The 1996 Police National Search and Rescue Course was held between the 15 - 26 April 1996. The Course was based at the Royal New Zealand Police College from the 15 - 19 April and at Ngatiawa Camp, inland from Waikanae, from the 20 - 26 April.

The course participants included 33 Police staff, 7 Department of Conservation and 2 Defence Force personnel. Nine other Police staff assisted as " directing staff and instructors". The participants were divided into six teams with a Police Instructor attached for the duration of the course.

The Police participants comprised newly appointed members to Police SAR Squads, SAR Squad Sergeants and Country Station members. The Department of Conservation staff came from the St Arnaud, Waimakariri, Whakapapa, Ohakune, Te Ikawhenau, Stratford and Puketitiri Field Centres. The Defence Force personnel were both based at RNZAF Woodborne.

The initial week at the Police College was dedicated to an introduction to Search and Rescue theory and practice. Among the topics covered were the National SAR Organisation, Police SAR Organisation, the role of the National Rescue Co-ordination Centre, Classes of search, initial action, search techniques and NZ Land SAR Incorporated. A half day was dedicated to both First Aid and river crossing in the Otaki River, a full day to rock climbing skills at Titahi Bay with Instructors from the Army Adventure Training Centre at Waiouru.

The course moved to Ngatiawa Camp on Saturday 20 April and started on the more practical aspects of Search and Rescue. After covering Disaster Victim Identification the teams completed two orienteering courses and then a contact search. Sunday was spent on a team walk with the majority of the teams taking advantage of a fine day to climb Kapakapanui (1102 metres). Various skills were practiced during the day walk.

On Monday 22 April the teams completed "round robin" activities including map and compass skills, tracking skills and a sound sweep - stretcher carry exercise.

The Course concluded with a three day SAREX. The SAREX was supported by an RNZAF Iroquois helicopter and was based around a scenario for three "overdue" walkers in the Waiotauru River catchment. Like most SAREX’s the search was successful with the group being found late on the second day

Course participants completed an evaluation in which they were requested to list five things from the course that would be used to improve their "on the job" performance.

The main items listed and the number of replies were:-

Participants were also asked to make any general comments about the Course and some of the comments included:-

• Less theory and more practical exercises.
• More scenarios for teams to force them to think for themselves.
• More time spent on less subjects.
• Don’t make any changes, it’s good as it is.
• Well done, a lot packed into a short time.
• A very good course - even for experienced SAR or outdoor people.
• Supply a rat trap for Field Hut (apparently a huge rat is in residence there!!)

There has been a lot of discussion over the new radios issued to Districts for SAR use and the following notes may assist in understanding the purchase decisions made by the Police.

Radios currently in use for SAR in New Zealand have been provided by either Civil Aviation or more recently the New Zealand Police. The older AWA TR105 sets are nearing the end of their economic life, are heavy and bulky, and need a lot of care. Since 1990 lightweight Condor sets have been purchased as replacements. Many have appreciated the advantages of these sets whilst others have found the reduced power output (cf the TR105), different receiver, low audio and no volume control, limiting. Replacement sets have therefore, been a compromise and it is difficult to standardise throughout the country or to meet the needs of all users.

The Police budget for equipment purchases for SAR is very limited and a balance has to be maintained between set specifications and numbers purchased. Recently the PolSAR sets became available with an improved delivery, specification and price. These have been used successfully by the Mountain Radio Service and provide some advantages for SAR use. Features included in the PolSAR radios include increased audio output with a volume control, transmit timeout (to prevent channel lock-up and to enable a station to break-in if required at reasonable intervals), higher transmit power possible, provision for external power (2.5mm plug required, centre positive), microphone, and alternative aerial connections.

Initial feedback from Districts has highlighted some potential problems (PTT switch, battery holder, screws) which have been taken up with the supplier. These will be attended to under the 12 month warranty if they prove to be a problem. Any faulty sets should be returned for repair.

Where possible the comments received already and field experience will be used to improve any future sets purchased. The NZLSAR Field Officer will be pleased to receive any further helpful comments or experiences as the sets are used in the field. Compromise is likely however, to meet the varying needs throughout the country.

