tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34170712011-04-21T16:39:59.721-07:00Ted Fisher's SAR blog (STSAR)Blog about Search and Rescue, You may find content for our local team or just general postings relating to Search and Rescue, Survival, etc. By the way STSAR = Special Tactics Search and Rescue. A group of our Vermilion County Search and Rescue Teamvcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.comBlogger261100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-1142203571628073012006-03-12T14:45:00.000-08:002006-03-12T14:46:11.636-08:00I have shifted to a new blog site: http://stsar.org/blogvcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-1081308468782763472004-04-06T20:27:00.000-07:002004-04-07T07:45:35.483-07:00Everyone involved in Search and Rescue may want to review the following web site with information on the US National Grid Referencing System. Similar to the UTM system that many of us use in Search and Rescue. You may see changes in GPS units and mapping in general when it applies to Search and Rescue and Homeland Security. It gives everyone a common reference for spatial applications (navigationvcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-1081302133855353862004-04-06T18:42:00.000-07:002004-04-07T07:19:14.310-07:00I am still amazed at the number of individuals that believe that Search and Rescue teams still lineup shoulder to shoulder and walk through the woods. Thus the more people the better. Can you imagine managing hundreds of volunteers on a search mission. It makes me wonder on some of the searches they use for educational purposes such as the "Andy Warburton" search when they have thousands of vcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-1081301696414719682004-04-06T18:34:00.000-07:002004-04-07T07:19:55.450-07:00As the members of VCSAR are well of we just completed a Search Management class, so we now have several qualified search managers for call out. I want to personally thank you for attending and I appreciate your commitment to Vermilion County Search and Rescue. Without you we don't exist.
Keep the ideas coming in for future classes you would like to attend. I have plans for a Wilderness Survival vcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-1081301098099267632004-04-06T18:24:00.000-07:002004-04-07T07:20:08.340-07:00Speaking of "Cody Lundin" Discovery Channel recently aired two 1 hour programs: "LOST IN THE WILD Nova Scotia" and "LOST IN THE WILD High Desert" both episodes featured Cody as the Survival expert that took four untrained individuals into the wilderness and places them in a safe survival situation. After being lost for a few days experiencing the emotional, mental and physical stresses a Search vcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-1081300557576295672004-04-06T18:15:00.000-07:002004-04-06T18:18:41.030-07:00Been awhile since I posted, so I thought I would get somewhat up-to-date.
I don't usually promote people or products unless I think they are exceptional, and this book is no exception to my rule:Cody Lundin's new book "98.6 Degrees: The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive"
by Cody Lundin, Russ Miller (Illustrator), Christopher Marchetti (Photographer)
I enjoy reality instruction and Cody brings vcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-1078856194640737862004-03-09T10:16:00.000-08:002004-04-07T07:20:54.123-07:00I have been asked many times to prepare a GPS training course for our Search and Rescue teams. Time permitting I intend to do just that, but in the mean time I ran across an article on the web by Jack W. Peters that is very good.
Link: http://www.gpsnavigatormagazine.com/gps_navigation_training/gps_training_education.htm
vcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-1062603493830795652003-09-03T08:38:00.000-07:002003-09-03T09:18:50.413-07:00If you have comments about this blog or its contents please email me at fisher_ted22@hotmail.com
Also note the VCSAR Guestbook and open forum on our VCSAR webpage: http://www.dvcema.org/VCSAR.htm
If you know of other Search and Rescue Blogs email the link to me.
Thanksvcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-1057258283742021652003-07-03T11:51:00.000-07:002003-07-03T11:51:23.650-07:00Critical Initial Search Operations......
Many searches could be solved quicker if in the first few minutes of a lost person incident a few tracking resources and considerations were implemented. Tracking used early can determine a Direction of Travel, a most critical element of search planning, especially if only limited resources are available. Unfortunately in most cases tracking resources vcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-2003290522003-05-22T13:09:00.000-07:002003-05-22T13:09:11.590-07:00"Scenario Planning" as a Search Strategy
Previously I discussed "Scenario Planning" used with preplanning search missions, now I would like to mention using "Scenario Planning" as a means to facilitate search strategies during an actual search mission.
More often than not responders to a search mission start at the PLS(Point Last Seen) and radiate outward from this location. If your timeline vcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-2003286512003-05-22T11:56:00.000-07:002003-05-22T12:33:50.000-07:00"Scenario Planning" as a Search and Rescue Tool.
Scenario based planning has been around for some time, but should be investigated by Search and Rescue teams as a preplanning tool as well as a mission tool. Several approaches to "Scenario Planning" can be found over the internet and many books have been written (mostly business related) so I am not going to go into great detail here about it. Butvcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-903785282003-02-26T09:13:00.000-08:002004-04-13T07:39:05.530-07:00Reality Check
I am attempting to re-direct and change all of my training to a more reality based approach, I feel that this will give you a better training product and help you more than just concentrating on the theory. If you have special needs or desires and ideas let me know.
Thanks
vcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-3901834792003-01-14T10:39:00.000-08:002003-02-26T09:38:49.000-08:00Search Management Classes Need Re-structuring.
