National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Canine Search Specialist Training
Unit 10:
The Canine
Search Specialist
and Search
Operations
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Unit Objective
At the completion of this session, you will
be able to describe how the Canine Search
Specialist operates within the Search
Function and interacts with other
disciplines during Task Force operations
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Enabling Objectives
 Identify disaster types
 Define level of searches
 Describe the types of searches
 Describe structure, search and victim
markings
 Describe how the CSS can assist in TF search
Ops
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Disaster Types
Will determine the first steps in
the site assessment/recon
process
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Disaster Types,
continued
 Flood
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Disaster Types,
continued
 Explosion
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Disaster Types,
continued
 Tornado
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Disaster Types,
continued
 Hurricane
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Disaster Types,
continued
 Earthquake
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Reconnaisance
 Immediate and continous
 Incident-driven and flexible
 Demands timely reporting of intel
 Structured and organized
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Purpose of Recon
 Determine scope and magnitude
 Identify hazards
 Identify search priorities
 Identify type and amount of resources
needed
 Document initial findings
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Recon is not search!
Recon
 Is the gathering of intelligence
 May be performed simultaneously as
search, but is a different function
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Levels of Search
 Hasty Search
 Primary Search
 Secondary Search
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Hasty Search
The HASTY search typically involves a fastpaced visual inspection of the area
accompanied by vocal or audio hailing. This
may be an air effort with surface units called
in as necessary, or vice versa.
 Helps prioritize initial efforts
 Fact: Victims may be missed in the effort to find as
many as possible, but areas can be re-searched
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Primary Search
 Primary searches involve complete
circumnavigation of buildings and other
structures, looking in doors and
windows while hailing for survivors and
entering buildings where there is
evidence of life and the risk to rescuers
is acceptable.
 Use search markings
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Secondary Search
 Used to systematically search enclosed
areas, such as each room in a particular
building. Forced entry, debris removal
or authorization for entry may be
required.
 Searchers will need instructions on
whether they should conduct rescues
when they find survivors or provide
information to enable others to perform the
rescue
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Search Levels,
continued
 Search operations are planned,
conducted and documented based on
needs assessments in coordination with
the AHJ to accomplish mission-specific
goals and requirements
 Structures/areas may require different
levels of search within any assigned
search segment.
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Search Techniques
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Search Techniques
 Physical
 Canine
 Technical
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Physical Search
Must have an organized approach to
victim locating
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Physical Search
(continued)
 Most effective during daylight hours
 Most easily implemented
 Can be done with available resources
 Requires minimal training
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Physical Search
(continued)
 Probably done prior to TF arrival
 Locates surface and readily accessible
victims
 Hard to ensure high level of coverage
 Hard to manage large numbers of
searchers—redundant searches likely
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Physical Search
(continued)
 Should involve safety personnel
 Structural Specialist
 HAZMAT personnel
 Medical
 Documentation is imperative
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Physical Void Search
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Physical Void Search
(continued)
Used in initial phase and throughout the
rescue operation, as necessary
Must be organized and systematic to
avoid duplication of effort or missing
areas
Begin operation in most likely areas of
survivability
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Physical Void Search
(continued)
 Talk to persons who may have knowledge of
the building or of possible persons inside
 Care must be taken because of need to be
within the damaged structure during this
operation
 Remember safety is your number one concern
 Know the evacuation plan and signals
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Hailing System
 Can be quickly trained incorporating the help
of locals, which also builds good will
 Personnel are spaced 25' to 50' apart around
the site to be searched
 Must call for silence and halt work around the
site (may be very difficult to do)
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Hailing System
(continued)
 Each searcher calls out saying "If you can
hear me call out for help or knock five times"
(searcher may also knock five times on an
object, usually metal, to elicit a response)
 An attempt to get a "fix" on a response is
made
 Triangulation of the sound is the means to
locate the source and victim
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Search Patterns
 Must be an organized approach
 Includes mapping and GPS
Remember, documentation is important
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Basic Search Patterns
 Should use a right hand
pattern maintaining
contact with the wall at
all times
 A need to exit can be
done by reversing your
direction maintaining a
left-hand contact with
the wall
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Line Search
Line search is used for
a large open area
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Canine Search
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Canine Search
 Certified canine team provides the best means
to locate trapped victims, while covering large
area in a short amount of time
 They are able to access areas that are either
too small or too unstable for us to enter
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Canine Search
