November, 2008 edition #7

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Are you in need of refreshing?

At last the vexed question of delivering and funding refresher training has been resolved – thank you for waiting!

SARINZ and LandSAR are pleased to announce the rollout of the 2009 refresher programme. A funding allocation (courtesy of Lottery Outdoor Safety fund) will enable approximately three refreshers to be delivered per region. These dual SARINZ and LandSAR day-long refresher workshops are practical hands-on sessions with minimal, if any, class-room time. In most cases all you need to bring is yourself – no pen required!

All attendees must have completed the equivalent SARINZ/TPP training or be invited by SARINZ/LandSAR. Workshops will be one day, with 60% of the content generic and 40% determined on the day based on need/demand etc. Groups/regions that want out-of-the-ordinary training will be required to pay development costs.

URGENT - Training Coordinators
As indicated, the Lottery Outdoor Safety allocation allows each LandSAR region to receive three refresher weekends paid for by SARINZ/LandSAR in 2009 — all regional training coordinators need to do is determine which combination of refresher workshops their region needs and then allocate dates in 2009. The deadline for feedback (sent to info@sarinz.com) is 10 December.

Invitation
At the LandSAR conference, SARINZ invites all Training Co-ordinators to a wine and cheese session from 5.00 – 6.00pm on Saturday evening. This low key event is designed to explain how the programme will be rolled out and outline initiatives (including course booking) for 2009 activities. Please contact dave@sarinz.com to confirm your attendance.

The 2009 refresher programme is made up of the following one day workshops:

• Search Methods
• TCA/Tracking
• Initial Response
• Formal Search Planning
• Foundation Rope
• Vertical Rope
• TUMONZ & IMAN
• CIMS
• Team Leader

For more information about the refresher programme contact your regional training coordinator or SARINZ.

Volunteer burnout warning

The NZ Institute for Economic Research has indicated that in the emergency management sector volunteers are often engaged in several voluntary activities, in more than one emergency service, at any one time, often with cross-over training. Burn out from excessive training is a very clear and present danger, it suggests.

Thankfully, the increased leadership being shown by the SAR Council towards inter-agency training and communication across the sector will reduce this burden.

At the chalk face SARINZ is acutely aware of demands being placed on the sector and its largely volunteer members. The organisation is constantly examining its approach to training to ensure it does not get caught, as someone said recently “… in a crisis of committees, or the development spiral of death, or even lost in the dark undergrowth of compliance-driven training…”. To manage these complexities SARINZ has adopted a Systems Approach to Training (SAT) model.

SAT is needs-based, not solution-based —  designed around the needs of the learner, not the method of delivery. Its merit lies in the fact that it draws together related aspects of training that may have previously stood in isolation.

An excellent example of SAT in action is SARINZ’s recent systematic review of Antarctica New Zealand’s entire set of training programmes, a project won in a competitive tender.

This is also a great example of SARINZ training development capability — and good recognition of it, too. SARINZ training is based around having proven knowledge and techniques that do not over burden the user with equipment, a highly suitable philosophy in polar conditions!

A senior New Zealand scientist remarked that the benefit is already being realised: “It is great to have a training programme that now meets the individual needs, recognises our current competencies and matches them with the unique needs of the organisation and environment”.

For more information about the Antarctic New Zealand training design project or SAT, please contact Carl McOnie, SARINZ in-house training designer carl@sarinz.com.

Editorial

David Shearer – General Manager SARINZ

Never be afraid to try something new… remember amateurs built the ark and experts built the Titanic!

This quote has been on my white board for the last few months and every day I glance at it and ask myself: are we (SARINZ) trying something new, are we being professional amateurs who ensure the standards set by the sector are attained and exceeded by consistent training?

I believe we are.

It is an exciting and progressive time to be involved in search and rescue training in NZ. At a time when tensions exist between the training needs and expectations of the volunteer and organisation, where distance and time pressures and the need for action-based, hands-on authentic learning is required, SARINZ training must:

• Be flexible so that it can be easily modified to reflect changes in the operational environment.
• Ensure unnecessary training is alleviated.
• Incorporate a clear audit trail.
• Be cost-effective and ‘lean’.

