Mounted search and rescue

["Jorene Downs" <Jorene@CEOates.com>]

From: <porleslie@aol.com>
> Does anyone have any data comparing MSAR to other SAR types especially 
> ground units regarding
> POD Area covered per hour, etc?  I am working on a brief information 
> letter for the AHJ,s in our area.

Generally, mounted searchers have been shown to be superior to foot 
searchers in more open view terrain when searching from roads and trails, 
and off-road in wilderness, parks and agricultural areas.


In a landmark event in 2004, field detection experiments sponsored by the 
U.S. National SAR Committee (NSARC) were conducted in several locations 
across the United States. In California, Mounted SAR resources were invited 
to participate. The researchers made several interesting observations 
regarding the benefits of MSAR resources. For example, although small clues 
may be difficult to see from the saddle and riding in rough terrain may 
distract the rider from the search, the higher and longer view from the 
saddle combined with a faster search speed offer benefits that most human 
searchers cannot match. At the very least, the experiments provided the 
first opportunity to measure and record how MSAR resources compare to humans 
in terms of clue detection. Such information has the potential to benefit 
every Incident Commander and planner involved in a search incident, and 
similar local research will provide input regarding local capabilities and 
training needs. For a copy of the full detection experiment report, visit 
NSARC's "Items of Interest" page 
(www.uscg.mil/hq/g-o/g-opr/nsarc/interest_items.htm ) and click on "Sweep 
Width Estimation for Ground Search and Rescue."

You might get some other useful information for your document from some 
articles I've written that are available on www.ceoates.com/msar If you 
think it would help, feel free to print a copy of any article and hand it to 
management.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jorene Downs
www.ceoates.com/msar