How to Run a Snow Rescue Mission
Any search and rescue (SAR) mission requires tight coordination, trained teams and a reverence for incident command communications and hierarchy. Adding in the element of snow, often in mountain peaks, to the SAR mission makes the search even more difficult. Volunteer and professional search and rescue crews follow a basic outline to keep rescuers safe, and make the SAR mission a rescue instead of body recoveries. Many local fire and rescue companies recruit volunteers for such work.
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Things You'll Need
- Communications equipment
- Incident command center
- Avalanche beacon, probe, shovel for each field team member
- Red flag pins
Instructions
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Determine who the first responder and first on scene is. Ask the person about the place and time the victims were last seen, personality profiles of those being sought, an estimated inventory of what they may have with them, and if they have any relevant back-country experience. If you are the first on scene, act as the incident commander until higher qualified SAR team members arrive.
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2
Establish the incident command area to stage the operation. Assign duties and delegate. Break the team into field search members, medics, engineers who work the apparatus (vehicles and aircraft), and assign one person to deal with local news media. The media person should be someone trained in how to deal with the press, preferably an officer in the SAR crew.
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3
Use a buddy system. Each field member works with a buddy. The buddy checks the gear of the other, making sure the "hasty packs" (packs that are prepacked with gear, food and water for a 24-hour period) are fully equipped and that each member is wearing a functioning avalanche beacon, two-way radio, avalanche probe and a shovel in addition to the other gear. Carry at least 12 small wire pins with red flags on them. Plant these in quadrants being searched or for avalanche assessment.
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Coordinate a drinks and food tent. Have members of the SAR volunteer crew make hot drinks and water available along with food to keep the rescue workers fed and tended to. Set up a medic area for triage if needed. If working with helicopters, assign a crew to make a landing zone.
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Work with all law enforcement and rescue agencies as needed. Make sure all team members know the hierarchy of the rescue: Keep yourself alive first, then your buddy, then the victim. The adage for SAR team members is "do not bring victims to the rescue scene."
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Tips & Warnings
Check your avalanche beacon batteries at the start of each winter season. Replace them regardless of charge every six months.
Do not send any SAR member out on the search if the member is not adequately equipped with proper insulating layers. If a team member is wearing cotton, turn the member back. Cotton has no thermal qualities when wet.
References
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