SARINZ is changing its business to meet these needs while at the same time maintaining its high level of service to its core market: NZ SAR. To this end key initiatives in 2009 include:

• Launching refresher training with LandSAR.
• Tweaking our business model to make training more sustainable — fewer courses, more students on courses and increased support for training coordinators and students.
• Advancing our consulting and training services in Australia and beyond.
• Registering as a Private Training Establishment incorporating survival education and foundation SAR programmes/courses.
• Exploring fundraising options to benefit the whole sector.

Our ability to realise these growth initiatives and balance our internal issue of capacity mean we must be more attuned to sector needs. As is detailed in this edition of HeadsUp, your ongoing support and feedback is essential. Feel free to contact me (dave@sarinz.com) any time with questions, criticism or compliments about SARINZ. Your feedback makes SARINZ better and helps to save lives.

Board Table Changes

SARINZ is pleased to announce that Mike Sheridan has been appointed to the chair of SARINZ Ltd, replacing Tom Clarkson.

Mike has been a director of SARINZ since 2006 and brings to his new role a strong business and SAR background. Tom has served as our chair for the last two years and has overseen SARINZ’s evolution into the multifaceted organisation it is today. His guidance and insight into search and rescue has been invaluable during the company’s bedding-in period. He will remain on the board as a director.

Having moved to Qatar, Trevor Burgess has relinquished the position of director of SARINZ Ltd. Trevor was inaugural chairman and business manager through the SARINZ start-up phase. He was instrumental in establishing the SARINZ relationship with Tai Poutini Polytechnic and the business processes that enabled the company to grow so efficiently and effectively.

Meanwhile, Terry Hill has been appointed a trustee of SARINZ Trust. Terry trained in leadership, and received a mountain leadership scholarship, in North Wales. He is a chartered accountant and fellow of the NZIM, and has for the last 22 years been CEO of the Christchurch YMCA.

SARINZ is always interested in hearing from people interested in governance roles in SARINZ (either as a Director or Trustee). For more information, please email dave@sarinz.com

Greater specialisation observed in SAR in USA

In May of this year Nick Coyne and Pete Corbett attended the Washington State and National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) SAR Conferences in the United States. They say they saw a distinct trend towards specialisation in various facets of SAR activity, as well as a direction towards more objective methodologies.

The format for the Washington State Conference was a series of workshops pitched at the frontline wilderness and or suburban land search and rescue practitioner. About 350 people attended.

The NASAR conference included workshops in general/management, government/homeland security/urban SAR, SAR dog, swift water/flood and technical SAR. The 400-odd attending included a good cross-section of SAR people from government, jurisdictional and volunteer organisations.

Some of the sessions attended included updates and advances in lost person behaviour, search theory, 406 PLBs and other low-end locator beacons, incident management teams and SAR, technology and air SAR, searcher spacing, the dog and forensic science and an introduction to Computer Aided Search Information Exchange (CASIE III).

Pete Corbett writes in his report on the trip (from which this article very heavily borrows — thanks, Pete) that there appears to be a significant global trend towards specialisation.

“This is apparent in a lot of the field disciplines such as trained trackers, equestrian searchers, dog handlers and team leaders through to management functionality including Federal and State Incident Management Teams for protracted search operations, search planning, investigation and interviewing, clue processing and intelligence analysis and software related information management systems such as Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and CASIE III operators.

A No-Maths Approach to SAR?

“It is very apparent that globally there is a dichotomy of thinking regarding the mathematical approach to search planning with a significant number of training providers in the States, Canada and UK adopting a no-maths approach to search management with a clear focus on management by objective. It would be interesting to know the numbers but I wouldn’t be surprised to find that the majority of SAR organisations in those countries are opting for the no-maths methodology. This doesn’t necessarily mean they have totally ignored the maths but it appears that this aspect of formal search planning is being dealt with by specialists."

