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SARNews.com - June 2009 Newsletter

An official publication of Emergency Response International

Published by dbS Productions LLC

In this issue:

Racing to Find Steve Fossett: Adventure Racers Go Where Technology Can’t

In his article on adventure racers searching for Steve Fossett, Jon Billman recants the story of one man’s mission to put adventure racers to the task of finding Steve Fossett. His story reads as fast-paced and intense as the effort must have been. He introduces us to Simon Donato, leader of Team Adventure Science and founder of the Canadian Adventure Racin Association. His idea was to "use hyperfit dudes on the ground, where technology turned up nil." Adventure Science was born out of the idea that adventure racers are physically fit enough to cover ground that ATVs have difficulty with, and that they can do much faster than traditional searchers on foot. And being on foot would give searchers a better chance of catching the details. When he began to think about matching adventure racers to the search effort for Fossett, it seemed to make sense, especially since the high tech method, which we've reported on in SARNews in the past, had not been successful. What made most sense was to put people on the ground in the most difficult areas. And thus, his greatest challenge was to determine a search area. To do this, he studied maps and talked with pilots, aeronautical engineers and SAR experts. He came pretty close. The whole story is absolutely worth reading - it is a great read, compelling and riveting, and reaffirms the value of people on the ground in search and rescue.

http://outside.away.com/outside/destinations/200810/steve-fossett-search_2.html


Lost Person Behavior Train the Trainer Course August 14 – 18

A second Lost Person Behavior Train the Trainer Course is being offered August 14 to 18. Become certified to instruct Lost Person Behavior based upon the program developed by Robert Koester and currently used by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management's SAR program. The course includes the full Lost Person Behavior course plus in-depth instruction on the details and mechanics of teaching the class, case studies, map problems, and a day trip into nearby Shenandoah National Park for on-site review of actual major searches that have occurred there. The course will be held at Blue Ridge School near Charlottesville, VA. More information on course requirements, agenda, registration, fees, lodging is at http://www.dbs-sar.com/LPB_TTT/index.htm.


The SnapShot Hiker Profile

Backpacker Magazine’s recent issue contains a snapshot profile of a hiker. Data to build this profile was taken from the International Search and Rescue Incident Database (ISRID). More details about Hiker behavior and statistics on where lost hikers are most likely to be found are described in Lost Person Behavior by Robert Koester. In addition to Hiker, there are 40 other behavior profiles of lost persons, based on age (e.g., children), mental status (e.g., dementia, despondent), and activity (e.g., camping, mountain biking, skiing, water-related).

http://www.backpacker.com/how_where_when_hikers_get_lost/destinations/13120


River Rescue 4th Edition Is Hot off the Press

This edition boasts 106 illustrations and 144 photographs in 292 fact-filled pages which feature:

River Rescue, by Slim Ray, has been the reference book for canoe, kayak, and raft, from beginner self-rescue to big river teamwork, since 1985. It is now available from www.dbs-sar.com.

Remember to Search the Residence … At Least Twice

This unfortunate story, in which an elderly woman was found buried in rubble seven years after she went missing, probably does not come as a surprise to seasoned urban search and rescue professionals, but it is shocking none the less. This story can be a reminder to all search and rescue efforts to search a missing person’s residence thoroughly at least twice.

http://www.bittenandbound.com/2009/03/27/eunice-workman-missing-woman-lay-dead-in-her-home-7-years/

Google Latitude – Another Useful Tool to Track One’s Location

This software can be installed on your cell phone. You can then allow others, who you have control over selecting, keep track of where you are. For search and rescue, it could provide useful information about where a lost person is, as well as benefit search managers in keeping track of search volunteers responding to and from a search.

Google Latitude

SAR Research in New Zealand

The Search and Rescue Institute of New Zealand Trust (SARINZ) is sponsoring research for Robert Koester to develop a testing methodology and experimental protocol for determining the detection index (sweep width) for sound search and light search in New Zealand conditions. Development of these sweep width tables will support future search operations of missing/lost person(s) hopefully around the world by more accurately determining how well a search resource has searched an area or segment. This data will then enhance planning efforts by determining the optimal allocation (or reallocation) of available search assets as well as providing a scientific base for areas that should be re-searched. While almost all of the staff of dbS Productions are headed to New Zealand, phones will still be answered, emailed replied to, and orders processed and shipped (just go to www.dbs-sar.com to place your order).

SAR Conference Updates

August

Illinois SAR Conference (ISARC) August 21 – 23

ISARC will be held at Rend Lake Resort & Conference Center in Whittington, IL. Conference agenda, activities and registration info is now available online.

http://www.illinoissar.org/Conference.htm

September

Arizona SAR (AZSAR) 2009 Conference  September 18 – 20

This year’s Arizona SAR Conference will be held at the Salvation Army Camp Ponderosa in Heber, AZ. Classes include Man Tracking, K9, Mounted, ATV & UTV, helicopter safety, Wilderness First Aid, NASAR SARTECH Certification, CASIE (Computer Aided Search Information Exchange), Alzheimer’s, and swiftwater rescue. Meals, rooms, RV and tent camping on the facility are available. An online registration form should be up and running soon, but in the meantime, contact James Langston at (620) 464-6220.

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