AVALANCHE CANINE SEARCH SPECIALIST The Avalanche Canine Search Specialist Certificatin Exam (CE) is designed t identify the minimum knwledge, skills, and experience needed by an individual and their canine partner t wrk effectively during avalanche search peratins. This certificatin recgnizes the need fr further training t acquire the knwledge, skills, and experience needed t becme a fully cmpetent canine handler in a wide variety f land search peratins. FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS ASSESSMENT The AERIE Avalanche CSS Fundamental Skills Assessment (FSA) is designed t identify the minimum skills needed by canine team during search peratins. This assessment must be cmpleted prir t attempting ther AERIE Avalanche CSS examinatins. Purpse The Avalanche Canine Search Specialist FSA is designed t identify the minimum skills needed by an individual and their canine partner t perfrm as a SAR Canine Team during snw search peratins fr a single victim buried within a small area and will be the prerequisite fr higher level AERIE canine search specialist examinatins. N certificate will be issued fr this assessment. Avalanche Canine Search Specialist FSA An dr recgnitin assessment cnsists f a single search and shall be set-up accrding t the fllwing parameters: A separate area cntaining a minimum f three snw caves/hles will be set up in an area f apprximately 1000 square meters (¼ acre/0.1 hectare). The area shall be clearly marked, with the caves/hles a minimum f eight (8) meters (~26 feet) apart. The snw caves/hles shuld be made t give the ptimum cntrl f scent. The snw caves/hles need t be cnstructed t prevent canine penetratin and shall include: One blank snw cave One snw cave/hle with nn-human/light human scented distractins (fd/snw/ski equipment) One snw cave with the human target buried between 1-1.5 meters (~3-5 feet) The target and all distractins shall be placed apprximately twenty minutes befre the start f the assessment. The team shall have ten minutes t cmplete the exercise Any false respnse cnstitutes a failure. Testing Criteria fr the Avalanche CSS FSA Handler Skills Is the handler adequately attired and equipped? Did the handler develp the apprpriate strategy based n infrmatin acquired? Published: 1/1/2012 1
Did the handler articulate the dg s alerts/indicatins prir t entering the field? Did the handler interpret the dg s alert/indicatin in the field? Did the handler articulate the dg s final respnse? Des the handler demnstrate gd navigatin field skills? Was the handler able t justify their search tactics? Is the handler in tune with their dg s needs? Dg Skills Did the dg stay fcused n the search? Is the dg easily refcused after being distracted? Is the dg willing t leave its handler t fllw up scent? Des the dg search independently and effectively? Did the dg make a self-directed find n the subject? Did the dg alert/indicate t the handler that it had fund the subject? Did the dg demnstrate its final respnse and direct the handler t the subject? Team Skills Did the dg and handler make an effective team? Did the dg demnstrate bedience thrugh its reactins t handler cmmands? Was the search cmpleted within the time limit fr the evaluatin? Published: 1/1/2012 2
AVALANCHE CANINE SEARCH SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION Prerequisites: AERIE Avalanche Canine Search Specialist FSA r a certificatin by a natinally recgnized rganizatin that meets r exceeds the criteria f the FSA. There will be a Chief Examiner fr this test wh will ver-see all aspects f the set-up and testing. Befre the candidate can test t these standards, prf f successful cmpletin f ne f the fllwing must be prvided; American Avalanche Assciatin, Level I r II Natinal Ski Patrl Avalanche, Level I r II American Institute fr Avalanche Research Educatin, Level I r II This certificatin meets r exceeds industry standards and the criteria f FEMA 508-8 Typed Resurce Definitins Search and Rescue Resurces 11/14/2005 Test site preparatin Test will be set up in an actual r simulated avalanche site apprximately 1 acre (0.4 hectare) in size. If simulated, avalanche sites are t be cnstructed with snw machines, they will be prepared a minimum f 1-2 hurs in advance f testing t allw fr gas fume dissipatin. The area shuld be well marked-up with snwmbile, ski and snwshe tracks befre starting the test. There must be adequate hles prepared t allw fr multiple burials at different lcatins in the search area. Fresh, pen hles, as well as used hles are t remain pen. Several false r mck hles shuld be dug and cvered. The test hles must be cnstructed with adequate air space, and large enugh fr free mvement f the subject. The integrity f the test demands the prper cnstructin and sealing f the hles. The penings are t be sealed with a minimum f ne meter (3 feet) f snw and packed t prevent cave-ins. This prvides adequate snw fr digging withut breaking thrugh int the subject s cmpartment. If needed, hardened structures, such as snwshes, can be used t blck hles t aid clsing. As the test prgresses, additinal hles can and shuld be dug, if necessary. A hle may nly be used fr tw tests. Used hles will be left pen and an Examiner shall infrm the candidate handler that these hles were recveries made earlier. Partial burials are nt allwed. If a hle in which a subject was buried must be cllapsed fr safety reasns, the Examiner shall disclse t the candidate handler that there is scent present. Published: 1/1/2012 3