Some of the TR105 sets are likely to be retained for some time for base or fixed station use. It is not the intention of the Police to repair those TR105 radios that become defective. When finance permits a suitable set will be purchased for base purposes.

Police funds during the next 2-3 years are likely to be committed to replacement of aging VHF equipment - handhelds, repeaters, etc. and other needs (air-ground and other communication formats).

Sound sweep is an efficient and effective search method that will produce results in New Zealand if implemented properly. Using sound in a controlled and systematic fashion has many advantages including:

• High coverage area
• High searcher efficiency
• High Probability of Detection (POD) rates
• Simplicity of operation
• Practical night search technique

Emergency Management Limited has been introducing sound sweep on it’s Managing Search Operation (MSO) courses and sells a "SAR Technical Paper" on the subject. This paper is produced by the Emergency Response Institute in the USA with Martin Colwell as author. Part of the introduction reads as follows.

"It is common knowledge that sound is an effective technique for locating missing persons. Many search teams use megaphones or other sound devices to attract the attention of the missing person, while the lost person may, if he or she is well prepared, use a whistle to attract attention of the search team. Search team members themselves often carry whistles to signal each other as they move through forest or bush.

1. Not all missing people respond to sound
1. Sound is an intangible tool that is difficult to quantify"

The paper goes on to discuss the above factors, including a case study where 90% of the people found by search teams were alive and able to respond. It discusses the background of a Probability of Detection Field Calibration trial near Vancouver in Canada. It has instructions on conducting a sound sweep, results, conclusions, summary and a table of recommended sound sweep search conditions. It is important to possess this knowledge to maximise sound sweep operationally. The paper can be purchased for $12 from Emergency Management Limited 15 Jackson Street Methven

The key point is the systematic and controlled manner in which it is used. We all know what it can be like on a searches and SAREX’s with noise everywhere. Was it the missing person or another search team that called out.

Ross Gordon Managing Director Emergency Management Limited

A report on the Queenstown area SAREX

For several years the need for search and rescue training in winter conditions has grown in the Central Otago and Te Anau areas due to the ever increasing tourist and adventure activities taking place among the surrounding mountains. Heli-skiing, parapenting, air craft movements, ski mountaineering, cross country skiing and snow boarding in remote localities are now common. Some recent real events have also brought focus on these as high probability accident areas.

It has been my strong belief that any available money should go toward training front line volunteers who are asked to perform to an expected high level in often dangerous settings made even more complicated by the weather and during the hours of darkness. It is not enough to expect these people to come out without having had adequate training in safety and communications as well as search and rescue techniques, methods and management.

The Queenstown basin in recent years has become well endowed with professional mountaineers, skiers and outdoor adventure operators who are often called upon to assist in SAR operations. They, like the volunteers, also require regular training and contact with the system that is responsible for effecting a search and rescue operation. Basic understanding of techniques and management and how an event is stitched together is essential for -:

• The welfare of the distressed person or persons.
• The safety of all rescue personnel.

• Reducing the length of the operation. (If this is achieved it quickly brings aid to the lost or injured and reduces the "time at risk" for the rescuers).

• Providing the most "cost effective" service.

The maintenance of a pool of Controllers and Advisers with "experience in the field" as a major job requirement is essential. They will be committing volunteers and professionals into dangerous situations and therefore accountable for their decisions and actions. This evokes the question where do Controllers come from? Usually from Search Team Leaders of course, so targeting them for training has considerable benefits. The expectations put on volunteers is putting stress on the good will that has been forthcoming in the past. Giving of time to train and time for the real event are big calls for volunteers, but to then be expected to put their hands in their pockets for some costs, (gear etc) can lead to disenchantment. Management needs to know how much stretch there is in the "goodwill rubber band".

So it was that "Operation Paraglide" got off on the "smell of an oily rag", on the goodwill of volunteers and donations of flying time from the Lakes District Rescue Trust and Helicopter companies. As time is money, it had been decided to make it a one day event and so reduce the commitment from all concerned. This was new ground for us - to run a SAREX of this size compressed into 7 hours - and became a real challenge. The usual threats appeared on the horizon, availability of personnel, weather, equipment, etc and some were able to be overcome. However on Friday night lying in the Lakes Air Rescue Trust operations room with Murray Cullen quietly snoring on, I listened to the heavy rain beating a tattoo on the roof. It was signalling the arrival of the cold front with snow predicted to 200m which raised all sorts of concerns. How are we going to get the three decoys out? How can the teams operate safely? What about the avalanche risk? How and where can we re-locate to? Should we pull the pin? With the Airport Security Service poking their head in the door it went from a sleepless drama to a comedy or perhaps a farce.

