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| TYPING GUIDELINES |
Our Search & Rescue Team travels to neighboring counties
to assist in search efforts through a coordinated plan,
or memo of understanding, with the California State Office
of Emergency Services.
In 2004 the OES released guidelines for wilderness search
and rescue teams in order to facilitate better communication
of resource needs amongst the counties. Now, when a county
calls for mutual aid from other counties, they can specify
how many and of what "type" are being requested.
The following section recaps the California State Office
of Emergency Services searcher typing guidelines. The
original documents relating to these definitions can be
found here:
EOS
Main Search & Rescue page
Search
& Rescue Ground Searcher typing
Search
& Rescue Canine Typing
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| SEARCHER TYPING |
The following describes expectations of the ground searcher
qualifications, capabilities and skills.
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Type 1 |
Type 2 |
Type 3 |
Type 4 |
| Can be deployed to: |
1/2/3/4 |
2/3/4 |
3/4 |
3/4 |
| Operational periods w/o external support |
Capable of multiple operational periods,
up to 72 hour deployments. |
Capable of field assignments up to
one day. With the possibility of an overnight in the field |
One operational period. |
One operational period with external
support. |
| Medical SKills |
Current First Aid/CPR |
Current First Aid/CPR |
Current First Aid/CPR |
Current First Aid/CPR |
| Radio Communications |
Member should be familiar with basic
radio communications skills. This should include: understanding
the use of mutual aid radio frequencies and basic radio etiquette. |
Member should be familiar with basic
radio communications skills. This should include: understanding
the use of mutual aid radio frequencies and basic radio etiquette. |
Member should be familiar with basic
radio communications skills. This should include: understanding
the use of mutual aid radio frequencies and basic radio etiquette. |
Member should be familiar with basic
radio communications skills. This should include: understanding
the use of mutual aid radio frequencies and basic radio etiquette. |
| Knowledge of Basic SEMS/ICS |
Member should be familiar with the
"Standardized Emergency Management System/ICS" |
Member should be familiar with the
"Standardized Emergency Management System/ICS" |
Member should be familiar with the
"Standardized Emergency Management System/ICS" |
Member should be familiar with the
"Standardized Emergency Management System/ICS" |
| Helicopter Safety |
Basic Helicopter Safety. Knowledge
of and familiarity with loading / unloading (both hot and
cold). Help establish landing site. |
Basic Helicopter Safety. Knowledge
of and familiarity with loading / unloading (both hot and
cold). Help establish landing site. |
Basic Helicopter Safety. Help establish
landing site. |
Basic Helicopter Safety. Help establish
landing site. |
| Field Interviewing Skills & Information Handling |
Member should be familiar with the
handling of sensitive information and basic interview skills
when dealing with witnesses and the public. |
Member should be familiar with the
handling of sensitive information and basic interview skills
when dealing with witnesses and the public. |
Member should be familiar with the
handling of sensitive information and basic interview skills
when dealing with witnesses and the public. |
Member should be familiar with the
handling of sensitive information and basic interview skills
when dealing with witnesses and the public. |
| Navigation |
Determine and communicate position;
navigate point-to-point with GPS and map/compass; route-finding. |
Determine and communicate position;
navigate point-to-point with GPS and map/compass; route-finding. |
Determine and communicate position;
navigate point-to-point with GPS and map/compass; route-finding. |
Determine and communicate position;
navigate point-to-point with GPS and map/compass; route-finding. |
| Tracking Skills |
Clue and Track Aware. |
Clue and Track Aware. |
Clue and Track Aware. |
Clue and Track Aware. |
| Fitness |
Fitness appropriate for conditions,
terrain and missions. |
Fitness appropriate for conditions,
terrain and missions. |
Fitness appropriate for conditions,
terrain and missions. |
Fitness appropriate for conditions,
terrain and missions. |
| Ropes Skills |
Basic Low Angle Skills; Assist with
packaging and litter work; Basic raising and lowering skills. |
Basic Low Angle Skills; Assist with
packaging and litter work. |
Basic knots. Assist with packaging
and litter work. |
Assist with packaging and litter work. |
| Crime Scene Protection |
Member should be familiar with basic
crime scene protection; chain of evidence and documentation. |
Member should be familiar with basic
crime scene protection; chain of evidence and documentation. |
Member should be familiar with basic
crime scene protection; chain of evidence and documentation. |
Member should be familiar with basic
crime scene protection; chain of evidence and documentation. |
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| TERRAIN TYPING |
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The following section is an attempt to visually identify
and depict the recently defined terrain types identified
by the California Office of Emergency Services. It is
our intent that each photo shows a complete or partial
search area which could in theory be assigned to a team.