Investigation and interviewing skills

“It is also apparent that most jurisdictions have identified that information management and clue flow is often an area where mistakes made have resulted in a less than satisfactory SAR effort where lives have potentially been compromised."

“Consequently training in basic investigation and interviewing skills have been developed and delivered in a number of States across the USA."

“An investigative function colloquially known as either the Clue Meister or the Clue Frog has also been developed – a person who is responsible for reviewing all information gathered during the search effort and ensuring that all follow up enquiries (leads) are completed and all clues processed appropriately.”

SARINZ is very interested in trialling workshops on advanced search planning, and investigation and interviewing techniques for SAR. If you, or someone you know, is interested in these workshops let Pete Corbett know (pete@sarinz.com ). If we have a group of at least 14 people we will have workshop. Call Pete for more details: 03 359 7669 ext 3.

Renowned international figures to address Conference

The highlight of the 2008 LandSAR conference will be the appearances of three notable international figures.

Michael Rose is a serving police officer in Devon and Cornwall, and England’s police search adviser and co-ordinator. He has been the chairman of his Regional Mountain Rescue organisation for about five years, the only serving policeman in England to hold such a position.

“We have had considerable changes here in the UK regarding lost/missing persons. It’s very much placing the onus on the police. That, in reality, means forging much closer working partnerships with the SAR groups.”

Sigurður Ólafur Sigurðsson ("Siggi") is Assistant Director of the ICE SAR Rescue School, a member of ICE SAR rescue division and the ICE SAR National SAR command. Mr Sigurðsson is a veteran of over 200 operations and has been a volunteer member of the Kópavogur Scout Rescue Team since 1990.

Rik Head has represented Australia for years on the Federation Internationale de Patroller de Ski congresses and is currently vice-president special projects for FIPS. He has been involved in SAR since the mid-1970s with Bush Search and Rescue where he is currently a field organiser.

Sharing the knowledge

This year, SARINZ personnel have presented papers to international conferences in the USA, Canada, Iceland and Russia.

Ross Gordon who, with Tony Wells, was in North America for most of October with sponsorship from SARINZ and TPP, has been away seven times before. He says the benefits of this activity are huge, and critical for sharing of knowledge, particularly in:

• Professional development of instructors.
• Looking for knowledge and benchmarking our own instructional and knowledge practices.
• Strengthening SARINZ existing (and establishing new) international SAR networks.
• Looking for opportunities to work in and with other countries.

The fun in training …

Paul Kelly of Dunedin has now completed his first year as full-time SARINZ instructor.

The former painter and paperhanger cheerfully took the job when it was offered to him, having provided his services on a contract basis for about five years.

A volunteer member of the Lost Souls SAR group in Dunedin, Paul says a highlight of the year has been SAR operations where he was in a position of being able to watch the processes and the systems we’ve been teaching people being put into practice, enabling people to do a good job.

“I’ve just finished a very good weekend in Glenorchy with a large group of new people from Queenstown and Wanaka who had recently taken part in a couple of searches. It’s really good to see how keen people are."

“You get to meet good, honest, down-to-earth people who want to take part and help the community. And they’re a fun bunch as well. The biggest buzz for me is having fun while you’re doing the training.”

Easier course booking

We know booking and attending courses should be easier. So SARINZ and LandSAR are working together to streamline the course booking process to make it easier for co-ordinators and SAR volunteers to enrol and attend courses. The working group is finalising the process, which it intends to be distributed before the end of November.

Advanced Rope ...Advanced Weather!

By Kip Mendeno

This year’s Advanced Rope Rescue programme (ARR) was based in Charleston on the West Coast. With its tall dark sea cliffs used by climbers for the last 20 years it seemed the ideal place to run a course. With picture perfect scenery and the Tasman Sea constantly rolling in it was to be an idyllic setting. After consultation with the locals and assurances that the weather around there in August wasn’t too bad it was all go from there.

