Re-Search

Evidence Based Practice in Search

Posts Tagged ‘SAR Team’

Starting a Search and Rescue Team

February 3rd, 2010

The comment made by Brian Johnson on the Inland Flood Rescue Association post started me thinking. He noted that “someone had to take charge and put all of the teams into some useful context.”

This lead me to thinking about SAR teams without a role…

Johnnie Walker commented that T24 “do not provide the services they claim, and take charitable money away from the ‘real’ SAR groups operating in county: SusSAR and Lowland Search Dogs Sussex. Have they been involved in Searches and/or Rescues in Sussex? No. Do Sussex Police use them for the search and subsequent rescue of vulnerable missing people? No. Did they discuss county requirements with the Police or other agencies before setting up? No” whilst Kris Manning noted that the STAR Team had had “lots of training exercises but as far as I can see not a single callout since 2007.”

Businesses starting up need to do their market research; not only does there need to be a NEED, but the company needs to be able to actually break into the market and sell their product or service. Failing to do this market research means a business goes bust.

SAR charities are different though. They do not require either a need or a market to set-up. All they need is the perception of having both and they can collect money and “play” at SAR.

Not so, of course, in the mainstream SAR world [for want of a better term] – ALSAR, for instance, requires a letter from the local police stating they need and will use the search services of the local team before they can become operational. (This has actually stopped one team from becoming an ALSAR team!)

I’m not suggesting that any particular SAR team is not being utilised or is somehow cheating charitable donations, but I do wonder how many SAR teams are out there that don’t have a role…

7 comments »

Posted in Search Thoughts

Tags: ALSAR Brian Johnson Callout Inland Flood Rescue Association Johnnie Walker Kris Manning Lowland Search Dogs Sussex Police SAR Charity SAR Groups SAR Team SAR Training Exercise STAR Technical & Rescue Team Sussar T24

Inland Flood Rescue Association

February 1st, 2010

I wrote last week about SEBEV’s past experience working in flooded areas. This was not something SEBEV had been set up specifically to help with, it was just a natural extension of their willingness to help a community in need.

With flooding and its terrible aftermath seemingly becoming more common, it was inevitable that a SAR group would be set up to assist in this work.

The Inland Flood Rescue Association, which was established in 2008, aims to become the representative voice of swift water and flood rescue teams from across the United Kingdom.

Our objectives are:-

To maintain and enhance our relationship with government and other bodies to the benefit of member water rescue teams within the UK.

To obtain a seat on UK SAR to represent water rescue teams within the UK.

To provide support for developing water rescue teams within the voluntary sector and give advice and guidance on providing a professional accredited rescue service.

To co-ordinate and provide information on specialist approved teams available to the emergency services within the UK.

To provide advice and assistance to its members on matters of insurance, qualifications and current legislation.

To develop and improve methods of water rescue.

To test, evaluate, and endorse/ report on new equipment for IFRA members.

To provide technical information on all aspects of water rescue for IFRA members.

To share information, training and provide support to IFRA teams as required.

To enable IFRA teams to obtain equipment and insurance at discounted rates.

To apply for grants, support and equipment for the mutual benefit of IFRA members.

I don’t know much about the group, or any of its member teams – although over the next few days I will be introducing you to a few of them – but I do like the order of the objectives above…

How much of its aims are to do with looking after its own? Getting its voice heard? etc.. and how few are about providing a good quality inland flood rescue service to the UK? Or am I being over sensitive?

5 comments »

Posted in Search Links, Search Thoughts

Tags: Emergency Services Flood Rescue Flood Rescue Team Flooding Response Inland Flood Rescue Association SAR Group SAR Team SEBEV Swiftwater Rescue UK SAR Water Rescue

Qualified Search Controllers, Search Managers and Search Trainers

January 24th, 2010

One of the comments made following my piece on getting the search controllers assignment right was that a database of qualified search controllers and managers would be useful to “trainees” [for want of a better word...]

