Scheduled Conference Classes as of May 2010

For a printable list of classes, click here

For a printable schedule of class times and tent #'s, click here

Class Title

Instructor(s)

Class Description

Class Length
POST CONFERENCE CLASS
Introduction to Search and Search Management in the Urban Environment
Chris Young
 This presentation will prepare managers and searchers for the specific tasks and special techniques needed for searching in the Urban Environment. There will also be practice sessions on door-to-door interviewing/ neighborhood canvassing. A copy of Mr. Young's book "Urban Search" will be provided to each participant. Contact C.Long@emd.wa.gov to register for this class.
8 hours ALL DAY Sunday, May 23rd
WAC CLASSES (return to top of page)

Intro to Map and Compass

Rick Kincaid & Lee Dumford

Familiarization & Basic Skills with Map & Compass (includes small compass course)

2 hours

Crime Scene Recognition – Evidence Searching

Detective Kevin Schmidt

Attendance satisfies SAR WAC requirement 118-04-120(g) Crime Scene Recognition

2 hours
Basic Wilderness Survival Skills
MSgt John Messenger
 Overview of basic survival skills used in search and rescue
2 hours
Search and Rescue Techniques
Todd Warner
 Introduction to basic SAR techniques, satisfies SAR WAC requirement 118-04-120.3(f)
2 hours
Helicopter/High Altitude Search and Rescue
LT Casey Bruce AWS2 Brian Wedding
 Helicopter Safety/Capabilities of NAS Whidbey Island SAR
1 hr
SAR SKILLS & DRILLS (Hands on) (return to top of page)

Basic Knots

Glenn Dreyer

Knots to include Figure 8 Family of Knots, Water Knot, Prusik and More

2 hours

Fire Building

John Carlson & Wade Phillips

Demonstration of Fire Building Methods followed by Hands On

2 hours

Shelter Building

John Carlson

Demonstration of Shelter Building Methods followed by Hands On

2 hours

Patient Packaging

Glenn Dreyer

Demonstration of Patient Packaging Methods followed by Hands On

2 hours
Treating Airway Obstruction, Excessive Bleeding, Shock/ Patient Assessment
Ann Harryman & Dale Grams
 Hands On practice “Head Tilt/Chin Lift”, Assessment of Patient
2 hours
Wound Care, Splinting and Treating Hypothermia
Ann Harryman & Dale Grams
 Hands on Bandaging and Splinting
2 hours
ATV/4x4s, SNOW MACHINES (return to top of page)

Snow Vehicle’s Safety for Passengers

Rick Blevins

What to do while in or on vehicles built for over the snow

2 hours
ATV Safety/ Basic Course
Deputy Gene Ellis & Deputy Gary Loth
 ATV Safety Institute Basic class for SAR Members– limited to 8 persons per session) Must have own ATV
4 hours
ATVs in SAR – Advanced Ride and Skills
Deputy Gene Ellis & Deputy Gary Loth
 Advanced skills for the ATV searcher. In field riding. Must have own ATV
2 hours
Vehicle Recovery
Shawn Koch
 Power Point and video of how to get unstuck using many different tools including winching. Novice hands on training follows classroom portion.
4 hr class + 2 hr field
K9 & Horses (return to top of page)
K-9 Search Tactics and Coverage Estimation
Tony Copes
 Intermediate Class. Covers meteorology of scent and other tactical considerations plus variability in coverage estimation. Will include several map exercises.
2 hours
K-9 Trailing, Realistic Expectations
Jeff Schettler
 Realistic K9 Training and Deployment
3 hours
K-9 SAR Round Table
Tony Copes & Bob Fuller
 The purpose of this class is to provide a forum for discussion K-9 SAR issues, including but not limited to: Dog-Handler performance standards, Standards for Evaluators, Team Training challenges, Joint Training opportunities, Leadership and Followership, and how we can best help each other. Bring your thoughts and let's talk! All (Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced) are welcome.
1 hour
K-9 Hot Loads
36th Rescue Flight
  
