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  • From: Lois Guyon <laguyon2@yahoo.com>
  • To: msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [MSAR] snow searches
  • Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2011 08:35:50 -0800 (PST)

We just finished a recovery search in snow about two feet deep. The recovery
was not made for several weeks until after a two to three day warm spell
where
much of the snow melted. The initial three day search was conducted in deep
snow using ground searchers, dogs, ATVs, and both fixed wing and helicopters.
The recovery was made in the middle of a corn field about a half mile from a
road and a 3/4 mile from the PLS. The person had been in an automobile
crash,
was disoriented, and had a general direction of travel toward home, which was
about five miles away. The temperature at the time of the accident was
probably
about 5 degrees F with blowing snow. By the time searchers were called out,
it
was thought to be a recovery search. The mounted unit was dispatched for the
second search which took place after the thaw. However, a news team
helicopter
sent to photograph the horses searching, made the first visual sighting prior
to
the horses leaving the command center.


What words of wisdom do any of you have about searches in very cold weather
and
snow. This is only the second deep winter search we have had in years. A
year
ago we had a successful search for an Alzheimer's patient who wandered into
the
night in a blizzard. Generally our searches have been in warmer weather. I
do
not remember many posts or articles on cold weather searches.

When working on this search, I calculated the number of acres in a circle
with a
one mile radius. It is 2,010.61 acres. No wonder searching is difficult
under
the best of condiitions.


Lois Guyon, member
LaSalle County Sheriff's Mounted SAR Posse (IL)







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