may be one of
the lucky ones where these ideas are already engrained and incorporated into
your organization. For the rest of us, we can work to bring these concepts to
our organizations. If you are one of the “high skilled” people that are
commonly placed in field team leadership roles – suggest that someone else be
placed in that position. Look at how your organization develops leaders… can
you help to create leadership specific training.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Top 10 most common errors made when storing survival rations for the long term
Good info graphic from Flashpoint Survival Tactical on the 10 most common errors made when storing emergency rations for the long term.
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