I find myself thinking more and more about tracking in SAR recently.
Partly I think it is because I have been ordering stock for the SAR Bookshop.
I have so far managed to secure small supplies of Jack Kearney’s TRACKING: A Blueprint For Learning how ; Rob Speiden’s FOUNDATIONS FOR AWARENESS, SIGNCUTTING AND TRACKING ; Joel Hardin’s Tracker ; and Bob Koester’s Mantracking and Search Dogs.
And partly as I try to think about how to integrate tracking effectively into a search plan. [Post your thoughts on this on the SAR World Forum]
What concerns me though is the lack of coordination of tracking and tracking standards in SAR in the UK.
Is it time for a SAR Trackers UK group to “promote the use of tracking for SAR in the UK”?
This group could then help co-ordinate training, more specifically day-to-day training, for SAR trackers. I know there are a large number of track aware and SAR trackers in search and rescue teams around the UK, but how often do they get to practise these skills? Considering the extreme importance of “dirt time” in learning and keeping up-to-date with these skills, I feel the need is definitely there.
It could also help lay down standards – track awareness standards, tracker standards and so on.
Anyone interested?
