Emergency Services Search and Rescue Operations 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'LAST' stand for in search and rescue operations?
- Locate, Access, Stabilize, Transport (Correct answer)
- Lost, Assess, Search, Track
- Last known point, Area confinement, Search strategy, Transport
- Location, Alert, Stabilize, Track
Correct answer: Locate, Access, Stabilize, Transport
LAST (Locate, Access, Stabilize, Transport) is a framework describing the four phases of a successful rescue operation.
Question 2: What is 'POD' (Probability of Detection) in SAR planning?
- The probability that the subject is alive when found
- The likelihood that a search segment would reveal the subject if they are there (Correct answer)
- The percentage of the search area covered
- A score given to search dogs based on performance
Correct answer: The likelihood that a search segment would reveal the subject if they are there
POD is the probability that a specific search effort would detect the subject, used to prioritize search areas and track coverage effectiveness.
Question 3: Which US agency coordinates federal support for search and rescue in inland areas?
- NOAA
- FEMA
- USAF Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) (Correct answer)
- Department of the Interior
Correct answer: USAF Rescue Coordination Center (RCC)
The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) is the single federal agency responsible for coordinating inland SAR in the contiguous US.
Question 4: What is a 'hasty search' in SAR?
- A rapid, high-probability search of the most likely areas using fast-moving teams or dogs (Correct answer)
- A disorganized search conducted under time pressure
- An aerial search using helicopters only
- A search conducted without a plan due to urgency
Correct answer: A rapid, high-probability search of the most likely areas using fast-moving teams or dogs
A hasty search quickly covers the highest-probability areas to find easily detectable subjects before committing to a systematic grid search.
Question 5: What is 'PLS' (Point Last Seen) in search and rescue?
- The last GPS coordinate of the subject's phone
- The last confirmed location where the subject was seen by a reliable witness (Correct answer)
- The starting point for all search grids
- A search planning software used by SAR teams
Correct answer: The last confirmed location where the subject was seen by a reliable witness
The PLS is the last confirmed, reliable sighting of the missing subject and serves as the primary anchor point for search planning.
Question 6: What does 'CISD' stand for in emergency services and SAR?
- Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (Correct answer)
- Community Incident Scene Documentation
- Command and Incident Situation Debrief
- Crisis Intervention and Stabilization Drill
Correct answer: Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
CISD (Critical Incident Stress Debriefing) is a structured group process to help responders process psychological trauma after difficult incidents.
Emergency Services Search and Rescue Operations 1
What does 'LAST' stand for in search and rescue operations?