[SaraHap] SARA Happenings -- January 2008

Tue Jan 15 21:27:30 MST 2008

Hi All: 

SARA Happenings is issued to foster communication within the Search and Rescue community in Alberta. It is going to 328 e-mail addresses that are listed as the primary contact of SAR Alberta member groups or which were requested to be added to the mailing list.

Subscription and unsubscription information is at the end of the newsletter. 

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FROM PAUL OLMSTEAD

This is really a test. Shelly sent this commercial and I'm running it naked (well, the way it arrived, un-edited and still in its colours and formatting.) If anyone finds this gaudy ad a problem in your issue of SARA Happenings, let me know (or else tighten up your spam filter - whatever.)

 FREE - New sat Phone ( plus accessories) and Garmin GPS ( plus software) 

Talk about the power of advertising. 

Below is a link to my house in Stony Plain Alberta and as you may know I am about to retire and move to where I can launch my sea kayak almost 12 months of the year. BUT I need to sell this house - see web link below. 

http://users.eastlink.ca/~ghm//albertahouse4sale/ 

I may list it in Feb. 2008, but for now anyone who directly brings or steers a buyer my way will receive gifts as an incentive. 

I will provide that person with the Newest Global Star Satellite Phone (Model # 1700) , a pelican case, a car charger and spare battery (accessories are worth almost $400.00) as well I will throw in a new Garmin GPS 60CX and software to download maps into the GPS. 

All this can be yours if you please keep your ears and eyes open for someone who might be looking to buy a great house in Stony Plain Alberta. 

Thanks 

Paul OLMSTEAD 780 991 6406

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COMMERCIAL FROM THE PRESIDENT

Please put in the next SARA Happenings issue - thank you (that way if anyone is interested from our member groups, associates and others they can contact Eldon directly) 

Rodney

Our company, Wyse Design & Development Inc., has developed a Portable Winch Recovery System designed for Snowmobile, ATV, and Rescue and Recovery operations. Extensive product testing and evaluation was conducted by Newfoundland and Labrador Search and Rescue and our winch was given their stamp of approval; 

"A superior product, its tough construction and heavy-duty components make it almost indestructible. Its pulling capacity is more than adequate and portability makes it ideal for SAR Teams." - Barry Nash, NLSARA 

The Wyse Portable Winch System provides quick and easy set-up, is lightweight and compact, and comes complete with a remote control, 2 straps, 1-ton shackle, wiring harness and carry bag. The winch has a 2000lb rating from a 1.2hp motor and is powered by any 12 volt source. Detailed product specifications are available from our website - www.wyse-design.com 

Our Winch Recovery System was developed in Canada and is an effective tool used by Fisheries & Oceans Canada and the Newfoundland and Labrador Search and Rescue Association. At $299.00 per unit, this is a very affordable and valuable asset for Search and Rescue operations. 

If you have any questions about our Portable Winch System, or would like more information, please contact me at your convenience.

Eldon Davis Marketing Director 

WYSE Design & Development Inc. 

Suite 3022, INCO Innovation Centre 

P.O. Box 4200 

St. Johns, NL, Canada, A1C 5S7 

Telephone: 709-737-6215 

Fax: 709-737-2539 

Email: Eldon.Davis at WYSE-Design.com 

www.wyse-design.com

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NEW SARA TRAINING COORDINATOR

It is my pleasure to announce Ric Henderson as the SAR Alberta Provincial Training Coordinator. 

Richard (Ric ) Henderson 

h: 403.348.8868 

w: 403.357.2371 

c: 403.505.3069 

p: 403.304.3181 

email: rhenderson at reddeercounty.ab.ca    rjh1 at telusplanet.net 

I also want to thank Paul Olmstead for all his time he put into this position over the last number of years (very much appreciated) and wish him well with his future endeavours 

Thanks also to Cindy Heselton sarasouthcentraldirector at yahoo.ca who canvassed for nominations to this position.

Rodney Dietrich 

SAR Alberta - President

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WORKING WITH A SEARCH DOG TEAM IN THE WILDERNESS / URBAN ENVIRONMENT

by Mary-Ann Warren

Training Director/Dog Handler

Search & Rescue Dog Association of Alberta 

Since not many ground searchers or search managers have worked with SAR dogs, this document is meant for you!

