Mounted search and rescue

["Andrew Hennell" <ahennell@gmail.com>]

>From our SOPs currently being developed...

If you know you're entering a 'dead zone', then extra caution needs to be taken to ensure a planned route is lodged with search HQ, that a call-in time is established*, and that the team carries 'attention seeking devices' such as EPIRB and/or flares. Call-in may involve a vehicle/horse moving to a high point with good visability of the search area and conducting a check of all who are out there are a pre-set time. Oh, and ensure the team is self-sufficient with food/water/shelter/first-aid for a minimum of 36hrs just incase.

Satellite phones are handy, but rather exepensive (at least in Australia) and still may not work in the deepest/steepest of valleys.

Cheers,
Andrew
(establishing MSAR in ACT/NSW Australia)

On Sun, May 25, 2008 at 8:57 AM, <pennbo@verizon.net> wrote:

I'd like to clarify a few things- our area is VERY rugged. That means that it would be impossible to 'plug all the holes' communication-wise. I know it is hard for some units to imagine what it is like - while other units experience the same type of terrain. From my front window, right now, I can see EIGHT different ridgelines. That means there are valleys in between. Some of those valleys are several thousand feet deep (to the valley floor from the peak/ridge).

On longer term searches we have our communications well in hand. We use both HAM and Sheriff radios, as well as handi-talkies for intra-unit communication. We have portable repeaters placed as necessary. It is the initial hasty search that may leave holes.

I guess, in hindsight of my initial question, there really is nothing we can do except to be aware that we are entering a 'dead' zone and will be incommunicado for a time. :-)

Chris
_______________________________________________
MSAR-Riders mailing list
MSAR-Riders@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/msar-riders