Canine Search Specialist Training

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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System

Canine Search Specialist Training


STM Unit 12A:

Canine Search Operations

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Unit ObjectiveUpon completion of this unit, you will be able to identify the Search Team Manager’s responsibilities during canine search operations

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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

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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

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Canine Deployment LCES Perimeter of the search area Current weather conditions, including

Time of dayWeather conditions Air currentsTemperature

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Canine Deployment (continued)

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

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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

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Briefing Briefing will include safety and site

information team needs to know This briefing will cover

Rescue infrastructure in placeEntrances and exits (blue prints, site map) What

area(s) have already been searched Should include answers to the following questions

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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?

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UtilitiesAre utilities (gas, electric and water) been

secured and if so, by who?

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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)?

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Decontamination Is a decon area set

up? If not, what is the

contingence?

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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

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Preparation for Search (continued) Also keep in mind that the Search

Manager will have to wear a safety officer’s cap, too

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A Few Other Things to Keep in Mind STM should act as a liaison with other on-

scene agencies Use your canine handler’s experience to help

determine how to best search the site STM establishes the search area Determine if this is a Hasty, Primary, or a

Secondary search

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A Few Other Things to Keep in Mind (continued) Dependent on structural stability of building,

determine 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

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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

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Detection Versus Location In the detection mode (hasty/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

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STM’s 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 canine’s behavior

The change could mean the presence of a deceased victim.

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STM’s Duties During a Search (continued) Recognizing search areas not covered and

advising handler as appropriate Preparing to bring in additional canine when

needed Assessing the canine’s performance

Includes obedience, alerts, agility, and teamworkDone daily and documented for future reference

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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

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Victims Live versus deceased

Much discussion on subjectFinding live victims is primaryWill the disaster search dog ever find

deceased victims?Finding and recovering deceased victims

does provide many families with closure

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Victims (continued)

AlertsCanine will do bark alert on a live victimBark alert says, “I found a victim!” Canine’s focus and penetration shows where

scent is coming out from and victim’s possible location

You may notice the canine’s alerts may decrease when working in blitz mode for long periods

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Victims (continued)

Contact with the victim If contact with victim is made in detection mode, reassure

victim resources are comingMay have to leave victim in order to continue Hasty

search Interview victim concerning other possible victims and

their locations Determine if there are any injuries In the location mode, teams will stay with victim and

reassurance will be established

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Victims (continued)

Marking the victim’s location Use search stickers and victim marking

system to indicate victim’s location Do not use flagging as it can be removed,

especially when delayering Do not use paint as it can deface

structures

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Victims (continued)

Victim removal After victim removal, reevaluate the area

and do a secondary searchIf possible, interview the victim

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Additional On-Site Considerations Decontamination

Establish canine decontamination area at BoO or as determined by IST

Handlers usually have shampoo to bathe canines Check with HAZMAT Manager to make sure

shampoo will not react with contaminantsHandler may only have to spot wash the canineBe sure to blow dry the canines

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Additional On-Site Considerations (continued)

Wet caninesNever put canines back in their kennels

wetKennels should be washed, dried, and

bedding replaced

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At the Completion of the Mission (continued) Documentation

Task force operations reportICS Form 214Mapping of all alerts and hits, confirmation,

and location of confirmed victims

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Unit Summary and Evaluation

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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

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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

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Unit EvaluationPlease fill out the evaluation form for this unit

Canine Search Specialist Training

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