1 hour
Mounted Clue Awareness
Paul Fleming
  
1 hour
Mounted Subject Evacuation
PMSAR, Paul Fleming and Others
 This class will teach MSAR units the guiding principles used to evaluate whether a subject can be safely evacuated on a horse, how to safely load the subject and how to safely manage the subject on the trail. This class is as much for the ground units as MSAR. It is about the techniques of safe evacuation and how everyone around is an active participant.
2 hours
Open Field Search Techniques
PMSAR, Paul Fleming and Others
 This class will teach methods of covering large amounts of ground effectively with mounted teams.
2 hours or until finished
Horse Desensitization
PMSAR, Sue Stephenson and Others
 This training is designed to teach Mounted Searchers various things that have been done to teach horses that many common things we encounter during a search are really no problem. We will have lots of challenges for the horses and riders to work through. We also ask anyone that has special things their unit does along these lines to contact us so we can incorporate them in the training.
2 hours or until finished
MSAR Roundtable
Paul Fleming – Moderator
 The purpose of this session is to bring the MSAR units together to discuss joint training opportunities, how we can help one another and what we would like to see, or are willing to teach at next year’s conference.
1 hour
COMMUNICATIONS & NAVIGATION (return to top of page)
Advanced Cellular Tracking
Russell Gubele
 Learn the steps to tracking cellular phones
2 hr
Amateur Radio Service License Exam
Dan Mitchell
 Exam Session for Technician, General and/or Extra Class License. $15 Fee (Check must be made payable to ARRL VEC) Limited to 30 participants. Please contact eocadmin@co.skamania.wa.us
 for more information and to register for the exam.
2 hours
Common Sense GPS for SAR Teams and Coordinators
Josh Evey
 How GPS works, coordinate plotting, datums and field work finding Geocaches
2 hours
Getting Started With Terrain Navigator Professional Mapping Software
Rick Hood
 Basic - Learn what this mapping software can do for your team or agency.
1 hour
The National Grid System / UTM for SAR and Disaster Response
Rick Hood
 Basic to Intermediate - Learn the basics of the NGS/UTM for SAR and disaster response. There will be no field work, but maps will be used (and provided) by participants in the classroom.
1 hour
Practical GPS/TNP for SAR
Rick Hood
 This is a field portion using GPS and TNP to plan and conduct a search. Intermediate; must have attended the basic GPS and TNP sessions earlier in the day or have similar knowledge. This class will be offered twice, but will be limited to 15 participants per session.
1 hour
An Introduction to GPS
Blake Miller
 Learn the basics of GPS through classroom and field practical exercises
2 hour
GENERAL CLASSES (return to top of page)
SAR Knife Training and Safety
Chris Kent and Al Tong
 General knife safety and training in how knives are used in SAR
2 hours

Before the Search – Getting it Together

Ronald J. Miller

Practical Emotional and Organization Skills prior to a Search

2 hours

Mountain Bikes in SAR - Round Table

Jeff Walton

The challenges and logistics of setting up a mountain bike program for SAR organizations

1 hour
Search Theory for the Searcher
Tony Copes
 Intermediate class that presents basic theory, the impact of reality on theory, and will include one or two map exercises. Intended for field searchers, search managers and search planners.
2 hour
Air SAR in Washington State
Tom Peterson
 Overview of the Air SAR mission
1 hour
Introduction to Lost Person Behavior
Craig McClure
 Learn how to use the data to separate fact from fiction, learn the key points of major subject profiles, and learn how to use the data to place search teams.
2 hour
Lost Person Behavior: The Hikers and Hunters
Craig McClure
 A specific study in the subject profiles of hikers and hunters. What do they do, and how should we look for them?
1 ½ hour
Lost Person Behavior: Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Craig McClure
 A specific study in the subject profiles of Alzheimer’s and Dementia. What they do an how to find these vulnerable subjects.
2 hours
Using Canines, Trackers and SAR Ground Searchers in the Field Together
Pacific Crest Search Dogs
 Strategies for effective use of these resources simultaneously in the field
1 hour
Wind River Rescue Overview
Nicholas Puff
 Overview of the Wind River Rescue Mission including high angle rope rescue, life threatening traumatic injuries and helicopter operations.
1 hour
The Mighty 24-Hr Pack
Todd Warner & Brad Liedtke
 An overview of this very important tool, as well as some helpful and essential gear to carry with you for SAR missions. What works, what doesn’t, and why.
2 hours
SAR Improv
Wade Phillips
 Practicing basic SAR skills
2 hours
Critical Separation
Steven L. Paddock
 Explanation of critical separation, and a hands on field exercise (with a set amount of evidence placed in the field).
2 hours
Responding to Volcanic Unrest and Eruption
Cynthia Gardner
 Overview of volcano hazards in the Cascades, forecasting events and two quick case histories from Mount St. Helens.
2 hours
Search and Rescue in Switzerland
Chris Utzinger
 Organization, training, and mission examples of mountain rescue in the Swiss Alps.
2 hours
K-9 SAR and You (Deploying with a K-9 Team as a Non Dog Handler)
Karen Bagnall Kent Stuart
 This class explains the various volunteer search dogs that SAR teams may work with in the field. It explains how and why they work and how they are trained. The class will explain how the SAR ground team member works with a K-9 team when assigned to a team on a search.
1 hr
SARVAC & WSSARCA Open House
Bill Gillespie
    
