Navigation Training

Knowing how to use different forms of navigation is something all Search and Rescue members practice on a regular basis. Whether using map and compass, a GPS unit, or even a cell phone (Gaia and Avenza are great apps), understanding how to input and read coordinates, how to find a bearing between two coordinates on a map, and even how to switch from Lat/long to UTM are perishable skills. 

Most SAR teams use a coordinate system called UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator), which divides the world into grids and goes into finer detail within that grid to get precise coordinates.  Looking at the map below, we can see that Clark County, Washington resides in the “10T” grid. If we were doing a search in Spokane, we would be in the 11T grid. For more information on how the UTM system works, here’s a link to a great video:

During September’s training, a three-lane course was set up for teams to go through. Following Lane One, the team started out with UTM coordinates under WGS84 datum. There’s also UTM NAD27 and NAD83, all of which are common geodetic datums used within North America, with WGS84 (World Geodetic System) being the most commonly used in Search and Rescue. They then had to switch their devices to Latitude/Longitude (degrees, decimal minutes), then did a few routes using map and compass…. measuring the distance to the next point once the coordinates were marked on the map, then figuring out which direction of travel and following that bearing. Also, how to go around an impassable area to continue the bearing on the other side. 

All this training is great practice for the searchers. To relate this to an actual search, upon arrival searchers will get put into teams and sent out to cover different search areas. They may be given a UTM coordinate, and once they get to their area, they may have to use their compass to stay on a bearing for a line search until they reach their designated coordinate. When they clear their search area, they can be reassigned and would have to navigate to that new location. If anything is found that may be useful in the search, coordinates are marked and read back to base.

Always ready; From Training to Callout!

The team had a busy day yesterday as we went straight from training on patient packaging and stokes handling to a Callout for a missing person. The CCSOSAR K-9 team was also used. About 30 members of the team searched several areas on the lookout for a missing person with Alzheimer’s. They met a few people who were able to positively identify him and the subject was located this morning.

Survival Rule of Threes

When you realize that you’re lost, it is important for you to not panic… try and stay calm, warm, dry, and (yes) in one place… if you are wandering around, it can make it difficult for search and rescue teams to find you. To prioritize your situation and increase your survival rate, consider the Survival Rule of Threes:

  • You can survive for 3 Minutes without air/oxygen, or in icy water.
  • Unless you’re in icy water, you can survive for 3 Hours without shelter in a harsh environment, like extreme heat or extreme cold.
  • You can survive for 3 Days without water if you are sheltered from a harsh environment.
  • You can survive for 3 Weeks without food if you have water and shelter. 

With this in mind, your first priority to keeping yourself safe is to find or build a shelter. If you don’t have a tarp and rope to make a shelter, build one with found logs, branches, stumps and leaves, or sit up against a tree with overhanging boughs to help protect you. If you’re in the snow, dig a snow cave or stack snow to make a wall and use branches and leaves to make a roof. Be sure to gather extra leaves and boughs to make a mattress to keep your body off the ground. Even in Summer months, the cold ground can suck the heat from your body. If you  have something colorful, tie that high above you to mark your location in case search crews pass by and you somehow miss each other.

Unless it’s extremely windy, the next thing you can do is to make a fire. Gather wood, twigs, dry grass, leaves, bark, paper if you have it. Start with the smallest pieces and add the bigger ones as the fire catches. If you don’t have a lighter or magnesium striker, try rolling a stick between your hands against a divot (crack) in a piece of wood. With enough friction you can get smoke which you can coddle into a fire. 

Next, find water and food. If you don’t have a fire and a way to boil water from a river or stream for at least 3 minutes, drinking water straight from those sources would be your last resort. Suck the morning dew off of leaves. If there’s rain, try  to collect it. If you’ve been hunting berries or mushrooms all day, then you’re set… you know how to identify them safely! If you aren’t familiar, don’t risk it. Instead try things like pine nuts or pine needles, walnuts, even dandelions. Insects can provide protein. 

The biggest thing you can do to help searchers find you is to stay safe in one area and make yourself noticeable… hang bright things around you, make noise with whistles or bang some rocks together. It can take a couple of hours before Search teams are called out and deployed, so keeping yourself safe and noticeable will make a huge difference.