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Subject: Mounted search and rescue

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  • From: "BC911" <usark9@warpdriveonline.com>
  • To: "Mounted search and rescue" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Fw: [MSAR] Home Land Security
  • Date: Thu, 25 Mar 2004 17:26:04 -0700

 
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Home Land Security

There is a disaster first responder class being given in WV at the end of April. It is a class being given by Teresa McPherson from VA Task Force I, and Ann Wickman from CO Task Force I. I will be there to learn how they set the class and to lend a hand where needed.
Local SAR/MSAR need to get on the band wagon and get dome USAR training under their belts. The National FEMA/DHS system is just not equipped to be on scene as fast as we would like and if local resources were trained in first responder USAR skills, more lives could be saved in those first precious hours.
 
I am anxious to learn what skills they are going to be teaching so that I will have a better idea how to set up and train local SAR resources. This class will be given mainly to K-9 units, but I'm sure there is a way to incorporate MSAR into the works. I don't know how most MSAR units work, but with K-9s, especially for FEMA/DHS, If we are called  and it turns out that a K-9 is not the appropriate resource, or we find ourselves in a Haz Mat situation, we are to take the K-9 out of the area and work in whatever capacity that we can.
As a K-9 Search Specialist with FEMA/DHS, my job might be to cut up fallen trees from a structure with a chainsaw, or even put on a HazMat suit and work a Decon station. We are cross trained for many jobs to prepare us for just about anything that might come along.
I don't expect any of you to dawn a Type A HazMat suit, but there are many ways that you can be of assistance in a disaster without a horse if you are trained in some USAR and most of you already have skills that can be used in a USA situation. Even manning the com's statin can be a great help. I'm sure that many of you can run a chainsaw. You just need to be trained how to look for potential hazards that you can run into that are unique to USAR vs. SAR/MSAR.
In short, working a collapsed structure is not like a hike or mounted ride in the woods, and while you want to help and certainly already have many skills and training that you can use in a disaster, please get additional training before running into a disaster scene.
Safety is everything both for the responders and to the victims.
IMHO  ;0)
 
B. Diane Whetsel EMT I
Search Dogs Southwest
NASAR SAR Tech II
FEMA DHS Canine Disaster Readiness Evaluator 
FEMA/DHS NMTF I, CSS
911BC, Search and Recovery
 
If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.
~~Will Rogers
 
 



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