The written descriptions are an attempt to better describe
and hopefully qualify each terrain shown.
Comments, or better photos? Drop
us a note.
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Type 1: Extreme / Complex
Extreme conditions (including but not limited to) Altitude
(generally 7000' +) or snow, ice, desert, heat, heavy ground
cover, steep difficult terrain. |
| From the looks of this shot, I'd guess the
altitude of the upper hills to be > 8000 + feet. One could
argue that while most of this terrain is type 1, the valley
floor could be classified as type 2. Not much terrain like
this in Sonoma County (like none). |
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| It's hard to tell from this shot the scale
of the rocks. My guess is that it is a 2 hour+ hike from the
camera to the top of the hill. The coverage in the rocky terrain
is difficult; trails are nonexistent; coverage and POD will
be hard to estimate. |
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| This shot is debatable as a type 1. It sure
looks like it starts out as a 2, then gets very steep. What
tipped it to a 1 is the shot looks close to the tree line,
or at least close to the 7,000 feet mark. |
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| No question that the terrain, temperature and
environment here requires extreme preparation and skills.
By the way, not found in Sonoma nor any of the surrounding
counties. But Mount Shasta and Mount Lassen might have comparable
areas... |
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| Depending on the time of
the day, this rolling terrain can become type 1 based on
the mid-assignment temperature conditions. Early morning
and dusk might turn this into a reasonable search area.
Maybe. |
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Type 2: Rugged Terrain Environments
Rugged conditions; Altitude (generally less than 7000') desert,
heat, cold, moderate to heavy ground cover. |
| While a nice trail has been carved, the steep
edges make this terrain difficult to cover thoroughly with
safety. At night, this would be considered unsafe. On a clear
day, maybe type 3 as a hasty on the trail system. |
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| The combination of rapid terrain change and
dense cover makes this area a type 2 in my book. Get out your
protractor -- it's more than a "low angle" as it
goes down to the ravine. |
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| I had trouble classifying this terrain. While
the basin and meadow look simple enough to cover, the weather
conditions dictate the category at the time of the call-out.
The surrounding hills are clearly beyond a type 3, and the
harshness of the area just says "get out, city boy". |
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| Are you asking "Why is this a 2?"
Yes, there are pleasant rolling hills, but the grass is very
tall, and goes on that way for miles. Though not particularly
"rugged", I argue that it is extremely tiring and
beyond the level of exertion required to cover type 3 ground. |
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| The angle of this shot is deceiving. This
is a creek basin with very steep sides. The terrain is difficult
to walk on; the river banks have dense shrubbery. Because
of the risks involved with entry and safe coverage, this area
has my type 2 vote. |
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Type 3: Moderate / Gentle Terrain Environments
Gently rolling terrain, open spaces, maintained trail heads,
agricultural areas. |
| Almost looks like the local state park, doesn't
it. Moderate, rolling hills. Sparse tree coverage and the
occasional bass pond. |
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| This looks like any number of search areas
in Sonoma County or its surrounding counties. Just a classic
search area many of you have seen over and over again. |
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| Can you say training meadow? The only question
in my mind about this shot is tree line and what's beyond
it. Still looks quite tame all things considered. |
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| Welcome to type 3 -- anywhere Sonoma County!
From what I can tell of this shot, this looks like 80% of
the search areas I've had. Varied density redwood tree areas,
some open ground, low lying rock outcropping, and low shrubbery.
No problem. |
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