CEO & Co-Founder Kathy Zasimovich
     E-Mail: kzasimovich@cebridge.net
     Phone: 501-912-2876 or 501-941-2319

             Search Dog Alliance of Arkansas

SDAOA certifies to or above the level of the NIMS Typing Standards, U.S. Department of Homeland Security*

K9 TEAM STANDARDS:

AREA SEARCH
When a person goes missing or is lost the potential search area can be very large. A handler/dog team can search a large area utilizing the wind. Dogs are natural athletes and can smell a person hundreds of yards away. The handler's job is to choose the best strategy to cover a given area. Search dog teams work well with all water, land and air resources available on a search.

TYPE I
Capable of searching and self-sustaining for 72 hours in all weather and low angle wilderness terrain or larger areas of 120+ acres

TYPE II
Capable of searching and self-sustaining for 48 hours in all weather and low angle wilderness terrain or larger areas of 120+ acres

TYPE III
Capable of searching high probability local wilderness terrain for short durations (24 hours or less) or small areas of 60-120 acres

TYPE IV
Capable of searching high probability local wilderness terrain for short durations (12 hours or less) or small areas of 40-60 acres

WATER SEARCH
The victim of a drowning often becomes missing in a body of water. Scent moves through water and eventually surfaces. A dog team experienced in water search utilizes air and water currents to locate emerging scent. Water search has potential hazards and requires specific safety training. Finding deceased individuals is very important job to families and investigators.

Type I
Search Capabilities Capable of working swift water/still water environments; Trained and equipped to perform search operations on foot and from any type of watercraft

Type II
Capable of working still water environments; Trained and equipped to perform search operations on foot and from any type of watercraft

Type III
Capable of working swift water and still water operations from shore only

Type IV
Capable of working swift water operations from shore only

Type V
Capable of working still water operations from shore only

Type VI
Capable of working salt-water and very large fresh water environments from both boat and shore

Type VII
Capable of working salt-water and very large fresh water environments from shore only

SCENT TRAILING
As a person moves through the environment they leave behind a trail of scent. Scent is unique to individuals and a dog can follow this scent leading to clues, evidence or to the individual that is lost or missing. The dog's job is to find and follow the scent of the individual. The Handler's job is to interpret the dog to determine the best strategy to find the lost or missing person. Trailing dog teams work with law enforcement and rescue organizations in both wilderness and urban areas.

Type I
Capable of trailing in wilderness terrain; Aged 24+ hours; 1 mile or longer; Heavy contamination

Type II
Capable of trailing in wilderness terrain; Aged 4-12 hours; 1 mile or longer; Heavy contamination

Type III
Capable of trailing in wilderness terrain; Aged 1.5-4 hours; .5-1 mile; Heavy contamination

Type IV
Capable of trailing in wilderness terrain; Aged 0-1.5 hours; .25-.5 mile; Heavy contamination

HUMAN REMAINS DETECTION
Human remains detection dog teams are trained to find and indicate on scent created by the decay of human tissue. These teams are often used by law enforcement to locate evidence, victims of crimes, or when human remains are difficult to identify. Often these teams are asked to look for small amounts of material.

Type I
Search Capabilities Capable of locating less than 15 grams of human remains during disaster operations; Capable of self-sustaining for 24 hours

Type II
Capable of locating deceased persons (greater than 15 grams) in disaster operations; Capable of self-sustaining for 24 hours

Type III
Capable of locating less than 15 grams of human remains buried, hanging, ground level, or in vehicles, nondisaster

TypeIV
Capable of locating less than 15 grams of human remains buried, hanging, ground level, nondisaster

* Latest published Typing Standards FEMA 2005

 

GROUND SEARCH PERSONNEL

STANDARDS:

Type I
TEAM Rescue Capabilities: Backcountry, low-angle evacuation
TEAM Search Capabilities: Capable of conducting self-sustaining full search operations for 72 hours in all weather and low-angle wilderness terrain; Competent and experienced Incident Command staff.