A search dog team is defined as one dog with one handler.

How a search dog is worked, and how successful it will be, is very much dependent on the environmental conditions at the time of the search incident.

Most search dog teams in Alberta are deployed as air-scenting dogs. These dogs are trained to pick up human scent from air currents. Depending on environmental conditions, the scent may be picked up as far away as one km or more.

The air-scenting dog does not require a scent article from the lost person.

Some search dogs are trained to track a lost person's scent left by their foot impressions, also called 'Tracking'. Civilian dog teams are rarely used as tracking dogs in the province of Alberta.

About the Search Dog Teams:

The dog handlers are to have met the minimum standard for GSAR in the Province of Alberta. 

Dog handlers are trained to recognize and interpret how their dogs work and what their dog is scenting.

Dog handlers will communicate how they will work a search segment. Dog teams don't always physically cover the entire search area. Depending on wind and scent conditions, the team may "miss" large areas of the search zone (example -- only searching the bottom and top of a gully, but not the sides). 

At times the search dog teams are relocated from one-search segment to another at any given time as dictated by Command.

Dog handlers are trained in clue awareness.

Dog handlers will dependent on conditions, and dogs ranging capabilities usually move through areas quicker than the ground SAR teams.

Dog handlers are independent; they carry their dogs and own needs in their packs. 

Dog handlers don't use sound signals, support personnel should expect to be working quietly most of the time. You can talk to the handler, but you won't be yelling or whistling to try and get the subject's attention, unless the dog is stopped.

Dog handlers may take breaks at intervals in the field, to give the dog a chance to rest and be re-motivated if needed. At times during a long search, the handler may ask the support personnel to hide so that the dog has a "live find" during or after the search, then play with the dog as it's reward. 

About the Dogs:

A search dog should be approachable.

An "alert" is a trained response the dog will give when it has located the lost person and or clue. The handler should identify what their dog's alert is.

The dogs are trained to alert on people as well as articles (clues) with human scent on them. 

The dogs should not distract on other searchers, or support personnel. However they may identify to the handler when other people are in the area. 

The dog may alert on other search teams in the area. It is what they are trained to do.indicate where the human scents are located. Their handler will check out whatever the dog alerts on. Just wait until the handler arrives at your location and provides instructions to continue. 

The dogs should not distract on animal activity in the area. However dogs are animals and may identify to the handler when there are critters around.

Dogs are not 100%; they do there best based on their trained capabilities and environmental conditions during any given incident.

As a Support Personnel working with a SAR dog team you may expect the following duties:

Communications 

The Support Personnel working with a dog team handles the communications with the command base and other SAR teams. This frees up the handler to concentrate on their dog.

Support personnel are free to question the handlers at any time. 

Navigation

Wind and environment play a huge role in how the dog is worked. The dog handler will communicate how they will be working the dog. Preferable, the handler will want to work the dog using the wind direction to their advantage. Whether it is in a type I, II, III search, the dog handler will give direction to their support on what heading they will want to go. Keep in mind that the direction of their search pattern may change at any time. 

Documentation

If communicated by the handler, the support personnel may be expected to take notes. The notes may contain time started/ended search, search segment and location of clues. Dog handler search reports differ from those that GSAR write out at the end of a search. Dog handlers document, environment conditions, how the dog was worked etc.

First Aid

Support personnel may at times need to aid in performing first aid functions for the victim, the handler, support person or even the dog. 

Another set of eyes

The dog handler may communicate to the support how their dog reacts when it is on the scent and how the dog alerts when it has located someone. Since handlers are trained to be clue aware as well they also are visually searching. If the support personnel sees the dog react to something they need to communicate this to the handler since the handler could have missed it.

By working together as a team and eliminating the time it takes to explain how to work together, more time may be given in searching for that potential survivor. 

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SARA HAPPENINGS SUBMISSIONS 

Our regular publication date for mailings of SARA Happenings is the middle of each month. Please note that the deadline for material is the 14th of each month. 

Does your group have an event posting for the SARA Happenings mailing? If so, please send information 1-1/2 months prior to the dates you wish advertised. It will then give ample time for those reading it to respond. 

Please send all material to the editor; Chris Hoare at choare at shaw.ca PLEASE DO include contact information for members to gain further information.

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