back to Newsletter archive from SARNews.com

SARNews.com - February 2009 Newsletter

An official publication of Emergency Response International

Published by dbS Productions LLC

In this issue:

Lost UK Hillwalkers Meet Different Fates

Two young hillwakers (aka hikers) were found alive and well in Scotland after spending the night in the mountains under snow. Reportedly, one of the men received a text message from a friend advising them to make a snow cave and stay put. They found shelter from the wind behind rock and, following the good advice, waited until daylight to move on. Two other walkers were less fortunate, both having died apparently after falling off rock in icy conditions while walking (hiking) in England . Mountain rescue teams and RAF helicopters responded to the searches under difficult conditions.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/two-hillwalkers-die-two-found-safe-1546927.html

Reminder to Boaters, Aviators: Upgrade to Digital 406 MHz EPIRBs ASAP

As of February 1, 2009, the US Coast Guard and other SAR personnel will no longer receive analog distress signals. Boaters, aviators and others using emergency distress beacons are urged to equip their vessels/aircraft with a digital 406 MHz beacon. The law requires these beacons to be registered with the NOAA (http://www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov/).

http://marinelink.com/en-US/News/Article/Search-and-Rescue-Goes-Digital/329505.aspx

More detail can be found at http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/

Enhance Your Clue Awareness With New Tracking Book

The best tracking book may be the one you write for yourself over the course of years of learning and practice. Students of tracking and trackers who want to continue to learn from the expertise of others are now in luck: the newest book on tracking—Foundations for Awareness, Signcutting and Tracking by Robert Speiden—has just been published. This book is different from other tracking books and will help future searchers learn to see and understand more. Designed as a textbook (originally to support the long standing and successful 50-hour tracking course put on by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management), the book uncovers the mystery of tracking and clearly lays out the observational scientific methods of finding, following, and interpreting sign. Each of the twenty chapters presents a new perspective. Notable chapters cover topics such as light sources, enhancing awareness, signcutting tactics, night signcutting, footwear, ageing, pressure releases, human strides, and evasive signcutting. Other chapters are devoted to tracking on different substrates such as soil, rocks, leaves, vegetation, stone, stone, and slopes. The writing is clear and fresh, and concepts are well-illustrated with excellent photographs and illustrations. It is easy to pick up and follow, and learn from this book (268 pages, 8.5 x 11, paperback). We don't add too many books to our catalog, but we are adding this one. You may pre-order the book now; and for orders placed prior to Feb 23rd, no shipping charges will apply if shipping to a US address.

For more information and to order Foundations, go to www.dbs-sar.com

Rescue Robots Are Tested for Urban Search and Rescue

Robots designed for air, land and underwater SAR functions were tested at the Disaster City training ground last November. Working along with first responders, the robots were tested for their abilities in mobility, manipulation, human/system interaction, endurance, visual acuity and mapping among others. Urban SAR task force leaders who participated in the training event believe that the robots will be a useful aid to human responders as well as protect responders from unsafe situations such as void spaces or underwater. The November test at Disaster City , a large scale, realistic and comprehensive emergency response training facility, prepared the robots for an urban search and rescue environment. To read more, go to

http://www.physorg.com/news146852350.html

To see videos of robots in action, go to http://teexblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Urban%20Search%20and%20Rescue

SAR Team Project Plots Searches on Google Earth

Mountaineer Area Search and Rescue Group based in West Virginia has posted its searches since 1995 on Google Earth. A brief description of the search (minus the subject’s name and other personal information) is included. This is an excellent tool to document the location of searches, and it provides a really cool snapshot of where searches are concentrated. (Get a free download at www.earth.google.com).

http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=1264086&page=0&vc=1#Post1264086

American Rescue Dog Association (ARDA) Relaunches E-Newsletter

ARDA has recently relaunched its newsletter, which intends to provide its membership and the rest of the SAR community information related specifically to canine search, through technical articles, special interest features, product and book reviews. In this first issue, ARDA-VA member, Teresa McPherson, had this to say about Lost Person Behavior by Robert J Koester: "As canine handlers whose SAR roots are in Virginia, many of us date back to when Robert Koester began his research. Early on, we began to rely on his statistics to help us quickly find the missing subject, based on their "victim characteristics." We remember him at every search giving quiet guidance as he continued to collect the data that today gives us the information we need to conduct efficient and effective searches. A product of many years of searching for the missing person, "Lost Person Behavior" was a long time coming, but well worth the wait."

http://ardainc.org/pdf/ARDA_Newsletter_01-2009.pdf

NIMS Final Version is Now Available

FEMA has released the final version of the National Incident Management System document, which underwent revision since 2006 to incorporate best practices and lessons learned from recent incidents, clarify concepts and principles, and refine processes and terminology in the document. The revision includes the following improvements:

NIMS document puts forth criteria that federal, state, territorial, tribal and local governments must meet in order to obtain federal funding. NIMS requirements streamline communications, training and resource management between levels of emergency responders.

http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/

World Health Organization Manual for Medical Responders Caring for Children in Emergencies

The World Health Organization released a manual for medical responders who provide care to children under five years old in situations where inpatient hospital facilities are not available.  The manual covers triage and emergency management, emergency resuscitation, injuries and burn management, newborn and infant care, mental health and provides a chart for medications with dosages for children.

http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2008/9789241596879_eng.pdf

New Disaster Assistance One-Stop Web Site

FEMA has created a new Web site – www.disasterassistance.gov – that enables disaster victims to access critical disaster assistance from various programs in once place. The new Web site centralizes the application process for federal disaster assistance and consolidates information on assistance programs administered at the federal, state and local levels. Individuals can register and track applications online, visit other assistance sites, and access other federal accounts, such as social security and student loans.

http://www.disasterassistance.gov/daip_en.portal

Ushahidi: Web Technology Receives “Testimony” From Citizens in the Midst of Crisis

Ushahidi, which means “testimony” in Swahili, is a new social technology that collects crisis information sent from cell phones, emails, or other web-based technologies and then maps it so that a crisis can be tracked. It was initiated in Kenya during political turmoil there last year: citizens reported on the violence while in the midst of it, sending text messages via their cell phones and email in order to bring a realistic awareness of what was happening there. Information is verified by analyzing all available news and information sources. Ushahidi is intended to be a platform that can be deployed easily and rapidly by any organization that needs to track crises.

http://www.ushahidi.com/

Rescue Rigger –Version 7.0 Now Available

RescueRigger has redesigned its products to provide additional support for industrial, rope access, and theatrical rigging intended to better support the rope rescue community. For more detail and to see images of the improvements go to:

http://rescuerigger.com/history.htm/default.asp?ReferralCode=RC0004

http://rescuerigger.com/images/New-Version7.gif

© 2009 dbS Productions LLC | 1808 Rugby Place, Suite B | Charlottesville, VA 22903

434.293.5502 | www.dbs-sar.com | Privacy Policy | subscribe

http://www.emlrc.org/disaster2007.htm

http://www.fcc.gov/pshs