How to Conduct a Search and Rescue Operation

You're camping in a remote spot with a group of friends. One member of the group decides to go on a short solo hike. But when the sun sets and he still hasn't returned, the group becomes concerned. What steps should you take to locate your missing friend, assuming you can't summon outside help immediately?

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

1. Assemble the rest of the group to discuss the situation and collect information. What was the intended destination of the missing person? How physically fit is he? What equipment was he carrying? A fit person with proper boots and clothing is likely to travel farther than someone who's out of shape and ill equipped.
2. Assign duties to the team based on skills and available equipment. If you have three walkie-talkies, for example, try to send out two searchers while keeping one walkie-talkie and team member at base camp. One person needs to stay at base camp, regardless of available equipment, in case the lost party returns.
3. Study an area map and review likely travel routes, such as trails, streams and ridgetops. The missing party's personal interests will offer clues. Rock climbers may head for cliffs; bird watchers may seek out wetlands or overlooks.
4. Equip each search team with a walkie-talkie, a topographic map and a global positioning system (GPS) unit. This gear allows for a constant flow of information between searchers and base camp.
5. Restrict the search teams to small, well-defined areas if walkietalkies and GPSs are not available. Assign each team to an area; each should cross that area while calling for the victim and looking for tracks, then return to base. Repeat as needed.
6. Evaluate how much time and effort is needed to get outside help. If nobody locates the missing friend in several hours, it is probably a good idea to shift your efforts to contacting search-andrescue authorities. A 911 dispatcher can initiate search operations. Provide the GPS fix of your base camp, if you have it.
7. Make preparations for evacuating an injured person. Check your map for possible helicopter landing sites (solid, level ground with no trees). Notify pilots of power lines, tall poles or anything else that is hard to spot from above.
8. Observe standard first aid techniques when evacuating an injured person. If a neck or back injury is suspected, move the victim only as a last resort if medical help cannot be brought to the site. Make sure an unconscious person is breathing and has clear airways and a stable heart rate. If the breathing and heart rate are not stable, perform CPR. Keep the victim warm and off the ground if possible. Warm up a hypothermic person immediately with extra clothing, hot drinks, a fire and close contact with another person.

Tips & Warnings

• The first rule of search and rescue is, don't make things worse. Don't send searchers into dangerous areas or allow them to race off and get lost themselves.
• Educate your group ahead of time about the dangers of getting lost. Encourage people to note their surroundings at all times and to carry proper gear, including food and water. If anyone does get lost, they should stay where they are rather than wander continuously.
• See 474 Survive Being Lost.
• Do not rub frostbitten extremities with snow.
• Maps, compasses and GPS devices require practice. Become familiar with these tools and practice on several test runs before you set out on a wilderness adventure.