Handler is nt allwed t be invlved in the site preparatin. Distractins Distractins such as rescue equipment, shvels, prbes and flags, debris such as skis, ski ples, clthing, snwbards r snwmbile parts and nn-canine active searchers will be in the search area. This simulates the majrity f the avalanche search and rescue cnditins. Neither distractins nr debris will be placed in the immediate area f a subject r placed in such a way t trick r cnfuse the canine s trained final respnse. Equipment Requirements It is nt mandatry that a candidate handler wear their 24 hur pack during this test; hwever it needs t be in clse prximity t the test site. Mandatry equipment that the candidate handler must have in their pssessin fr testing includes the fllwing; Avalanche Transceiver (in send mde r ff if site is safe) Cllapsible Avalanche Prbe Avalanche Shvel Ten (10) wands/flags with handler name Apprpriate clthing fr spending a night ut in the winter envirnment Skis r snwshes, as needed. First aid supplies and water fr the Handler/K9 team Safety Safety is f paramunt imprtance. The subjects must wear a transceiver; it must be set t transmit, and they must have a wrking radi Radi cmmunicatins, emergency beacns, and safety persnnel are mandatry whenever any subject is buried. Radi cntact will be verified prir t entry int the cave and being cvered by snw. Radi checks will be cnducted every five (5) minutes, except when the canine is in clse prximity Each subject s lcatin will be marked and bserved by tw shvelers at all times and placed in such a way as nt t clue the handler/canine team t the subject s lcatin. A chief shveler will be appinted fr each hle, t lead all extricatins, as they will be mst aware f the subject s placement in the assigned hle The subjects may request extricatin at any time and will be dug ut immediately. Published: 1/1/2012 4
The subjects must be attired and prepared t be buried fr a maximum f 60-minutes. The Test Crdinatr r Examiner may terminate the test at any time if, in their pinin, it becmes hazardus t any f the participants. Testing The test will be cnducted as a mck search with the Handler demnstrating apprpriate scene management via delegatin f duties, etc. The candidate handler will be given as much incidental infrmatin as necessary and will be expected t use all f his/her training in scent thery and avalanche searching t frmulate and cnduct a prper interview f the reprting party and effective and safe search plan. The Handler shall wrk the area as they wuld n an actual search. They are allwed t aerate areas f interest with their shvel, hwever prbing is nt allwed. One t tw (1-2) subjects will be buried in snw caves between 1-2 meters (~3-6 feet) feet in depth. Scent will be allwed t rise fr a minimum f 20 minutes after burial and befre the team is allwed n the testing site. The handler is required t articulate their canine s respnse t scent, and t flag all lcatins f interest. When the handler sees the canine cmmit and alert/indicate t an identifiable lcatin with digging, barking, re-find r ther cmmunicatin, the handler is t place tw (2) flags at that lcatin and call fr a shveler while cntinuing t search. The candidate handler can send a dg back int any areas f interest t cnfirm a find befre a shveler is called at their discretin. Once a candidate handler calls fr a shveler, the lcatin they call is cnsidered a find. The evaluatr will immediately cnfirm the status f the call, crrect r incrrect. If the call is incrrect, the test will be terminated. Candidate handler calling a false hle r dg unwilling t be called ff f a false hle will cnstitute an autmatic failure. There shall be n penalty t the team if dg shws interest in any f the distractins, debris r previusly ccupied hles prvided the candidate handler is able t get them re-fcused n the search. When the candidate handler feels the area has been searched thrughly, they will reprt t the Examiners t indicate cmpletin f the test and prvide a debriefing as t methds used t search the area, areas f interest and a POD f the area whether r nt all subjects were fund. After maximum time allwed fr the test r upn terminatin f the test, the Examiners will reveal lcatin f any unfund subject(s). Dg will be allwed t wrk the area, but find will nt be acknwledged tward the actual certificatin test. Based upn the Examiner s judgment, search time will be based upn terrain, vegetatin and wind/weather cnditins but shuld nt exceed 30 minutes. Published: 1/1/2012 5
Testing Criteria fr the Avalanche CSS FSA Handler Skills Demnstrates that they are adequately attired fr avalanche respnse and have mandatry equipment. Establishes scene safety. Perfrms an effective pre-deplyment interview which may include the fllwing questins; Time f avalanche Number f ptential subjects What were subjects ding at time f avalanche (snwmbile, ski, snwbard) Subject lcatin at the time f the avalanche If the scene is safe If avalanche watch is present Warning alarm fr further slides Where the safe zne is Demnstrate the ability t plan an efficient search, best utilizing wind, terrain, tpgraphy, and existing envirnmental cnditins t prvide efficient and effective cverage f the terrain given the time cnstraints f the test. Verbalized the dg s final respnse prir t entering the search scene. Demnstrate the ability t wrk and cntrl the dg t effectively search the area. Demnstrate that the handler recgnizes when the dg is alerting t human scent. Demnstrate the ability t judge sweeps f areas as t their suitability t cnditins. Demnstrate that they were aware f visual clues. Were able t give a POD fr the area searched. Demnstrates apprpriate canine care, safety and welfare. Demnstrate that the handler behaves prfessinally during the test. Dg Skills Respnsive t handler s directin and cntrl. Searches independently and with fcus. Shws cmmitment t each target. Trained final respnse n ne t tw targets with n false alerts. Dg alerts repetitively and independently f handler. Team Skills Demnstrate that the Handler and dg have adequate agility and stamina t effectively wrk an avalanche search area. Demnstrate that the Handler and dg have the ability t wrk effectively and find a subject with an additinal persn r persns accmpanying the K-9 team. Was the search cmpleted within the allwable time with all finds made? Team Skills Did the dg and handler make an effective team? Did the dg demnstrate bedience thrugh its reactins t handler cmmands? Was the search cmpleted within the time limit fr the evaluatin? Published: 1/1/2012 6