The Aim of This Course
The aim of the Land Search Operations course is to provide you with the skills and knowledge to search for and locate missing persons as a member of a Canine Land Search team.
This Learner Guide has been written to reflect the Unit – Undertake Land Search Rescue – from the Public Safety Training Package.
Note
This course does not cover specialised techniques for cave and vertical rescue or specialised skills and knowledge required for remote area searches in rugged bushland far from roads and tracks, alpine, desert and wilderness areas, or difficult mountain terrain as found in some NSW National Parks. These specialised techniques will be covered in later Learner Guides as your Search Experience increases.
Copyright © 2018 Search Dogs Sydney Incorporated
All rights reserved. This work is copyright, no part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in a retrieval system, in any form or by any means, without prior written permission of the copy right holders, Search Dogs Sydney Incorporated.
While every care has been taken to ensure that the information contained in this training manual is the best available, Search Dogs Sydney Incorporated accepts no liability for any use of the information or reliance placed on it and no responsibility is accepted for events or damages resulting from its use.
This training course has been developed by members of Search Dogs Sydney Incorporated.
Version Control
| Version | Brief Description of Amendments | Approval | ||
| No. | Date | Name | Position | |
| V1.0 | Feb 2019 | Initial release | C D’Arcy | President |
Curriculum
- 9 Sections
- 44 Lessons
- 52 Weeks
- Introduction2
- Topic 1 – Principles of Land SearchAfter completing this topic you should be able to: • Explain the principles of Land Search • Describe the role of SDS in Land Search • Outline the Land Search process • Identify pre-search and tactical information5
- Topic 2 – Personal and Team PreparationAfter completing this topic you should be able to: • Identify attributes of a Search Technician • Prepare clothes and equipment for a land search operation • Explain why communicating with each other during a land search is important • Identify hazards associated with a land search9
- 4.12.1 Attributes of a Search Technician5 Minutes
- 4.22.2 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)5 Minutes
- 4.32.3 Accessories5 Minutes
- 4.42.4 Communication Skills5 Minutes
- 4.52.5 Maintain Team Safety5 Minutes
- 4.62.6 Water – Am I drinking enough?5 Minutes
- 4.72.7 Is Land Search Operations for me?5 Minutes
- 4.8Topic 2 Quick Check5 Minutes
- 4.9Topic 2 Quiz30 Minutes12 Questions
- Topic 3 – Organising for Search OperationsAfter completing this topic you should be able to: • Describe the five response phases of Land Search Operations • Describe the three environments Land Search Operations takes place • Explain how a search is set up • Describe different search methods • Participate in a Search Briefing • Record essential information in SMEAC format9
- Topic 4 – Search FormationsAfter completing this topic you should be able to: • Describe the roles of Search Technician Team members • Mark the boundaries of a search sector • Demonstrate common search formations4
- Topic 5 – Search SkillsAfter completing this topic you should be able to: • Demonstrate observation skills • Explain the advantages and disadvantages of night searching • Demonstrate how to protect night vision • Participate in a search in poor light conditions • Identify clues in relation to a search • Demonstrate calling and listening procedures • Numbering off • Explain the procedures if a searcher becomes lost or injured10
- 7.15.1 Observation Skills10 Minutes
- 7.25.2 Listening and Awareness Skills10 Minutes
- 7.35.3 Using Your Sense of Smell1 Minute
- 7.45.4 Clues5 Minutes
- 7.55.5 Examples of Sight, Sound and Smell5 Minutes
- 7.65.6 Tracking Skills
- 7.75.7 Numbering Off5 Minutes
- 7.85.8 Contingencies5 Minutes
- 7.9Topic 5 Quick Check5 Minutes
- 7.10Topic 5 Quiz30 Minutes10 Questions
- Topic 6 – Finding SomethingAfter completing this topic you should be able to: • Demonstrate actions to take when a missing person or item is located • Demonstrate how to protect and preserve the scene4
- Topic 7 – Search Recall and Stand Down ProceduresAfter completing this topic you should be able to: • Describe the recall and stand-down procedures • Contribute to an after action review5
- Topic 8 – Night OperationsAfter completing this topic you should be able to: • Outline advantages and disadvantages of night searching • Explain how to protect night vision • Participate in a search in poor light conditions • Demonstrate search skills in poor visibility • Identify clues in relation to a search at night3