All Hazards Evacuations
Lt. Maria Agnew
 Lessons learned on evacuations dealing specifically with Wildland fire. Tactics and tracking for evacuations, to include county, state and federal declarations. Ideal for those in leadership roles responsible for public safety, PIO, or any position effecting evacuations, and effectively using volunteers during all phases of this process.  
How to Use Weather Information for Decision Making
Tyree Wilde
 Weather plays a critical role in any rescue mission. Learn where to get weather information and how to use this information to your benefit
2 hr
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE (return to top of page)

ICS-100

Neal Sacon

Introduction to the Incident Command System

2 hours

Miscues & Missed Clues

Neal Sacon

Traps for Unwary and Weary Search Incident Commanders

2 hours
SAR Law: Avoid Legal Trouble for Team Directors, Managers and Leaders
Sharon Ward
 Tips to keeping your organization in legal status and out of legal trouble
1 hour

SAR Law: Avoid Legal Trouble as a SAR Responder

Sharon Ward

 Know your legal rights, responsibilities and possible areas of liability as a SAR responder

1 hour

SAR Unit Administrative Tools Development Project

Rob Brewer

Presentation of the development of a repository of “Best Practices” tools for managing SAR units

1 ½ hours

SAR Unit Growth and Retention

Rob Brewer

Facilitated discussion of ideas to recruit and maintain volunteers

1 ½ hours
Team Member Training Documentation Task Books
Deputy Bob Carder, R/Deputy Perry Fladager
 Clark County Sheriff implemented for all in county SAR teams to have available for review at check in a task book that documents the individuals training and qualifications. This allows for proper assignment for the mission and assures that the individual meets Washington state standards for SAR. The class will explain the concept of a task book along with specific examples from ground, horse, dive team, and others from our local volunteer team partners.
1 Hour
Grant Writing
Johanna Roe
 Learn the basics of grant writing from someone who’s been there! In this class you will go through a sample grant application. Johanna will also share tips and ideas on where to find funding sources, and common mistakes to avoid.
2 hours
The Washington State Search and Rescue and Emergency Worker Programs
Chris Long
 Class presentation by Washington State SAR Coordinator Chris Long.
2 hours
FEMA NIMS SAR Working Group Typing and Credentialing Project
Tim Kovacs
  
2 hours
Managing Water Rescues
Dr. Paul Green
 This exciting interactive session will combine brief videos, power point slides, and some hands-on training to emphasis the management and techniques of water rescues. This session has actual mission photos and is for mature participants.
2 hours
Search and Rescue Leadership
Dr. Paul Green
 The session will start with an overview of search and rescue leadership. It will shift to search techniques and methods of establishing the probable search area. The session will close with an actual map problem where particiants will have the opportunity to locate the missing person
2 hours
ICS Planning Process for Training Events
Rick Hood
 This class will emphasize the use of the ICS Planning Process in the training environment. Each training should have an Incident Action Plan prepared, either written or verbal, which covers objectives, organization, assignments, communications, and medical. This class will show you how to improve your training and satisfy WAC requirements.
2 hours
Search Team Leader Development
Richard Smith
  
2 hours
Interview and Investigation Techniques for Search and Rescue
Chris Young
 This presentation/workshop will discuss why we need to interview and compare and contrast interview and interrogation in law enforcement and the unique requirements and needs in the Search and Rescue world.
4 hours

Searching in the Age of Online Social Networks
Chris Young
 This presentation will explore a multitude of social networks, blogs, wiki sites; the terminologies; the mechanics of moving around in these new cyber spaces; where to look for pertinent information that may be related to the missing person disappearance, and how to apply the information in building the missing person profile and investigation.
2 hours
A Brief History of Debriefing and How to Avoid Coming Up Short
Chris Young
 This presentation will explore the multitude of problems and pitfalls seen in many debriefing interviews and propose possible solutions, including who should be doing the debriefing interviews and how to train them. It will also emphasize the challenges of specialized debriefing specific resources for example dog handlers, equestrian teams, trackers and aircraft.
2 hours
Emergency Management and SAR
Grover Laseke
  
1 hour
MEDICAL (return to top of page)
Wilderness First Aid
Nicholas Puff
 This class will address treatment and management of life threatening traumatic injuries and how to appropriately treat them in a wilderness setting. Includes information on tourniquet use in remote settings and venomous snake bites. This class does NOT meet the requirements for first aid certification.
1 hour
ROPES (return to top of page)

Roughland Evacuation

Scott and Jennifer Larsen

Thoughts, ideas and logistics of evacuation of SAR patients. This will be an outdoor hands on exercise

2 hours
Rock Protection and Anchoring for Rescue
Claude Mallegol, Leslie Brown
 Learn about artificial rock protection and how to build anchors at rock formations (Limited to 8 Students)
3 hours
TRACKING (return to top of page)

Introduction to Professional Tracking for SAR and Law Enforcement

Joel Hardin

Tracking as a mission critical resource for both SAR and law enforcement incidents

3 hours


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