(continued)
 A safety observer is needed
 Handler must constantly be aware of the
condition of their partner (hydration, any
injuries, and fatigue)
 Advise STM as to what to look for when your
dog is working and of basic commands for the
canine
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Technical Search
 Three types of electronic search
equipment
 Search Cam
 Fiber Optic
 Acoustic
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Search Cam
Monitor attached to a probe with both
visual and sound transmission and
receiving capabilities
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Search Cam
(continued)
 Can give a positive verification to an
alert by canine team
 Assist with victim position and
entrapment in rubble
 Limited to a straight line of entry into
rubble with a 90-degree movement at
the end of probe
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Fiber Optic
 A flexible tube of glass rods used to transmit
an image back up to a lens
 End of flex tube has the ability to be moved at
a 90° angle
 No sound transmission abilities
 Difficult to guide tube into desired location
 Many TFs use rigid borescopes
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Acoustic
Delsar® Compact Life Detector
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Acoustic,
continued
 Used in much the same way as the hailing
system
 Best as a detection device
 Can triangulate the location of a victim who is
making a noise to attract attention
 Can be used for detection, by using two sensors
(rotate one around the other to “point” at the
victim’s sound)
 This can be very slow process
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Acoustic,
(continued)
 May have the site shut down some
operations to be able to listen for the
victim
 Newer systems can filter out machine
sounds
 Continued training is necessary to
competently operate system
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Search tools are most effective when
combined
Always good to confirm detections with a
different search tool
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Detection Vs. Location
 Detection tools are used to identify an
area of possible victim(s)
 Example—canine, delsar
 Location tools are used to identify the
actual presence and place of victim(s)
 Example—search cam, physical search
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Structure, Search and Victim
Markings
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Structure and Hazards Evaluation
 Will be conducted by your Structural
and Hazardous Materials Specialists
 As first action of Recon team
 Structure ID may be done at this time
 If not already done by AHJ or Structure
Triage Team
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Structural Markings
BE EASY
No significant
hazards
(2 ft orange square at all entries)
BE CAREFUL
NO GO
OK
* High Risk Hazards
but some hazards
Do Not Enter
until mitigation has
occurred
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* Canine may search perimeter
National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Structural Markings
Arrow
indicates
safest
way to
enter
14OCT04 2015 HRS
HM - NATURAL GAS
OR-1
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Maintaining Markings
 As new searches are made or conditions
change new information will be written below
original information or a new box will be made
 Marking boxes may also be applied to interior
rooms or areas denoting conditions in
separate parts of the building
 Not often done with Structure/Hazard Mark
 More common with Search Mark
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
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Search Markings
 A separate and distinct marking system
is necessary to denote information
concerning victims and hazardous
locations within the searched area
 It is also important for accountability of
search members
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Search Markings
(continued)
When you ENTER
Search Team Identifier
Date of Entry
Time of Entry
CA-2
2-24
1150
Single slash
Structure or room
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Search Markings
(continued)
When you exit - incomplete search
Date and Time
Search Team
left the structure
2-24
1520
CA-2
2-24
1150
RATS
2-L
3-D
Hazards
Total victims
still inside
the structure
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Search Markings
(continued)
When you EXIT – completed search
Date and Time
Search Team
left
the Structure
2-24
1520
CA-2
2-24
1150
Floors Searched/
or Quadrants
Floors = F
Quadrants = Q
RATS
2-L
3-D
Hazards
Total Victims
still Inside
the structure
F1-4
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Victim Markings
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
POTENTIAL VICTIM
REMOVED VICTIM
CONFIRMED
LIVE VICTIM
CONFIRMED DEAD VICTIM
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
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Importance of standardized markings
 Internal and external consistency
 Interoperability
 Labels vs paint
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
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Lessons learned from Katrina
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
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Canine Search Specialist Training
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Canine Search Specialist Training
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Possible additional duties of the CSS
 Set-up, tear-down BoO
 Logs assistance
 Plans assistance
 Documentation
 Physical Search
 Pet rescue
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Possible additional duties of the CSS
 May be requested as a part of an SRT
 A Special Response Team is a team sent to
a specific location for a specific task where
there are likely victims, i.e., hospitals,
prisons, shelters
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Additional duties of the CSS,
continued
 Any other specialty CSS may be crosstrained in
 Gopher—there’s always something to
do
 Remember—we are search first, canine
second
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Unit Summary and Evaluation
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Unit Summary
 Identify disaster types
 Define level of searches
 Describe the types of searches
 Describe structure, search and victim
markings
 Describe how the CSS can assist in TF search
Ops
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National Urban Search & Rescue Response System
Canine Search Specialist Training
Unit Evaluation
Please fill out the evaluation on this unit
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