TOVSAR

Top of Virginia Search and Rescue

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Quarterly Training Report

“Call-out Qualified” Training Sessions Scheduled

December 7 (Sunday) ~ "Call-out Qualified" training at North Mountain Fire Station, 0800 - 1600. All members and prospective members who don't have a COQ certificate should come to learn what you need to pack, and do, on an actual search mission. Bring any gear you have (see “FTM Equipment List”) and dress to spend 3 hours outside. Upon completion you will be eligible to respond to search missions.

This class is also helpful to fire, rescue and law enforcement personnel who may be assisting in a search for missing persons. It covers the legal issues of SAR, wilderness survival, SAR equipment, search strategies, the incident command system, and land navigation (including an in-the-field practical exercise). This class has been scheduled for three additional dates in 2004 (see “Training Calendar”).

Experienced members are invited to attend for all or part of the day and assist in the training or do their own training.

New SAR Resource at TOVSAR

Bill Penfield has successfully completed initial training to certify himself and his Portuguese Water Dog “Koko” as a wilderness cadaver locating dog. TOVSAR’s Memorandum of Understanding with Virginia Dept. of Emergency Management is being modified to include this resource. Members are encouraged to spend some time training with Bill and Koko in order to be prepared to support this resource in the field.

Also, Terry Davis, President of Virginia Bloodhound SAR, has joined TOVSAR, so we now have four bloodhound handlers available to respond to SAR incidents.

New Training Certifications:

In the past few months two members have completed Rope Rescue II, a class taught by the Virginia Division of Fire Programs’ Heavy and Tactical Rescue section. This 32 hour class emphasizes rigging and hauling systems for high-angle rescue.

One member has recently completed Field Team Member training, the basic 50-hour class taught by Virginia Dept. of Emergency Management. Another member recently completed Field Team Signcutter, a 50-hour class covering intensive clue awareness. TOVSAR now has seven FTS certified members.

Members who want to participate in VDEM training programs should sign up directly with VDEM and notify the training officer.

Continuing training during the third quarter of 2003 included 560 person-hours of training.

Voice Mail System:

TOVSAR now has a voice mail system which is a great help to managing information during a search mission. Members are asked to respond to pages by calling 540-722-5973 where they will receive updated information, and can leave a message concerning their availability and response information. Dispatchers will check this one number to update the outgoing message and collect responses from members.

TOVSAR Mobile Command Center

TOVSAR has secured a retired school bus, with the help of State Senator Russ Potts, and is now in the process of converting it to a mobile command center. Contact the Captain for more information on how you can help.

Community Awareness Programs

Thanks to several members participated in Fauquier County ’s Public Safety Day in October, in Warrenton, and provided good information to the public. At least one potential member has since participated with us at a training session and plans to join the team!

Also, our bloodhound handlers have been busy attending 4-H, scouting and school events. We have copies of the video “Lost! But Found, Safe and Sound” which we have shown to groups of young children to inspire outdoor safety awareness.

Member Concerns

Please keep Dena Ewell in your thoughts as she recovers at home from surgery.

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