Currently most Search and Rescue Management classes focus on the theory of search and not actually how to Mange the search function. I believe it would better suit potential managers if the class structure would be split into two separate parts or classes, one part "A" as Search Theory and part "B" as Management of the actual Search Function.vcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-901687362003-01-10T12:39:00.000-08:002003-01-10T12:39:21.440-08:00Tactical Search and Rescue
Don't Overlook Tactical Search and Rescue techniques, Many Search and Rescue teams focus on the structured approach to finding lost persons, in other words a detailed step "A" to step "Z" search of organized geographical areas. This is an excellent approach so that no areas are missed but early in the search Rapid Response Tactical Techniques may well prove to be vcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-853477922002-08-15T06:44:00.000-07:002002-08-15T06:44:02.293-07:00Route Searches
Not as easy as it may seem
Not all searches are Critical Separation type searches. One type of search that requires special deployment techniques and considerations is the Route Search. For instance you are searching a trail, a road, or a river all of these could require a Route Search. A route search usually takes a path of a linear Line of Drift. Your scenario dictates that the vcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-853416262002-08-13T12:38:00.000-07:002002-08-13T12:38:06.460-07:00I have not posted in some time I hope to get back to writing more quick articles and postings. I have been working on some other projects that I feel are more important to VCSAR than blogging.
Project #1 writing a textbook/curriculum on "Real World Navigation". After our certification exercise in July 2002 I have decided to change the way I instruct Land Navigation. Emphasis will be on real vcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-850928422002-05-16T05:54:00.000-07:002002-05-16T05:54:34.753-07:00Do Not Miss the Opportunity
VCSAR members; POINT BLANK you are missing an excellent opportunity to further your training. A few VCSAR members are taking advantage of PSTI (Public Safety Training Institute) in Indiana. this is a Search and Rescue training facility located on a military base (Camp Atterbury). They provide Low Cost/No Cost Search and Rescue training year round. It is an excellent vcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-850928052002-05-16T05:40:00.000-07:002002-05-16T05:41:56.000-07:00Time Involved In Training Preparation; Can Be Overwhelming.
VCSAR team members that have not been involved in the setup of search and rescue training do not realize the amount of work and planning that goes into a mock search. Or any training for that matter. I can tell you from experience that many hours of planning is required before during and after each training session. You too can be vcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-3850559172002-05-02T18:48:00.000-07:002002-05-02T18:48:31.136-07:00Observation Skills Key To Being A Trained Searcher:
There are many things that separate trained search and rescue teams from the search teams hastily formed at the time of a search from the untrained general public. One of the key things or skills that trained search team members must understand and practice is observation skills.
Observation skills, you may think, I know how to look, see and vcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-850275982002-04-22T17:22:00.000-07:002002-04-22T17:22:35.773-07:00The Three North Brothers; Confuse Navigators
Just how confusing is it to navigate when you have three different north indicators on a typical USGS 7.5 minute topographic map? Well…It can be confusing at times especially when you are new to land navigation. Let me explain briefly.
True North:
The actual geographic pole of the earth.
Grid North:
Usually marked on the map with the lines from top vcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-750839692002-04-05T14:41:00.000-08:002002-04-05T14:41:13.143-08:00Search and Rescue Not Just a Walk In The Woods.
We all have heard about missing person cases where a group of volunteers mostly untrained in Search and Rescue get together and find their subject alive and well. That is truly wonderful for all involved, but there is more to Search and Rescue than a bunch of people getting together and walking through the woods. These lost or missing persons casesvcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-3750839672002-04-05T14:40:00.000-08:002002-04-05T14:40:34.673-08:00Grid Searches Still Used To Early In Missing Person Cases.
With all of the studies and training being done today in the area of Search and Rescue, grid searches are still being used in initial phases of missing person cases. Undoubtedly in some missing person cases when a considerable amount of public is responding to assist in the case, untrained search managers are still lining people up vcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-750566962002-04-03T18:25:00.000-08:002002-04-03T18:25:08.646-08:00Many Trained Searches Lack Navigational Skills.
One of the most important skills to acquire when you are a trained searcher is land navigational skills. Maps, compasses, handheld GPS’s it does not do any good to buy these tools if you are not going to learn how to use them.
Consider for a moment the aspects of Search and Rescue that rely on land navigation. Your team assignments, for one; many vcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-750525372002-04-02T06:02:00.000-08:002002-04-02T06:03:37.000-08:00Initial Response to Searches
Immediate deployment of organized Hasty teams should be one of the initial search tactics when looking for a lost or missing person, But before that a trained tracker or K9 team should be deployed even prior to the Hasty teams. This is not to say that the K9 or Tracker teams are better than Hasty Teams, it is because the Hasty team may damage sign/tracks or scent vcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-750515492002-04-01T18:38:00.000-08:002002-04-01T18:38:28.996-08:00Search Teams Are Usually Handed Difficult Searches by Default.
By the time many Search and Rescue teams are notified, not only has a considerable amount of time elapsed, but there has been several search efforts completed as well. Consider the normal search scenario, a child is missing in a state park, initially the parents begin to look frantically. Bystanders and more family get involved and vcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417071.post-112274632002-03-28T15:17:00.000-08:002002-03-28T15:17:32.686-08:00Welcome to the new STSAR blog, (Special Tactics Search and Rescue) with Search and Rescue, Survival and any other Info.vcsarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368677323535709647noreply@blogger.com0