Mounted search and rescue

["Jeff Hasse" <jhasse@comcast.net>]

Lois,

First, congratulations on a successful recovery.  The win goes to the entire 
team, no matter who made the find (in my opinion).

I can share my perspective as a Search Manager in snowy Minnesota, where 
there are only two seasons:  winter and road construction.

The first observation that popped into my head is in regards to your comment 
regarding the size of the search area.  It is always useful to keep in mind 
that, as the radius of the search area doubles, the area that needs to be 
searched QUADRUPLES.  The lesson here is that the team must choose the 
search area carefully.  Too small and you risk that the subject is outside 
your search area and will be missed.  Too large and you risk creating an 
inefficient search where a) the subject may perish before you get to them, 
b) the search may be called off before the entire area is searched to a 
reasonable POD, c) your resources are spread so thin that their PODs are 
poor.  The most effective methods we have found to systematically determine 
the overall search area are the methods taught by both NASAR and the Air 
Force's Inland SAR Planning course.  It is a four-part method of:  1) 
calculating the theoretical maximum distance travelled, 2) determining the 
statistical search area, 3) considering subjective considerations, and 4) 
conducting scenario building through deductive reasoning.  The International 
Search and Rescue Incident Database is, by far, the best place to obtain 
statistical data during this process.  With an experienced overhead team, 
this process doesn't take as long as one would think.

Searches in winter conditions present some specific problems for search 
teams and must be considered by Search Managers.  Cold alone can reduce the 
working times of many resources (even well prepared ones).  It will render 
unprepared resources useless.  So, one of the first questions I would ask 
when considering calling out any resource is:  How prepared for the 
conditions can I expect this team to be?  That is going to vary considerably 
between different teams.  If a team has never trained in these conditions, I 
would not expect them to be prepared for them and would not likely call them 
out.

Another environmental consideration is visibility.  If visibility is good, 
as Irv said, aerial searching is very efficient in winter searches.  The 
Civil Air Patrol is a very effective resource for this (at least in our 
area).  If "vis" is poor, it is generally too dangerous to fly.

Visibility in winter conditions can change very quickly.  Lowered visibility 
can considerably reduce a team's POD.  It can make navigation very 
difficult.  It can also make search conditions quite dangerous.  Again, 
preparation and training can make the difference between a safe search or a 
dangerous one.  You would be amazed at what a difference a pair of ski 
goggles can make when searching in poor vis.  Amber lenses, while reducing 
your visibility range, can improve your overall depth perception and 
discrimination in white conditions and help you spot that lump in a field. 
A working GPS can also be a lifesaver.  I have found my tent in white out 
conditions in the mountains of British Columbia using my GPS.  I have also 
used them in the winter on a moonless night to navigate while ski touring in 
the Boundary Waters wilderness.  But be sure you know how to use them well 
before attempting these risky adventures.  Also, wear them near your body 
because LCD screens to not work well in cold weather and battery life is 
greatly reduced in the cold.  (Lithium batteries work best in the cold. 
They are quite light weight too, but expensive.)

A further environmental consideration is footing.  Any muscle-powered travel 
in deep snow is quite demanding.  This goes for everyone: humans, horses, or 
dogs.  A Search Manager has to ask:  What resources do I have available that 
can effectively and efficiently travel on snow?  Are there teams available 
that have trained on snow shoes or cross-country skis?  If not, I might 
consider utilizing groups without SAR experience but with specific skills 
the search needs; namely, snowmobile clubs, cross-country ski groups, 
outdoor groups, etc.  Is there a snowmobile trail groomer nearby that might 
be called in to help?  While not an idea situation, they may be able to 
provide the mobility necessary to complete the search.  If you don't want 
them to search directly, perhaps you can use these resources to move trained 
SAR teams around.

One of the goals of our statewide coalition of SAR groups is to network with 
these types of specialized groups which we are slowly doing.  I would 
encourage the SAR community in your area to reach out to them.  You might be 
surprised to find out that they are quite receptive to obtaining SAR 
training.

Anyway, just my humble opinions.  Good luck on future searches.  I must be 
off to shovel the two feet of snow that is threatening to collapse my 
roof...

Jeff Hasse
Member, Search, Rescue, and Recovery Resources of Minnesota


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lois Guyon" <laguyon2@yahoo.com>
To: <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2011 10:35 AM
Subject: [MSAR] snow searches


> 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)