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Bloodhound Support
FIRST RESPONDER
PROCEDURES FOR UTILIZING THE MANTRAILING BLOODHOUND
SEARCH MANAGERS
BY
TERRY
DAVIS
THIS DOCUMENT WAS WRITTEN FOR OR BY THE
COPYRIGHT@ 1997
Search and Rescue Managers are very familiar with utilizing ground
search personnel and air-scent dog teams. Managers, temporary search
managers sometimes forget about the man-trailing Bloodhounds as an
available tool at their disposal.
The man-trailing Bloodhound should be the first resource
that is called to respond to the scene.
Yes, the Bloodhound can be utilized at any time during the search.
But, If the Bloodhound team is utilized first, you may not need to callout
anymore personnel.
The Bloodhound is trained to scent discriminate (and they do this,
better than any other breed) and they are capable of doing this while
other searchers are actively searching. But, if the Bloodhound team is
allowed to get there first, their success rate will be much higher.
The majority of search and rescue personnel never hear about a
large number of the searches that the Bloodhound teams are called out on
because very often the search comes to a conclusion before any other
searchers are called upon.
WHEN
THE SEARCH MANAGER ARRIVES ON THE SCENE THEY MUST:
FIRST: Find
out whether a Bloodhound Team has been utilized already or if one is on
the way. If not, get (at least) one coming!
No matter how long the subject has been missing you should still
utilize a Bloodhound Team. For an experienced Bloodhound Team, it is not
known how old of a trail is to old (I have personally worked a trail that
was 20 days old with heavy contamination and across pavement, with my then
one year old Bloodhound, and successfully located the subject.). It never
hurts to try!!
Another problem that is not addressed immediately is the location
of the Command Post. It is astounding how many searches that, I have
assisted in, where the command post is located in the same location or
very close to the place last seen. When managing personnel arrive on the
scene, they should immediately make sure that the Command Post, Staging
Area, etc. are not in the location where the initial (prime area, PLS)
search is going to, or is, taking place. These things should be located
away from the PLS at a local fire dept., school, church, etc.
When the Bloodhound Team arrives they need to be briefed on the
situation (as much detail as possible) and what all has been done already
in the search.
Some questions they may ask are:
1)
Did
anyone see the subject leave?
2)
How
long ago?
3)
Is
the last person to see them still there?
4)
What
is the description of the subject?
5)
What
is the mental state of the subject?
6)
What
does the subject have with them (weapons, etc.)?
7)
What
was the direction of travel?
8)
What
type of foot wear?
9)
Are
there family members in the area, especially around the place last seen?
10)
Have
there been family members out searching?
***THIS IS THE WORST
THING TO DO!!
NEVER LET FAMILY MEMBERS
WANDER AROUND THE SEARCH
AREA!!
SECOND: They will
need to know where they can go to obtain a scent article. The scent
article is something that the subject has come in contact with, that no
one else has touched (preferably), since the subject had contact with it
(examples: place last seen, clothing, car keys, hair brush, interior of
vehicle, blood, anything they have come in contact with). Keep everyone
away from these areas and items.
Normally, the handlers will prefer to collect their own scent
articles.
If the scent article cannot be left alone for the handler to
collect, you should follow these procedures for collecting it:
If possible, wearing clean rubber gloves, pick up the item with a
stick, or a coat hanger (no one should touch the item). Place the item in
a clean ziplock plastic or paper bag. Don’t use trash bags, which have
odor retardants in them. Now secure the bag where no one else can mess
with it. Keep the subject who collected the scent article at the scene.
Don’t use gloves, or bags that are from the family!
The Bloodhound Team will need a walker to go with them. This should
be someone who is in good physical shape, able to read a map and use a
compass, knows the area well and has communications with command post.
This could be a very demanding task.
The Bloodhound handler will be able to tell you (the managing body)
after being briefed, where they need to start, or what they will be able
to do. You cannot give them an area to search. They will go where the
Bloodhound takes them.
You may need to remind them to get debriefed after each attempt
(task).
With a scent article the Bloodhound team can also go to where clues
have been located and eliminate them or pick up a trail and run it.
If this team has an inconclusive trail, you should call for a
second Bloodhound. Dogs are like people, so remember, a dog can’t be
right all the time. They will have bad days, too.
The Bloodhound can be a great tool. Their work can give you a
direction of travel, locate the subject, eliminate clues, etc.
It would be a good idea to contact the Bloodhound teams in your
area and find out what level of training they are at, be diplomatic (You
can contact me and I may be able to help you with this.). You could invite
them to some of your meetings, training sessions, etc. Ask them what they
expect when they respond to a search. This is the correct time to let each
other know what you are expecting at the search scene – not when they
show up at the search.
You may contact your local Bloodhound handler, or the organization,
at anytime with questions, concerns, problems, etc.
E-mail) vbsar@shentel.net
Web page) http://www.vbsar.org