Critiques

From PCSAR

Critiques are one of the most effective ways PC SAR has to improve the manner in which it works. The purpose of a critique is not to be critical but to share an understanding of what worked well and what could be improved.

PC SAR performs a critique after all but minor incidents.

Our preference is to use a SAR Manager that was not involved in the incident to give an unbiased chairing of the critique.

Tasks:

• Prepare for the meeting
• Pick a time (Tuesday evening?) when most participants in the

search are available.* book a room (FireHall, MDMeetingRoom)* Announce by e-mail or call-out.* Have someone (usually the last Search Manager involved) draft a 1 page summary of the incident. (see IncidentSummaryFormTask)* Invite the tasking agency and other organizations we worked with to send a representative. Many SAR groups are listed at: [1]* Decide whether snacks are needed and arrange them.* Collect suggestions from those members that can't attend.Your effort: 1 hr

• Chair the meeting.
• Ask someone to take detailed notes.* Sample agenda (usually there is not enough time for all of

these items; focus on the important ones)

• introductions* sign in (to the critique)* confidentiality* brief report from person in charge of post op activities (last

search manager?) re expenses, lost and found, work needing done, etc.* what a critique is

• understanding* learning, improvement* suggestions, ideas* how suggestions will be distributed* committees that will make decisions on suggestions* incident summary (from draft 1-page report)* functional areas of incident
• first notification / tasking* call-out* investigation* communications* resources* family liaison* briefing* searching* extrication* stand down* CISM* prevention, public education* travel* logistics* planning* media* post ops* critique (how this critique was organized)* round table (anyone have points that they need to bring up that

wasn't already mentioned)Your effort: 1.5 hrs

• Report
• Edit the incident summary to include information that came out

in the critique.* Sort and write up the suggestions (we have examples of this). See PCSAR Doc-97 on [2]* Assign suggestions to be reviewed by PC SAR board, PC SAR preplan committee, PC SAR equipment committee, PC SAR call out committee or one of our partner organizations.* Forward your report to each group.* Send the sign-in list from the critique to the Membership Coordinator.Your effort: 2.5 hrs.