Editing Mock Search Organizing

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So you've volunteered to organize a mock search? Thank you! It's
a lot of work. Several of us have done it. This page will help you
too. If you've organized a mock search, please edit this page to
include your thoughts and techniques for success.

Thanks to Roy Davidson for much of this text.

== Recruit a planning group ==
If possible, develop a group
to help with the planning.

Determine what planning information should not be widely known.  This may affect who can be in your planning group.

== Goals ==
Decide what the goals of the training exercise are.

Decide what the goals of this mock search will be and whether
the emphasis will be for the overhead team or for the searchers. In
some cases the emphasis can be on both. These notes concentrate
mostly on a mock search for searchers.

For example, if the intent is to test the the overhead team, the
members of the team should not be involved in the planning. It
might be intended that they not even be aware that a mock search is
being planned.

Some sample goals:
* GPS navigation
* radio communication
* urban search techniques
* training for new search managers
* allow members who are at risk of losing their certification to partipate

== Participants ==
Determine major participants.

Some participants requested before:
* PCSAR members (of course)
* LASARA
* CNP SAR
* RCMP

== Set a date ==
Set a suitable date that will give the
best turnout. Announce the date and invite participants well in
advance.

People tend to forget about the mock. Dates that are soon after
the monthly meeting may work better because the members will have
the reminder from the monthly announcements and from the
meeting.

* Check with participants for possible conflicts.

Mini-mocks on the evening of our regular training are often moved up to start at 18:30 or 18:00.

== Announce ==
It may be useful to announce some of the detail of the
mock as an enticement to attend.

Announce the date. Invite the participants.
* Give each group as much lead time as possible.
* Gently twist the arm of important participants that are otherwise reluctant.

== Size ==
Try to determine how many people will be participating in the
search. It will be necessary to know how many teams you will have
and of what size of a search area you will need. The size of the
overhead team will also depend on how many searchers you expect.
Keep in mind the fact that the number of searchers may be less or
more than anticipated, so try to develop scenarios that can be
reduced or expanded, depending on numbers.

Decide how long the exercise will take.

== Scenario ==

Sketch the scenario.

Develop the scenario.
The scenario must suit the terrain.

some possibilities from our past: 
* hospital walk-away
* alzheimer's victim
* diabetic
* dispondant
* lost child
* visitor
* foul play
* hiding
* animal attack
* vehicle breakdown
* delayed hunter
* injured hunter
* weather prevents travel
* downed plane
* disaster
* lost vehicle
* accident
* evidence
* rescue.

* Type of Setting.

Develop
a profile of the subjects(s) including name, age, health (nature of
any injury, signs, symptoms), clothing and footwear, behavior, what
they were doing there, etc. as well as a cause of crisis

* Subject Profile(s).
** Name.
** Age.
** Classification (Dispondant, Berry Picker, etc.)
** Clothing.

* Cause of crisis.
* Nature of injuries, signs, symptoms.
* Before crisis behaviour.
* After crisis behaviour.

Unless there is some specific aspect of searching that you wish
to emphasize, try to consider "something for everyone." Consider
what will be the likely boundaries of the search areas and try to
plant something in each area so that each search team will have
something substantive to do. Decide whether specialized equipment
will be needed, eg. quads or snowmobiles. Consider using props to
give reality to the whole scenario, e.g. Have the search victim's
vehicle at the PLS; have RCMP at the search site; have the media
show up. You may want to consider some of the following in order to
have something for everyone:

* consider having the rabbit(s) lay tracks and clues exactly corresponding to the scenario;

* have the rabbit travel through more than one search area, planting clues along the way;

* have multiple rabbits;

* have real rabbits who will be coached on interacting with rescuers;

* have one of the rabbits readily found but needing special medical attention or extraction techniques;

* have outside parties enter into the search area and contaminate or complicate the search;

* have the rabbit double back;

* have an obvious track cross a hard or rocky area to be picked up elsewhere;

* without letting anyone know, give one of the searchers an envelope to be opened at a specific hour. The envelope will contain instructions for that searcher to suddenly suffer a particular medical condition or injury that that team, and the overhead team, must then deal with;

* have a rabbit with psychological or emotional problems that create irrational behavior - outside the norm. Consider having the rabbit, once found, respond and interact with searchers in such a manner as will challenge the searchers ability to complete the rescue;

* have natural features (rivers, cliffs, roads, etc.) challenge the searchers;

* have searchers encounter wildlife or unanticipated hazards. This can be done by planting a sign describing the hazard. E.g. You have encountered a large brown bear standing over something that it appears to have been burying. E.g. You have just heard a gunshot to the northwest.

If the search requires
special skills (e.g. High angle rescue) but you don't have the
resources to handle that skill, determine how that situation will
be handled when encountered.

== Determine what portions of the scenario will be acted out exactly and what portions will be recreated so as to assume they've actually happened.==
For example, will the mock victim actually be
out as long as the scenario says he has been. What resources will
be assumed to be available but won't actually. For example, food
brought in or a helicopter.

* From the victims' point of view.

* From the searchers' point of view. The portions that will be recreated may require special planning to carry them off. PCSAR has a bag full of props in the shed that can be used as clues, including old cell phone, clothes, shoes, etc.

There's a dummy of a child. We can also borrow the fire
department's Rescue Randy.

== Area ==
Pick the search area.

Once you have determined the
site, secure the necessary permissions for the use of the land. If
you intend to alter the terrain in any way, get the permission of
the land owner. Consider whether you will need to notify neighbors
or others who may be affected by the search, bearing in mind the
fact that searchers may end up outside the search area. If the
weather is subject to change, how will that change affect the site
and the search, e.g. What will happen if it snows or rains?