TEAM
Personnel: At least 6 team leaders and 48 team members to support at least 6 operational field units (at least 1 member of each team must be a medical specialist – see below); Management staff following ICS model.

Medical Specialist: National standard EMT curriculum; ACLS, BTLS

Overhead Incident Management: Incident staff capable of managing wilderness search operations.

Crew Availability: Available for more than 1 full day of operations.

Sustained Operations: 72 hours

Training: Must be able to operate the team’s equipment; Team members are not expected to operate in remote field locations for extended periods; Must have basic navigation training using a map and compass; Must have technical proficiency in personal survival in local wilderness terrain; Must have awareness of mantracking and maintaining site integrity. Must have a basic understanding of the ICS; Must have proficiency in hasty search techniques. Proficiency in backcountry navigation (including the ability to triangulate a position, ascertain a UTM, use GPS, and follow a route to a new location using a topographical map and compass); Must be proficient at conducting and directing search lines. 1 member of each team must be current to the requirements of the medical specialist (see above); Must also be knowledgeable of procedures involved with helicopter transport and coordination with search crews, both ground and air; Must have the ability to operate in an ICS structure, and be able to plan, organize, and direct search and rescue missions; Team members must have training for operations in remote locations for extended periods. Personnel demonstrate proficiency in mantracking and working with expert mantrackers.

Transportation: 4x4 vehicles that can transport each team throughout or to the search area.

EQUIPMENT
Clothing: Appropriate level of PPE for working environment.

Communications: VHF Radios for team communications; Cell Phone, VHF communications capability with other teams, plus VHF capability to communicate with aircraft.

Search & Rescue Equipment: Equipment to support remote extrication and field transport of survivors.

Supplies: Equipped to be self-sustaining for 72 hours in local wilderness environments.

Medical: As appropriate for level of training, as applied in wilderness environment and meeting local protocols and requirements for support of the team, plus ability to support survivors.

Type II
TEAM Rescue Capabilities: Backcountry, low-angle evacuation
TEAM Search Capabilities: self-sustaining full search operations for 72 hours in all weather and low-angle wilderness terrain; Competent and experienced Incident Command staff Capable of conducting self-sustaining full search operations for 48 hours in all weather and low-angle wilderness terrain; Competent and experienced Incident Command staff.

TEAM
Personnel: At least 4 team leaders and 28 team members to support at least 4 operational field units (at least 1 member of each team must be a medical specialist – see below); Management staff following ICS model.

Medical Specialist: National standard EMT-B curriculum or wilderness first responder; BTLS

Overhead Incident Management: Incident staff capable of managing wilderness search operations.

Crew Availability: Available for more than 1 full day of operations.

Sustained Operations: 48 hours

Training: Must be able to operate the team’s equipment; Team members are not expected to operate in remote field locations for extended periods; Must have basic navigation training using a map and compass; Must have technical proficiency in personal survival in local wilderness terrain; Must have awareness of mantracking and maintaining site integrity. Must have a basic understanding of the ICS; Must have proficiency in hasty search techniques. Proficiency in backcountry navigation (including the ability to triangulate a position, ascertain a UTM, use GPS, and follow a route to a new location using a topographical map and compass); Must be proficient at conducting and directing search lines. 1 member of each team must be current to the requirements of the medical specialist (see above); Must also be knowledgeable of procedures involved with helicopter transport and coordination with search crews, both ground and air; Must have the ability to operate in an ICS structure, and be able to plan, organize, and direct search and rescue missions; Team members must have training for operations in remote locations for extended periods.

Transportation: Vehicles that can transport each team throughout or at least to the search area; 4x4s are not required, but recommended.

EQUIPMENT
Clothing: Appropriate level of PPE for working environment.

Communications: VHF Radios for team communications; Cell Phone, VHF communications capability with other teams, plus VHF capability to communicate with aircraft.