Security (in a loud voice) - What are you doing here

Me (with inflections of intelligence) - What are you doing here

Security - No one said to us you were here.

Me - What made you think anybody wanted to say we were here and then added Phone Trevor Burton at the Police Station

A great night for sleep and Murray still snored on. I had just dropped off when the door again flew open, it was the Field Controller Hamish McCrostie on the dot of 6 am and with grating bonhomie said "right let’s get things sorted out then". My reply as I continued to lie horizontal in my sleeping bag was "all the names are on the whiteboard. You’ve got 17 Alpine Cliff Rescue personnel, 27 Field Personnel, 6 Field Base Personnel, 7 Police, 7 Observers, 3 Paramedics, 1 Doctor, 2 Radio Operators its all yours Hamish. Oh as well there are 3 lost parapenters to be given a safety and helicopter briefing at 7 am and the deployment of the parties by 8 am, 73 persons total"!

The gloom of the dawn lifted and we were able to place the 3 parapenters by helicopter, albeit with some difficulty. We also reduced the search area to the Rastus Burn due to the volatile nature of the weather and predicted severe change.

The scenario was that the three parapenters the day before, had been flying along the Remarkables - Lake face and through a wind shift, one had been blown into the bluffs, one onto Wye Saddle and the other onto the Doolan Saddle. Safety was paramount and a Risk Management Analysis exercise had been carried out prior to any personnel field placement, emphasis was given to helicopter briefing, individual equipment and the distribution of experience with inexperienced within field parties.

All the main characteristics of SAR were covered, if somewhat briefly, and we even managed to winch out (with the helicopter) one of the injured parapenters, despite the buffeting winds. Searchers used track and clue awareness skills recently learnt at an Emergency Management Limited course (sponsored by NZLSAR) and the search base had a person directly responsible for collection and analysis of the clue information.

The ACR teams from Dunedin, Invercargill, Wanaka and Queenstown after a short search found their "customer" and effected the rescue after a lower to a helicopter pick up. Pressure was put on the F.C. and Advisers and their task was not made easy by the noise, clutter, action and crowding at the base and the interfering Referees who would not let the helicopter fly above a certain altitude.

The debrief highlighted a number of points including:-

• Helicopters.
• A Load Marshall is essential to muster teams, supervise loading and brief parties on safety.
• Landing on snow is hard during "whiteout conditions" and marking with a dye or Dazzle helps
• No crampons or ice axes on the outside of packs please

• Pouches for radios are to be acquired so the hands are free
• The use of the radio by the F.C. raised a number of management issues
• The use of GPS so a pilot can fly straight to a given site is to be investigated.

• As the SAREX was at 6000 to 7000 feet asl. all teams had been instructed to be equipped with full storm gear for winter conditions, one days food and overnight gear. It was good to see everyone complied with this.
• All members in the field were equipped with Avalanche Transceivers.
• All personnel had to carry their own first aid kits

Clue Awareness

• The was the first time a person had been appointed to this role and it worked well.

• It was felt the use of a computer would have greatly assisted the Field HQ.

• This also was done for the first time. A Risk Management Plan was adopted before the event and used during the deployment and exercise. It was not a burden and is essential when dealing with any operation

Finally, many thanks to the Helicopter companies, The Lake District Air Rescue Trust who financed a large portion of the flying time, the Police from Queenstown, Te Anau, Wanaka, Cromwell and Dunedin for the logistic support, recording etc, and the volunteers for time, equipment, skills and good humour.

Brian Ahern
Adviser
Otago District

To Peter, Trad Anon, Ross and Brian for their articles and the others who proof read or commented on the above items, a big thank you. Copy for the October edition will close on Friday 20 September. Articles on gear, search techniques or SAR in general are most welcome