Search and Rescue is one of those fields that is rife with buzzwords, abbreviations, acronyms and arcane terminology. For your convenience we’ve included a glossary of those terms frequently used in the field.
Pronounceable Acronyms
Acronyms are listed as you are likely to hear them pronounced and the real abbreviation to which they correlate. Click the link to the right to go to the actual definition.
Abbreviations and Other Terminology
Advanced Search and Rescue (ADSAR)
A standardized certification (designed, trained and tested by NASAR) for advanced Search and Rescue skills. It is administered through any of many affiliated providers, and takes place over one weekend. Although not a pre-requisite, it is considered preparation to challenge the SARTECH I certification test. See more at http://www.nasar.org/education/courses/advanced-sar/.
American Kennel Club (AKC)
An organization dedicated to promoting the sport of purebred dogs, breeding for type and function, and upholding the integrity of its registry. See more at http://www.akc.org.
American Mantrailing Police Work Dog Association (AMPWDA)
An organization dedicated to providing training and standardized accreditation for law enforcement and search dog and handler teams. See more at www.americanmantrailing.com.
Article Search
Article search is a skill wherein a trained dog locates and alerts its handler to a discarded item with human scent on it. The article could be a discarded weapon, a dropped wallet, or any similar item, providing a valuable way to recover clues, even when there isn’t a clear track. The dog must indicate the discovery with a Trained Final Response while avoiding damaging the evidence.
Artificial Respiration
Also sometimes called “rescue breathing,” this is an emergency rescue procedure where air containing oxygen is mechanically forced into a person’s lungs in order to assist or stimulate normal respiration. It is often coupled with Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
A portable medical tool that is used to monitor a person’s heart rhythm. If the person’s heartbeat is fluttering (fibrillating), the device can be used to administer an electric shock with the hope of restoring a normal rhythm.
Buckeye Search and Rescue Dogs (BSARD)
A volunteer Search and Rescue organization specializing in using trained canines and handlers to locate missing persons.
Cadaver Dog
A canine specially trained to detect the scent of human decomposition. See HRD.
Canine Search and Recovery (CSAR)
An international organization dedicated to providing training for search dog and handler teams. See more at http://www.csar.org.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
An emergency rescue procedure where hard chest compressions are used to attempt to manually pump blood through the body. It is often coupled with Artificial Respiration.
Child Abduction Response Team (CART)
A team of emergency personnel and volunteers trained to respond in case of an abduction. See more at https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Files/Publications-Files/Background-Check-Publications/CART-Palm-Card.
Fundamentals of Search and Rescue (FUNSAR)
A course of instruction and practical exercises offered by NASAR that focuses on the basics of Search and Rescue. Offered as a follow-up to the on-line “Introduction to SAR” course, it delves deeper and hands-on exercises designed to provide additional SAR skills. It is administered through any of many affiliated providers, and takes place over two consecutive weekends. Although not a pre-requisite, it is considered preparation to challenge the SARTECH II certification test. See more at https://nasar.org/education/courses/fundamentals-of-sar/.
Global Positioning System (GPS)
A space-based satellite navigation system that provides location and time information in all weather conditions, anywhere on or near the Earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites.
Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT)
Substances (solids, liquids, or gases) that can kill or harm organisms, property, or the environment. HazMat Awareness training is designed to teach first responders to recognize, avoid, and report hazardous materials to the proper authorities, rather than on performing active response operations.
Human Remains Detection (HRD)
A search discipline where a trained dog (often called a “cadaver dog”) and handler team attempts to locate the body of a deceased person by the scent of human decomposition.
ICS-100: Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS)
A FEMA-developed course that describes the history, features, principles, and organizational structure of the Incident Command System. It also explains the relationship between ICS and the National Incident Management System (NIMS). More info is available at https://safetytrainingfl.com/fema/.
ICS-200: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
A FEMA-developed course that provides the context for ICS within initial response; it provides training and resources for personnel who are likely to assume a supervisory position within ICS. More info is available at https://safetytrainingfl.com/fema/.
ICS-300: Intermediate Incident Command System (ICS) for Expanding Incidents
A FEMA-developed course that provides training for personnel who require advanced application of the Incident Command System (ICS)by expanding the information covered in the ICS-100 and ICS-200 courses. More info is available at https://safetytrainingfl.com/fema/.
ICS-700: Introduction to the National Incident Management System (NIMS)
A FEMA-developed course that provides an overview of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which defines the comprehensive approach guiding all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector to work together to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the effects of incidents. More info is available at https://safetytrainingfl.com/fema/.
