Qualified Search Technician
I’ve had this discussion a few times with people and I thought it was about time I put pen to paper and put it out there for debate.
I was disappointed a few years back when ALSAR officially dropped the word “basic” from the Basic Search Techniques course (now known officially as the Search Technicians course!) It somehow made it sound as if, by doing a weekend course, you could become “qualified” to search and seemingly know it all!
Well, as everyone knows, most BST courses clearly state that this is just the beginning and that you need to learn a whole lot more, and gain a whole lot more experience to really become a useful SAR TECH [to import the American phrase.]  So why pretend that the course is not just a basic guide; enough to get you started.
One of the things being discussed at UKLSI is whether we need to signpost more where the new “Search Technician” should go with their training. Whilst the majority of us hate “badges” with a passion, most of us seemed to agree that having a route to becoming a “qualified” search technician would be an extremely useful thing; both for Units and for individuals new to lowland search.
So what is the skill set of a “qualified” search technician?
BST course, obviously.
Skilled at Navigation?
A basic level of First Aid?
At least Track Aware, if not a Tracker?
Water Safety Trained?
Understanding of Dogs? Search Management?
Specialised Area of Search, such as Mountain Bikes, or Kayaks/Boats?
At least this would offer newcomers a basis to judge their skill set against. It might also guard against those coming into lowland search who seem to thing that they know it all, after six months at it.
Well, it’s over to you; I’m sure you have some thoughts.
December 9, 2009
· 
Robert Bradley · 
5 Comments
Tags: ALSAR, Basic Search Technician, Basic Search Techniques Course, BST, First Aid, Kayaks, Lowland Search, Mountain Bikes, Navigation, Qualified Search Technician, SAR TECH, Search Dogs, Search Management, Search Technician, Tracker, Tracking, UKLSI, Water Safety · Posted in: Search Thoughts, Search Training
5 Responses
My thoughts.. Although I am one of those who has only been in a few months and would actually need to do this type of course!!
Basic search technician is the right way to phrase it – there is so much else to learn that gives you a better understanding of search and better skills while out on the ground.
Navigation is important and I do think that people need more as a basic level, so I think this should be included. The more people who can effectively navigate in a team, the better! As if the designated navigator gets it wrong, someone else can set them straight and the team doesn’t end up searching the wrong area!
First aid is tricky, as it’s rare that we would need to administer first aid to a misper, it seems to be more likely that a first aider would be looking after team members. The most likely scenario requiring any specialist knowledge of first aid would probably be for a team member to trip or fall while searching and damage a limb. In that case, how would the team get them back to control? Do we train searchers in use of a stretcher, and in stabilising limbs?
Track awareness would also be a good skill, and understanding of dog teams is important if searching near where a dog team are working.
Am I right in thinking that the UKLSI LST covers a little on the bicycle wheel model of search planning – maybe a little more depth might be useful for a qualified search tech – such as detail on specific reflectors, so that searchers can recognise important areas in their sectors and also so that they recognise the importance of their area in general – which would increase motivation. I know that this is covered more on the team leader course but really, all searchers should have an awareness of this, and it would make an important part of a higher level search tech qualification.
Specialised areas of search are hard, as some people wouldn’t want to cycle or be in a boat, but may well be very capable foot searchers. I think its best that these are kept separate, with their own specific courses so that the skill levels are recognised and standardised, but so that people who don’t want to do these things are not kept from becoming a qualified LST. Is there going to be a specific bike search course in the future?
I believe there are several groups proposing/running lowland search bike courses.
Of course, ALSAR hasn’t yet got a syllabus; without which each course will be running what they think should be on the course rather than an agreed content and standard. [Another on for the ALSAR to do list!]
Perhaps those Units using bikes should get together themselves and come up with an agreed syllabus?
I think First Aid is an important aspect and disagree that it is not relevant to SAR. Every misper I have encountered has needed some level of care, even if that is just reassurance(if they were in A1 mental and physical condition they would have gone home!) Do we walk a misper back in without a few basic checks of well being? (PEARL test, check for fractures, capillary refill, etc) We also have to look after each other, and as such a basic understanding of First Aid seems sensible. Finally, we need to be sensitive to expectation. A member of a SAR team would be expected, quite rightly to my mind, to know a bit about emergency care.
In my unit 80% are qualified to at least a level 1 ticket, and we plan to be at 100% during 2010. Many are to level 2, and some to 3. Anything less would seem too low a bar.
As to bikes, I believe that shared information is more appropriate at this stage. We deploy bikes in threes; the TL navigates and looks out, the other 2 search. We have deployed bikes a lot for a number of years, and this works for us in our terrain. However, other units, with different terain, or used to deploying in bigger teams, may need to do it differently. I certainly do not feel that because we have been doing it longest we are in a position to tell anyone else how to do it. Bike searching is not at that stage yet, and we should keep it consultative.
“if they were in A1 mental and physical condition they would have gone home”
That made me think of something else – what about knowledge of dementia and depression/despondancy, and maybe some psychological disorders i.e. schizophrenia, as part of this “qualified seach technician” skill set? How to talk to someone, what to expect when encountering them, an understanding of what the condition entails etc.
I didn’t mean first aid isn’t relevent, just that it’s difficult to know what’s most important to train in and what level to have.. I think it’s important to be able to look after the team you’re with out on the ground, and ideally there needs to be a level of first aid knowledge in each team that goes out, and then to be able to care for the misper if needs be.
What does the level one/two first aid cover? Our unit has done the community responder course, which is pretty much basic life support and use of an AED and Oxygen which obviously you wouldn’t have immediate access to on a search. I’m not sure that it covers everything that we’d potentially need. It’s hard to know which course is most appropriate, if any? Other units do First Aid at Work, which again has some areas more relevent than others.
What would you say the most relevent first aid skills would be? Hypothermia, basic life support, sprains/fractures and bleeding come to mind – what else?
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