* Arrange permission with necessary authorities.

Recheck with the landowner on the day of the search.

== Equipment ==
In preparation for the search day, ensure that all equipment
that might be necessary is on hand and available to the overhead
team. Ensure radios are charged.

Make sure that there is someone to drive the bus.

== Props ==
Ensure
that any props and clues are in place.

== Pick the volunteer(s) to act as mock victims.==

== Plan how to maintain the safety of the mock victims.==

== Brief the mock victims/witnesses ==
* Safety.
* How to help make the training exercise a successful learning experience.
* Subject profile and expected behaviour.
* Appropriate planting of clues.
* How to communicate nature of injuries.

Have rabbit(s) who will lay
the trail and clues exactly coinciding with the scenario. If having
live rabbits, ensure they are capable, adequately prepared and have
proper clothing, food and necessities. Consider any hazards and how
they should be handled. Always ensure the safety of the rabbits and
all search participants.

On the search day, if having live rabbits, send them out with
specific instructions at times corresponding to the scenario. Brief
the rabbits thoroughly, including there expected behavior on being
found.

== Contingencies ==
Consider alternatives for
weather changes, expected participants not showing up, too quick or
too slow resolution of the search and rescue components and other
contingencies.

Plan for unexpected contingencies that may affect the usefulness of the training exercise.
* Too many or not enough of the major participants.
* Unexpectedly unavailable volunteer mock victims.
* Unexpectedly unavailable search area.
* Weather. Most unexpected weather will enhance the training exercise. Some weather may make the training exercise useless.
* Too quick or too slow resolution to the search and rescue components.

If the
number of searchers is more or less than what was anticipated,
reduce or expand the search as may be necessary. This can be done
by creating search boundaries or making an assumption that certain
areas are being searched by other groups.

== Safety ==
Determine safety concerns. The search managers will do this as well, but if they miss some aspects, those concerns will have to be pointed out to them to maintain a safe training exercise.

Consider what hazards may be present. Besides examining the area,
ask the landowner(s) about any hazards on or near the site.

Always bare safety in mind. Someone
should be ready to inform the search manager of safety concerns
that have been overlooked.

At the conclusion of the search, make sure that every searcher
is accounted for.

== Lessons learned ==
Plan how to determine whether this was a successful training exercise.

How to find out what to do to make a better training
exercise next time.

Make sure there is time and space for a
debriefing and critique.

== Assigned roles ==

Consider whether you need to appoint a
search manager in advance of the search.

== Social component ==
Consider whether there will be a
social function (pot luck/BBQ) at the conclusion of the
search.

Plan the social component.

Perhaps a pot-luck afterwards. 
Family and friends.

== After search ==
Pick up any clues or props that were
missed. Make sure that all equipment is clean and put away
properly. Thank landowners and people who contributed to the
search.

Please note that all contributions to PCSAR are considered to be released under the Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported (see PCSAR:Copyrights for details). If you don't want your writing to be edited mercilessly and redistributed at will, then don't submit it here.
You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource. DO NOT SUBMIT COPYRIGHTED WORK WITHOUT PERMISSION!

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@@ Line 164: / Line 164: @@
 be handled when encountered.
-== Real vs. Pretend ==
+== Determine what portions of the scenario will be acted out exactly and what portions will be recreated so as to assume they've actually happened.==
-Determine what portions of the scenario will be acted out exactly and what portions will be recreated so as to assume they've actually happened.
 For example, will the mock victim actually be
 out as long as the scenario says he has been. What resources will
@@ Line 174: / Line 172: @@
 * From the victims' point of view.
-* From the searchers' point of view. The portions that will be recreated may require special planning to carry them off. PCSAR has a bag full of props in the [[equipment shed]] that can be used as clues, including old cell phone, clothes, shoes, etc.
+* From the searchers' point of view. The portions that will be recreated may require special planning to carry them off. PCSAR has a bag full of props in the shed that can be used as clues, including old cell phone, clothes, shoes, etc.
 There's a dummy of a child. We can also borrow the fire
@@ Line 195: / Line 193: @@
 Recheck with the landowner on the day of the search.
-=== Often used areas ===
-West end of Town
-* {{link|Image:Members:TownWestSearchAreas.odg}}
-* {{link|Image:Members:TownWestSearchAreas.pdf}}
-* {{link|Image:Members:2013-09-03 23 57 49u-scan.pdf|possible segmentation}}
 == Equipment ==
@@ Line 206: / Line 199: @@
 team. Ensure radios are charged.
-Make sure that there is someone to drive the mobile command post.
+Make sure that there is someone to drive the bus.
 == Props ==
@@ Line 212: / Line 205: @@
 that any props and clues are in place.
-== Pick mock victims ==
+== Pick the volunteer(s) to act as mock victims.==
-Pick the volunteer(s) to act as mock victims.
-== Mock victim safety ==
+== Plan how to maintain the safety of the mock victims.==
-Plan how to maintain the safety of the mock victims.
 == Brief the mock victims/witnesses ==
@@ Line 294: / Line 285: @@
 == After search ==
-* Pick up any clues or props that were missed.
+Pick up any clues or props that were
-* Make sure that all equipment is clean and put away properly.
+missed. Make sure that all equipment is clean and put away
-* Thank landowners and people who contributed to the search.
+properly. Thank landowners and people who contributed to the
+search.