msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Mounted search and rescue
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- From: "IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN" <ilichten1@verizon.net>
- To: "'Mounted search and rescue'" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
- Subject: Re: [MSAR] Search VS Rescue
- Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 03:48:14 -0400
There are several considerations here.
One is search versus rescue and who should regulate each function. Here in PA
it has been traditional that volunteer fire searches and the Health Department
regulates rescue, sometimes by itself and sometimes in a joint fire-rescue
program. Under the current EMS Act the EMS Bureau is to issue regulations on
what skills are needed to hand out self adhesive bandages at a group ride and
what organization can provide the skilled person as well as both Urban and
Wilderness SAR. Conversations with the Director of PA EMS confirms they are
going ahead with this and that he thinks patient care begins on discovery of
the search subject, even if the searcher does nothing but call it in and remain
on the location. The practical matter is that there are
fewer call outs, and in some areas no call outs because the authorities believe
they can find anyone by pinging a cell phone. Or perhaps it is they don’t
really want to expend resources. There is an extraordinary level of technology
available, especially in densely developed East, but it doesn’t always
work and sometimes it is for show. We should get no walkways from mental
health or dementia facilities due to the best practice of using a beacon
bracelet. Works on crooks, but all we get is dead bodies, usually within a ½ mile
radius of the facility found by chance encounters. We have cell phone coverage, but it is
still not complete and the varied systems are not always in the same places.
We have traditional cell, telephone grade service at 800 MHz, Nextel walkie
talkie at 800, PCS at 1.2 and 1.5 GHz, and all of it available through prepaid
junk phones. If you call 9-1-1 on a cell and get through there is a very good
chance that Phase 2 equipment installed at most centers will locate the phone
within a 125 meter radius. Should reduce the search area if the phone stays
put and the person carrying it stays put. And then there is the police force. Most
areas are still trying to operate helicopter patrols with FLIR and other neat
stuff. It costs a lot of money to fly, just in terms of flight hours.
Hospitals do it because a helicopter ride for a patient insures they come to
that hospital and the hospital makes around $40,000 per trip more on trauma. And after the fact studies say 70% or so
of direct scene flys are not medically necessary in an urban area. People think
it costs money to search. It does but not as much as they think because all
they see is uniformed personnel they assume on overtime, doing the work. OT is
very expensive, especially around here. Philadelp The next day their vehicle is towed by the
Parking Authority and never seen again. The family launches a flyer and prayer
vigil sequence. And when things get smelly and ripe some dog walker, or a
young kid, finds what’s left, a cold case. There is the case of the Fairmount Park
Strangler, still on the loose after 7 years, who rapes female joggers and who
is connected to a murder by DNA evidence. No one looked for the murder victim
when she failed to complete her jog and missed work. The area she was found in
was heavily trafficked . The myth is we don’t have to search
anymore. And it is a myth that must be debunked. Irv Lichtenstein www.sepasar.net From:
msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of pennbo@verizon.net Just curious about something. We've been discussing for years that the
face of SAR was probably going to change with the advent of PLB's, GPS', and
cell phones. The guess was that it would change more from search and focus more
on the rescue part. Wondering if any of you have seen a change in this
direction in your experience? |
-
[MSAR] Search VS Rescue,
pennbo, 08/17/2010
- Re: [MSAR] Search VS Rescue, IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN, 08/18/2010
- Re: [MSAR] Search VS Rescue, Una Smith, 08/18/2010
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