Ground Search Techniques and Strategies for Missing Persons

MODULE # 0.10: INTRODUCTION TO THE GROUND SEARCH track: Ground Search level: 0 module #: 1 Introduction to the Ground Search Ground Search Module 0.0 module: pre-requisites: International SAR Alliance Training Module 1

MODULE # 0.10: INTRODUCTION TO THE GROUND SEARCH Introduction Terminology we will use in this module: First Notice: When you are first contacted to be told that someone is missing Initial Response: Your search plan for the first 6 to 12 hours of a search Lines: Routes that the missing person might have been following from the place where they were last known to be Points: Places those routes lead to or places along a route where there is shelter International SAR Alliance Training Module 2

MODULE # 0.10: INTRODUCTION TO THE GROUND SEARCH phases of an incident As we go through an incident involving a search for a missing person, we move from one PHASE into another There are THREE PHASES that a search can go through The type of searching that takes place in each of these phases is different International SAR Alliance Training Module 3

MODULE # 0.10: INTRODUCTION TO THE GROUND SEARCH UK Missing Person Behaviour Study The CSR started collecting data about searches for missing persons in 2000 this data comes mostly from MR teams and is analysed to provide information to help to plan searches for missing persons, in particular where to search these are the most likely places mentioned earlier results are referred to as UK Missing Person Behaviour Statistics 2011 report published recently available free of charge from www.searchresearch.org.uk/www/ukmpbs 4

MODULE # 0.10: INTRODUCTION TO THE GROUND SEARCH UK Missing Person Behaviour Study one of the items of information the CSR collect is the location where the missing person was found: building house, hospital, care home, barn, shed trees dense wood, plantation, copse water in it or next to it travel aid path, track or road open ground usually means sheltering linear feature stream, ditch, wall or fence most likely places - lines and points 5

MODULE # 0.10: INTRODUCTION TO THE GROUND SEARCH UKMPBS, analysis by location found, 2011 report, 1271 incidents 30 30 25 25 all categories 20 20 % 15 15 Series1 10 10 05 5 00 0 building trees water travel no trace open linear building forest aid water travel aid no trace open ground ground feature linear most likely places 6

MODULE # 0.10: INTRODUCTION TO THE GROUND SEARCH where might they have been heading for? what route would they take to get there? this is what it looks like when you draw them on a map lines & points 30 25 25 all categories 20 20 % 15 15 Series1 10 10 05 5 00 0 building forest water travel aid no trace open ground linear building trees water travel no trace open linear aid most likely places ground feature 7

MODULE # 0.10: INTRODUCTION TO THE GROUND SEARCH phases of an incident First Notice until someone decides that it is going to stop the SAR unit is alerted and the search begins and continues on days 2, 3, 4 Time the life of an incident International SAR Alliance Training Module 8

MODULE # 0.10: INTRODUCTION TO THE GROUND SEARCH phases of an incident The Names of the Three Phases Initial Response Phase Final Phase Intermediate Phase Time the life of an incident International SAR Alliance Training Module 9

MODULE # 0.10: INTRODUCTION TO THE GROUND SEARCH phases of an incident Searching In The Initial Response Phase Search the possible routes that the missing person might have followed from where they were last known to be, places where they might have taken shelter along the route, and the locations that they might have been heading for Refer to this as searching lines & points , because that is what it looks like on a map Use small search groups who are moving rapidly and we often do this at night Time International SAR Alliance Training Module 10

MODULE # 0.10: INTRODUCTION TO THE GROUND SEARCH phases of an incident First Notice Statistics tell us that this is when the missing person is found in at least 80% of searches in the UK, USA and Canada Initial Response Phase Time the life of an incident International SAR Alliance Training Module 11

MODULE # 0.10: INTRODUCTION TO THE GROUND SEARCH phases of an incident First Notice Initial Response Phase Final Phase Intermediate Phase Time International SAR Alliance Training Module 12

MODULE # 0.10: INTRODUCTION TO THE GROUND SEARCH phases of an incident Searching In The Intermediate Phase Search the most likely lines & points again, especially if the first search took place at night; we don t move quite as fast as we did in the Initial Response Usually we only do this in daylight We may search some new routes and locations (that means more lines & points) and we may start to search areas Time International SAR Alliance Training Module 13

MODULE # 0.10: INTRODUCTION TO THE GROUND SEARCH phases of an incident First Notice Initial Response Phase Final Phase Intermediate Phase Time International SAR Alliance Training Module 14

MODULE # 0.10: INTRODUCTION TO THE GROUND SEARCH phases of an incident Searching In The Final Phase Only do this in daylight Search all the lines & points again, until they have all been searched at least twice Search all the areas again, until they have all been searched at least twice Re-search only in this phase, there is no new search taking place and are moving much more slowly Time International SAR Alliance Training Module 15

MODULE # 0.10: INTRODUCTION TO THE GROUND SEARCH phases of an incident phases of an incident First Notice Initial Response Phase Final Phase Intermediate Phase Time International SAR Alliance Training Module 16

MODULE # 0.10: INTRODUCTION TO THE GROUND SEARCH outline of the ground search track The Modules in this Track Dealt With Searching routes, particularly in the initial response phase, in daylight and at night Techniques for searching areas Time International SAR Alliance Training Module 17