Canine Search Specialist Training

1
Canine Search Specialist Training

• STM Unit 12A
• Canine Search Operations

2
Unit Objective

• Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to
  identify the Search Team Managers
  responsibilities during canine search operations

3
Enabling Objectives

• Describe the components of the reconnaissance
  team
• List the information that needs to be
  communicated to the canine team during a
  deployment
• Identify the types of searches employed during a
  deployment

4
Enabling Objectives (continued)

• List the key safety considerations during search
  operations
• Identify the key considerations associated with
  victims
• List the responsibilities related to post-mission
  duties

5
Reconnaissance Detection

• The reconnaissance team
• May be made up of nine members
• Is deployed in a detection mode
• Structural triage and assessment to be on point

• Provides rapid assessment of the assigned area
• Uses the Technical Search Specialist and Canine
  Teams for detection

6
Search Location

• Search may be
• Done simultaneously with recon
• Done after recon
• It is not unusual for rescue teams to become
  search teams

7
Canine Deployment

• LCES
• Perimeter of the search area
• Current weather conditions, including
• Time of day
• Weather conditions
• Air currents
• Temperature

8
Canine Deployment (continued)

• Boundaries that have been established
• Observers
• Type of structure and collapse
• Intelligence

9
Work Time

• Time canine is allowed to work is usually 20
  minutes
• However, time period is variable and dependent on
  several factors including
• Canine conditioning
• Environmental temperature
• Type of structure involved

10
Type of Searches

• Primary search
• Primary search is done in detection mode
• Sometimes called hasty, free, or area search
• This type of search would be done rapidly
• Fact Victims may be missed in the effort to
  find as many as possible, but areas can be
  re-searched

11
Type of Searches (continued)

• Secondary search
• A secondary search is done in the location mode
• The time to locate a victim is after they have
  been detected
• secondary search usually conducted in a smaller
  area
• This type of search is sometimes called a grid
  search
• Slower, more methodical search method

12
Search Considerations

• LCES
• LCES should be determined at the briefing
• Safety
• The Structural Specialist will decide as to
  whether the structure is
• Safe for people to enter
• Safe for canine entry only
• Not safe at all for an entry search

13
Briefing

• Briefing will include safety and site information
  team needs to know
• This briefing will cover
• Rescue infrastructure in place
• Entrances and exits (blue prints, site map) What
  area(s) have already been searched
• Should include answers to the following questions

14
Briefing (continued)

• What has been searched?
• How and by whom? (If possible to talk to them)
• Have occupants been accounted for and by whom?
• Any sounds from the structure?

• Any known missing and where were they last seen?
  
• Can you interview the person reporting the
  missing?
• Have canines searched area, and if so, what were
  their findings?

15
Briefing (continued)

• Utilities
• Are utilities (gas, electric and water) been
  secured and if so, by who?

16
Briefing (continued)

• Environment
• What type of collapse?
• Is the building stable? If not, can the canines
  search it?
• Any Hazardous Materials?
• Any hazardous conditions (overhead hazards,
  rubble hazards, equipment hazards, and so forth)?

17
Briefing (continued)

• Decontamination
• Is a decon area set up?
• If not, what is the contingence?

18
Preparation for Search

• Things to consider
• Does the area need to be cleared of rescuers or
  convergent volunteers?
• Is equipment operating in search area?
• Check wind conditions and note time of day
• Provide for observers to advise handler if canine
  is out of area

19
Preparation for Search (continued)

• Also keep in mind that the Search Manager will
  have to wear a safety officers cap, too

20
Search Tactics

• (Refer to Canine Search Ops)

21
A Few Other Things to Keep in Mind

• STM should act as a liaison with other on-scene
  agencies
• Use your canine handlers experience to help
  determine how to best search the site
• STM establishes the search area
• Determine if this is a primary search, or a
  secondary search