We started on day one with 13 participants, three instructors and hail, sun, rain and wind constantly cycling through one-hour rotations, occasionally punctuated by a good dose of thunder and lightning. Each day started with a classroom session in the morning followed by an afternoon of putting it into practice out in the wild and then back into the classroom for an hour of debrief, analysis and warming up. I guess the students didn’t believe how much science and maths are behind a rope rescue system. As they came to realise that this is what being able to rig is all about they became very self motivated to get it sorted in their heads (in the classroom) and their hands (in the field). As the week wore on they usually beat us out the door and by the time we got back they were hard at work drawing up and analysing the afternoon’s session.

The course was held in the Charleston Hall; with its big new fireplace and ample coal making for a toasty classroom — especially welcome since as the week progressed the hills got covered in snow and the passes closed around us. New Zealand had one of the worst winter weeks for a long time and the locals were right; Charleston is OK in August when you compare it to the beating New Zealand took that week. We rigged a lot of different permutations of rope rescue systems to the thump of the sea below as waves shattered on the cliffs and broke nearly thirty metres up, the spray at times climbing to meet us thirty metres higher. If not that, hail filled the stretcher and then the sun would shine to warm our souls and encourage all to learn some more.

This time the ARR course was broken into three modules so we could shorten the time on the course with parts 1 and 2 being covered over this five-day block. We will deliver part 3 in 2009 when we finish the High Directional module. The students are all keen to come back and I guess they figure they can handle anything after that week.

And as if to mock us: as we drove away on Monday morning the weather and the coast was stunning, all sun and blue skies.

We are beginning planning for the 2009 North Island Advanced Rope Rescue course occurring in March in, hopefully, better weather. If you are interested contact kip@sarinz.com.

SARINZ training for ice teams

Each September, SARINZ provides training to the Antarctic programmes of Australia, New Zealand and the USA. This has been going on for several years, and it shows how SARINZ training methods and philosophies are valued by other organisations.

During September Grant Prattley (Programme Manager – Rescue), was in Tasmania for a very full-on five days. He set the tone of the week with a session on breaking Prusiks and rope — reinforcing the SARINZ philosophy: If you don’t test it you are just guessing.

Later in the month Grant, Tony Wells (Programme Manager – Search), and Course Co-ordinator Kip Mandeno took the Joint Antarctic Search and Rescue Team (JASART, a combination of personnel from the US and NZ Antarctic programmes) through search methods, vertical rescue and slope lowering. This started with a day of search methods followed by a day and-a-half of theory at the International Antarctic Centre, Christchurch, a day and-a-half in vertical terrain around the Port Hills and two days in snow at Craigieburn Ski Area.

SARINZ has been providing pre-deployment training for JASART for the last three years.

Lost person behavior or behaviour?

International search and rescue specialist Robert Koester was in New Zealand in the first week of August to launch his new book, Lost Person Behavior – A Search and Rescue Guide on Where to Look – for Land, Air and Water.

It was the international launch of the book and this was most fitting, as a good number of New Zealanders helped Koester to compile his data (even if the spelling isn’t Kiwi English!). Subject matter expertise provided by SARINZ personnel and data from New Zealand’s SAR operations underpin the practical and theoretical nature of the research and book. During the evening Mr Koester outlined the content of his book and highlighted the need to include more science in SAR.

Lost Person Behaviour contains statistics on probabilities of where a subject might be located and a general overview of the types of behaviour, likely actions and goals or intent of the lost person. It includes new detailed profiles that provide insights into what drives the basic behaviours of lost people.

To order the NZ edition (published in NZ English) of Lost Person Behaviour ($45 incl GST) complete an order form (either the attached or from SARINZ.COM) or contact SARINZ direct – 0800 4 727 479.

New releases

Alpine Rescue Techniques (3rd ed.)
Written by Grant Prattley

Alpine Rescue Techniques is a technical rescue manual covering vertical rope rescue and rigging principles. An easy-to-read format, use of diagrams and focus on practical scenarios ensures ART is relevant for beginners and professionals operating in steep and vertical alpine terrain (as well as cliffs and caves).

