Mounted search and rescue

["irvin lichtenstein" <ilichten1@verizon.net>]

Refer to any of the search management texts on grid type searches. They
indicate how far apart people should be to achieve a percentage detection
rate in an open field. The higher the percentage means the more clues found,
the wider the separation means more ground covered per sweep man hour. To a
search manager high percentages and low man-hours are the key to a
successful search.

To set up a test (and some of the original research was done in Washington
State) you find a meadow or hay field the owner will let you trample. Create
uniform clues for the searchers to find, milk cartons, coffee cans, etc. ALL
the clues should be the same and marked with day, date, and a number so you
will know how many are picked up. Randomly distribute the clues in the
field.
And then send in the grid team. And then do it again, and again. Eventually
using different separations and numbers of searchers you should either
confirm or approximate the numbers in the text. We have done it on foot in
the woods and the book was right on. On horseback it can be a little tougher
due to poor eyesight but tracks through the grass are more evident.

The point is that the text book has some valid data you can use to manage
the search.

Irv Lichtenstein