22
A Few Other Things to Keep in Mind (continued)

• Determine, dependent on structural stability of
  building, how building is to be searched
• Canine handler should brief the STM
• Use the wind to your advantage and work canines
  into it
• Use your intelligence to your advantage
• Try to keep resources as fresh as possible

23
A Few Other Things to Keep in Mind (continued)

• Weather plays a big part in working a site
• If canines are not working they should be down in
  a rest area, preferably in crate

24
Detection Versus Location

• In the detection mode (primary search) handler
  should be moving over large areas quickly
• The location search mode (secondary search) teams
  will do a grid search
• Canines will be used in conjunction with
  technical search

25
STMs Duties During a Search

• Ensuring the safety for all team members (LCES)
• Observing the working canine team
• Remembering where alerts were and noting whether
  the alert was weak or strong
• Observing any changes in the canines behavior
• The change could mean the presence of a cadaver

26
STMs Duties During a Search (continued)

• Recognizing search areas not covered and advising
  handler as appropriate
• Preparing to bring in a confirmation canine when
  needed
• Assessing the canines performance
• Includes obedience, alerts, agility, and teamwork
• Done daily and documented for future reference

27
Debriefing

• Canine team should be debriefed on their findings
  
• Handler should draw a map of the search site
• Show alerts, and indicate the time and type of
  alert
• Quick hot wash of the search can be done

28
Victims

• Live versus deceased
• Much discussion on subject
• Finding live victims is primary
• Will the disaster search dog ever find deceased
  victims?
• Finding and recovering deceased victims does
  provide many families with closure

29
Victims (continued)

• Alerts
• Canine will do bark alert on a found victim
• Bark alert says, I found a victim!
• Canines focus and penetration shows where scent
  is coming out from and victims possible location
• You may notice the canines alerts may decrease
  when working in blitz mode for long periods

30
Victims (continued)

• Contact with the victim
• If contact with victim is made in detection mode,
  reassure victim resources are coming
• May have to leave victim in order to continue
  recon
• Interview victim concerning other possible
  victims and their location
• Also determine if there are any injuries
• In the location mode, teams will stay with victim
  and reassurance will be established

31
Victims (continued)

• Confirmation of alert
• Alerts and hits may require a second canine team
  to confirm
• First team should mark victims location
• Second canine team will start down wind of first
  alert
• Second alert is confirmed and location should be
  marked and documented

32
Victims (continued)

• Marking the victims location
• Use paint and victim marking system to indicate
  victims location
• Do not use flagging as it can be removed,
  especially when delayering

33
Victims (continued)

• Victim removal
• After victim removal, reevaluate the area and do
  a secondary search
• If possible, interview the victim

34
Additional On-Site Considerations

• Decontamination
• Establish canine decontamination area at BoO or
  as determined by IST
• Handlers usually have shampoo to bathe canines
  with
• Check with HAZMAT Manager to make sure shampoo
  will not react with contaminants
• Handler may only have to spot wash the canine
• Be sure to blow dry the canines

35
Additional On-Site Considerations (continued)

• Wet canines
• Never put canines back in their kennels wet
• Kennels should be washed, dried, and bedding
  replaced

36
At the Completion of the Mission

• Stress Relief for the Handlers
• Play with the canines and do runaways
• Do search problems of site that end with success
• Canines should be housed in their kennels on site
  and at BoO

37
At the Completion of the Mission (continued)

• Documentation
• Task force operations report
• ICS Form 214
• Mapping of all alerts and hits, confirmation, and
  location of confirmed victims

38
Unit Summary and Evaluation
39
Unit Summary

• Describe the components of the reconnaissance
  team
• List the information that needs to be
  communicated to the canine team during a
  deployment
• Identify the types of searches employed during a
  deployment

40
Unit Summary (continued)

• List the key safety considerations during search
  operations
• Identify the key considerations associated with
  victims
• List the responsibilities related to post-mission
  duties

41
Unit Evaluation

• Please fill out the evaluation form for this unit