In truth what Johnnie Walker actually said was;

Rob, could you collate and list the qualified Search Controllers within ALSAR, so that people know who to speak to for help? (let’s not discuss whether this is an ALSAR function rather than a Re-search issue; JFDI!) [Read it here ...]

Unfortunately I do not have the time to find e-mail addresses for all the teams and waste time discussing with any of them whether this is a suitable activity, whether this comes under data protection and so on. This is not to say I’m adverse to collating such information – which let’s face it would be extremely useful to so many people and organisations.

So, from today, I will be keeping a database of search controllers, search managers and search trainers/instructors within the UK (or I suppose available in the UK).

If you as an individual wish to be on this database, (or if your team/unit wishes all its qualified members to be on the database), drop me an e-mail with details of your qualifications, courses taken and/or courses you can teach. If you include your contact details (along with which way you prefer to be contacted!) that would be helpful too!

I promise that this information will be kept in the strictest confidence and only released to members of recognised SAR teams/organisations and/or police forces if you agree.

It has been pointed out that my e-mail address is not published on the website anywhere – and I intend it to stay that way! If you do not have my e-mail address, put a comment asking for it and I’ll e-mail you! Anything else?

No comments »

Posted in Search Courses, Search Thoughts, Search Training

Tags: ALSAR ALSAR Instructors Johnnie Walker SAR Instructor SAR Team Search Controller Search Instructor Search Manager Search Trainer Search Training

Ego in Search and Rescue

January 5th, 2010

When does Ego get in the way in SAR?

My family are [eventually] realising that if you get me a book for Christmas, I’m a very happy bunny. It also means that when someone else buys a book for you, you often get to read stuff you wouldn’t normally pick up or buy.

This Christmas I got a book called “egonomics – what makes ego our greatest asset (or most expensive liability)” [Check it out on Amazon here...]

Like most people I am fully aware of how much ego can get in the way of effective SAR operations, effective SAR teams and effective SAR cooperation. It has, for a long time, been taught that there is no place for ego in SAR. Strange then to read a book which promotes ego as first and foremost an asset!

However, when you think about it, what drives us to be the best at SAR, to improve things for the misper, to get out of bed on those dark, cold, wet nights? Assets like confidence, self-esteem, open-mindedness and ambition all stem from our ego.

It is only the over-activity of ego that becomes a liability!

Marcum and Smith then, give us four early warning signs that ego is over-active. Think when you have seen them in SAR!

1. Being Comparative;
When you are constantly measuring yourself against others, your team against the next, you are not excelling but measuring your success against another. This either leads to barely tapping your potential when measuring against a low standard, or losing esteem and being discouraged when you fail to meet a standard. The best use of our talents is to use them, without comparison or competition, in the spirit of cooperation.

2. Being Defensive;
Defending an idea is good – it allows for every angle, every way of looking at it to be considered. But being defensive – letting a criticism of our idea become a criticism of ourself, is not good. It is giving our ego power, not our ideas.

3. Showcasing Brilliance;
Showcasing is not about making our ideas/talents visible, it is about wanting people to recognise and appreciate them. It is about putting yourself on a pedestal and expecting others to look. This is the ego working overtime. We need to communicate our ideas – communicate as in talk half as much as we listen!

4. Seeking Acceptance;
Things improve with debate. If we are forever worried that if an idea of ours is rejected, then that reflects a rejection of ourselves, we will start “playing it safe”. Everyone needs to learn that they are valued – for their own opinions; not for agreeing or coming to a “consensus”, watered down proposal!

These really struck me – I’m sure you all, like me, have seen what happens when these things do happen in SAR.

Question is, what can we do to ensure that we all use our egos effectively in SAR – without these negative overtones?
Perhaps a New Year’s Resolution is in order – to seek out these warning signs of over-active egos in SAR and help turn that ego into a useful asset.