SAR CommunicationsIntrinsically SAR involves multiple persons who must exchange information. This might be between a single searcher and a subject, or more likely between multiple searchers as they seek a subject; it may also occur between searchers and such non-searchers as the press or public. In all cases it is essential that the information exchange be as clear, concise, and accurate as possible. Additionally, there can be occasions when one must be selective about the kind of information to exchange, or of its recipients, such as if a search for clues becomes a criminal investigation. Sadly, it often does. All communications have six essential elements:
Communication obviously has a lot of parts, and any may fail and render your communication ineffective. To minimize this prospect, employ the KISS principle ("Keep It Simple, Sister [Sonny]") for all communication elements. Any unnecessary embellishment is likely to induce confusion. However, be equally careful to avoid careless omissions of crucial information. [BACK] One of my own early (1977) SAR debacles illustrates how careless communications can bungle a rescue (fortunately, the ultimate result was embarrassment rather than injury). About 3 AM on a Navy ship sailing near the equator, a distress call came in from a merchant ship . I (the source) roused our helicopter crew (the message destination) and verbally (the medium) described the distressed ship's 2o latitude and cargo (the message), with the intention that the helo arrive in time to assist (my communication objective). What I neglected to mention was that the ship in distress was at 2o South latitude, and the pilot assumed that it was 2o North (the interpretation). One degree of latitude is about 69 statute miles; through my omission and the pilot's failure to note and seek clarification of it, I was sending the rescuers 276 miles the wrong way! Fortunately, a junior flight crew member caught and corrected us before a needless tragedy could occur. [BACK] This was "how not to do it". Learn from my mistake! The example also illustrates two fundamental SAR communications axioms. First, a message sender should communicate all essential information--but only essential information (e.g., the cargo was irrelevant)--and in writing if possible (it was, and I didn't). Secondly, message recipients must remember Ocham's Razor: "base no action upon unnecessary assumption", which the pilot initially breached. There are only about five ways to learn or acquire information: verbal, written, numerical, graphic, or experience. Various media have differential capabilities to accomplish transmission of these forms of information, but utilization of multiple media can reduce the likelihood of miscommunication, and enrich the message content for the recipient. Therefore, SAR communications often concurrently employ a variety of media, a redundancy that provides back-up and (if need be) verification of information transfer. [BACK] SAR Communications Media
Runners usually are humans, but might be other carriers (e.g., carrier pigeons, message-in-bottles). Electronics usually means computers. Telecomm includes standard and cell telephones, telegraph, and radios. Signals include flares, smoke, and standard emergency ground markings. [BACK] SAR Communications Protocols
Note that most current communications media now are highly technical in nature. This now often creates SAR communication problems, due either to the bewildering array of specific technologies, or to incompatibilities. For electronics (computer comms) the current SAR standard seems to be PC platforms, and in radio technology the ground team trend appears to be toward FRS ("Family Radio Service") frequencies. We will use FRS radios during some exercises (click the picture below for a fullsize view; use the Back button to return).
N. C. Heywood maintains this page, last updated 30MAR02. |