Search & Rescue Equipment: Equipment to support remote extrication and field transport of survivors.

Supplies: Equipped to be self-sustaining for 48 hours in local wilderness environments.

Medical: As appropriate for level of training, as applied in wilderness environment and meeting local protocols and requirements for support of the team, plus ability to support survivors.

 

Type III
TEAM Rescue Capabilities: Trained rescue personnel with experience in nontechnical backcountry evacuation/carryouts supported by local technical experts
TEAM Search Capabilities: Capable of searching high-probability local wilderness terrain for short durations (24 hours or less).
Incident Command staff Capable of conducting self-sustaining full search operations for 48 hours in all weather and low-angle wilderness terrain; Competent and experienced Incident Command staff.

TEAM
Personnel: At least 2 team leaders and 6 team members to support at least 2 operational field units; Must be supported by local EMS and technical rescue personnel.

Medical Specialist: Not required – supported by local EMS

Overhead Incident Management: Unit level mission release; No search management capabilities.

Crew Availability: Available for more than 1 full day of operations.

Sustained Operations: 24 hours

Training: Must be able to operate the team’s equipment; Team members are not expected to operate in remote field locations for extended periods; Must have basic navigation training using a map and compass; Must have technical proficiency in personal survival in local wilderness terrain; Must have awareness of mantracking and maintaining site integrity. Must have a basic understanding of the ICS; Must have proficiency in hasty search techniques. Proficiency in backcountry navigation (including the ability to triangulate a position, ascertain a UTM, use GPS, and follow a route to a new location using a topographical map and compass); Must be proficient at conducting and directing search lines.

Transportation: 1 vehicle that can transport each team throughout or at least to the search area; 4x4s are not required, but recommended.

EQUIPMENT
Clothing: Appropriate level of PPE for working environment.

Communications: VHF Radios for team communications; Cell Phone, VHF communications capability with other teams.

Search & Rescue Equipment: None required.

Supplies: Equipped to be self-sustaining for 24 hours in local wilderness environments.

Medical: As appropriate for level of training, as applied in wilderness environment and meeting local protocols and requirements for support of the team.

 

Type IV
TEAM Rescue Capabilities: Trained rescue personnel with experience in nontechnical backcountry evacuation/carryouts supported by local technical experts
TEAM Search Capabilities: Capable of searching high-probability local wilderness terrain for short durations (24 hours or less).
Incident Command staff Capable of conducting self-sustaining full search operations for 48 hours in all weather and low-angle wilderness terrain; Competent and experienced Incident Command staff.

TEAM
Personnel: At least 1 team leader and 3 team members; Must be supported by local EMS and technical rescue personnel.

Medical Specialist: Not required – supported by local EMS

Overhead Incident Management: Unit level mission release; No search management capabilities.

Crew Availability: Available for more than 1 full day of operations.

Sustained Operations: 24 hours

Training: Must be able to operate the team’s equipment; Team members are not expected to operate in remote field locations for extended periods; Must have basic navigation training using a map and compass; Must have technical proficiency in personal survival in local wilderness terrain; Must have awareness of mantracking and maintaining site integrity. Must have a basic understanding of the ICS; Must have proficiency in hasty search techniques.

Transportation: 1 vehicle that can transport the team throughout or at least to the search area; 4x4s are not required, but recommended.

EQUIPMENT
Clothing: Appropriate level of PPE for working environment.

Communications: VHF Radios for team communications; Cell Phone.

Search & Rescue Equipment: None required.

Supplies: Equipped to be self-sustaining for 24 hours in local wilderness environments.

Medical: As appropriate for level of training, as applied in wilderness environment and meeting local protocols and requirements for support of the team.

 

Some of our State's Teams are also prepared for the following disciplines/aspects of Search and Rescue:

Cave Search and Rescue Team

Swiftwater/Flood Search and Dive Rescue Team