Chapter II

EMERGENCY SURVIVAL SKILLS AND EQUIPMENT  

Through written evaluation the applicant will identify:

2.  What actions should be taken when a searcher becomes lost or injured.

If a member of your search team becomes injured. 

        Halt your search line immediately and notify your team leader.  If member is injured, give first aid, while staying within your scope of training.  Reassure member they will be alright.   The team leader will assess the situation and notify base.  If the condition of the injured member is mild or slight, and the member does not need more assistance, and has the ability to search, the team leader will notify the base of the location, the injured member number, and their condition, before restarting the search line and continuing the search mission. 

If the member is injured beyond the team's ability to treat the injured member, the team leader will assess the situation, notify base and give current location relaying the injured member number, and report their condition.  Notify base if evacuation by litter is necessary or advance medical personnel and treatment is required or if a helicopter is needed. 

It might take sometime for help to get to your location.  There are several activities your team leader may assign the team to do.  These include getting a GPS location, starting a fire, first aid, radio communications, building a shelter for injured member, giving water or food, preparing to lead others to the location of injured member, recording data, etc. 

When the base and the team leader have ascertained that evacuation by litter is necessary, they will also map the safest and fastest route out for transport.  Time may be crucial.  The condition of the injured member, the team's safety, terrain and weather all play a factor.

 If a member of your search team becomes lost. 

A.  As soon as you think you might be lost, STOP.
Immediately reassess your situation, adhere the following rules:

B.  If you were positioned in a line search call out HALT. STOP THE LINE.  If your team members do not respond back to you, yell louder. "STOP- HALT THE LINE."  If you do not get any response back, Use your whistle.

C.  Try reaching your team with your SAR radio, and then LISTEN. Your team will be trying to reach you.  Remember the rule in SAR. The team moves only as fast as their slowest team member.  When your line count is not heard by other team members, the search line will be halted and the team leader notified.  The team leader will notify base of the team's location, and that the team is stopping to regroup and get a line count.

D.  Your team will try to reach you by yelling out your name, they will listen for your response.  They will yell again.  Your team also will be trying to reach you by radio. LISTEN.  Your team will use their whistles, blowing three consecutive blasts within a 5 second period.  They will wait 30 seconds for your response.  If you hear the team, blow your whistle three times in response.  

Base and your team leader after assessing the situation may decide to move the team.  Base may have the team retrace their route, or split into two teams to move to a more likely place for visibility and radio transmission.

Remember

STAY DRY AND WARM. LAYER YOUR CLOTHES. KEEP YOUR HEAD AND FEET WARM.  BUILD A SHELTER. Build a fire, collecting all the wood you need before dark.  Use your head and remember that prevention is the best medicine.  Once your body temperature reaches hypothermic levels, your body no longer has the ability to rewarm itself.  If you're wet, get dry. You have to be able to provide yourself with an outside heat source.  Your brain can be your biggest asset or your biggest enemy.  Stay busy and keep a positive mental attitude.  

By JJ Kellum
Coos County Search and Rescue