Focussing primarily on rope rescue techniques and principles, this edition reflects the changing nature of alpine rescue (and other vertical terrain). Rewritten chapters include Avalanche SAR and First Aid, and new chapters on Incident Management and Helicopter Rescue.

This manual has been written by Grant Prattley (SARINZ) and published in conjunction with LandSAR (NZ) and the Mountain Safety Council.

350 pages, A5 paperback
Price: $69.95

Lost Person Behaviour (NZ ed.)
Written by Robert Koester

The purpose of this book is simple: To help searchers look in the right place to find lost subjects faster.

Based upon a landmark study, this book is the definitive guide to solving the puzzle of where a lost person might be found. Whether the subject is underground, underwater, under collapsed rubble, on land or has fallen from the sky, this book delivers what search managers need.

Subject matter expertise provided by SARINZ personnel and data from New Zealand’s SAR operations underpin the theoretical and practical nature of the research and book.

416 pages, semi-concealed wiro-o binding, A5 format
Price: $45

To order, complete an order form (either the attached or from SARINZ.COM) or contact SARINZ direct – 0800 4 727 479. Prices include GST. Postage and packaging is $4 per book.

Do you want training, but not sure where to start?

Step 1 – Ask
Quiz your local or regional training coordinators about what you can do, and what is available when.
Step 2 – Visit
Go to www.sarinz.com and use the search by course function to see what, where and when training is being delivered.
Step 3. – Enquire
Use SARINZ online enquiry form and enquire about attending course(s) that interest you. (NB just because it isn’t in your region doesn’t mean you can’t attend it
Step 4 – Talk
Let your training coordinator know about the courses that interest you – there maybe others in your group/region also interested in attending this course.
Step 5 – Read, listen, watch
You will receive information about the course – if you don’t receive any information or have questions contact the course coordinator and SARINZ.
Step 6 – Confirm and attend
A lot of people – not least the lost person – depend on your attendance do the right thing and let us know if you can’t make it. Your attendance saves lives – don’t miss the opportunity and enjoy training the SARINZ way.
Step 7 – Practice and refresh
The only way to improve is to keep practising. The best way to do this is with your SAR group or on SARINZ courses. And let us know (info@sarinz.com.) what works or doesn’t. Your feedback makes training better and helps to save lives.

How are we doing?

We have prepared an on-line survey to gather your perception of SARINZ and the work we do. We value informed feedback so invite all HeadsUp readers to fill out our simple online survey. It’ll only take five minutes of your valuable time — promise! The survey is anonymous, but those who are happy to put their names to their responses will go into a draw for a $100 gift voucher from Cactus Clothing. To access the survey follow the link from our home page (SARINZ.COM).

SARINZ presentations to international conferences 2008

The Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs Conference (COMNAP), St Petersburg, Russia, July 2008: Joint presentation with Antarctica New Zealand, Australian Antarctica Division and US Antarctic Programme (via JASART) on SAR in Antarctica including the training and SOP developed/provided by SARINZ.

International Society of Professional Trackers, Virginia, October 2008: Presentations on Tracking Profiling; and on the Practical Integration of Tracking, Search Methods and Theory.

International Technical Rescue Symposium, Albuquerque, USA, November 2008. Topics: The Six Systems of Rope Rescue (or The Systems Approach to Rope Rescue).

SARSCENE Canadian National SAR Conference , St John’s Newfoundland, October 2008: Tracking Profiling.

ICE-SAR Rescue Conference, Iceland, October 2008: One day Search Methods workshop and conference presentations on Tracking Profiling; and SAR in NZ.

LandSAR Conference, Palmerston North, November 2008: Workshops include; Advances in Tracking & Search; Advances in Search Planning; Rescue Developments and numerous conference presentations.

Next edition ...

HeadsUp is a quarterly publication (March/July/November) designed for the SAR community. If you would like to recieve a copy, submit news or notices email headsup@sarinz.com.