ICS-800: Introduction to the National Response Framework (NRF)
A FEMA-developed course that provides guidance for the whole community, especially on those who are involved in delivering and applying the response core capabilities, including government (local, state, and federal), emergency management personnel, first responders, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector. More info is available at https://safetytrainingfl.com/fema/.
ICS-809: Emergency Support Function (ESF) #9 Search and Rescue
A FEMA-developed course for emergency responders who need to function in a specific position within an Incident Management Team. More info is available at https://safetytrainingfl.com/fema/
Incident Command Post (ICP)
The headquarters for the search. Usually the Incident Commander and their section chiefs and staff will be at or near the ICP.
Incident Command System (ICS)
A comprehensive, scalable structure to enable public and private entities to coordinate and communicate activity in an emergency situation. The ICS is designed to handle incidents as small as a house fire to as large as a Category 5 hurricane. See more at https://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/nims/nimsfaqs.pdf.
Incident Commander (IC)
The individual in charge and responsible for the Missing Person Incident. They are responsible for oversight of the entire search effort and everyone involved.
International Police Work Dog Association (IPWDA)
An international organization dedicated to providing training and standardized accreditation of law enforcement and search dog and handler teams. See more at http://www.ipwda.org.
Introduction to SAR
An on-line course of instruction offered by NASAR that is intended to provide a basic understanding of the responsibilities, skills, nomenclature and equipment used in the Search and Rescue field. Although not a pre-requisite, it is considered preparation to challenge the SARTECH III on-line certification test. See more at https://nasar.org/education/courses/introduction-to-sar/
Last Known Point (LKP)
This will be a location where the missing person was most recently known (and authenticated) to have been, based on the investigation to this point. This location may not be the same place as the Point Last Seen (PLS). As additional reports and information come into the Incident Command Post and leads are investigated, the LKP can be moved to a different location.
Lost Person Incident (LPI)
Manager of Search Operations (MSO)
See Search Manager.
Missing Person Incident (MPI)
Also called a “Lost Person Incident” or LPI, this is the SAR operation itself. It consists of the implementation of the ICS and the mobilization and management of all resources related to the search effort.
National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR)
An international organization dedicated to the training and standardized accreditation of Search and Rescue and disaster response personnel. See more at http://www.nasar.org.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Established in 1896, NFPA is the world’s leading advocate of fire prevention and an authoritative source on public safety and the effects of fire and other risks. See more at http://www.nfpa.org.
National Incident Management System (NIMS)
A system used in the United States to coordinate emergency preparedness and incident management among various federal, state, and local agencies. See more at https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims.
Most of BSARD’s staff have completed at least one of the standard NIMS Incident Management courses, either online or face-to-face:
- IS-100: Introduction to the Incident Command System
- IS-200: Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response
- ICS-300: Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents (presented by the US Fire Administration)
- IS-700: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
- IS-800: National Response Framework, An Introduction
- IS-809: ESF #9 – Search and Rescue
North American Police Work Dog Association (NAPWDA)
An international organization dedicated to providing training and standardized accreditation for law enforcement and search dog and handler teams. See more at http://www.napwda.com.
North American Search Dog Network (NASDN)
An international organization dedicated to providing training and standardized accreditation of search dog and handler teams. See more at http://www.nasdn.com.
Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA)
The state of Ohio’s organization that oversees training requirements and curriculum for law enforcement officers, jail personnel, state wildlife officers, police K-9 units, animal control officers, and related personnel. See more at https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/law-enforcement/ohio-peace-officer-training-academy.
Oregon State Sheriffs Association (OSSA)
The state of Oregon’s organization that, among many other functions, oversees training requirements and accreditation for volunteer SAR K-9 units. See more at https://oregonsheriffs.org/.
Personal Flotation Device (PFD)
A wearable garment (life jacket) made from buoyant materials like foam or inflatable chambers. They are designed to keep a person or animal afloat in water with their head above the surface, even if the wearer is unconscious. PFDs for humans must be U.S. Coast Guard-approved for legal compliance and effectiveness.
Point Last Seen (PLS)
This will be a location where the missing person has been reported to be most recently sighted by a witness or witnesses. Typically the PLS is considered a clue until additional investigation corroborates the sighting and it is then “promoted” to the Last Known Point (LKP). Additional PLSs often continue to be reported to the Incident Command Post as the search continues.
Public Information Officer (PIO)
Sometimes now referred to as the “Information Officer,” the Public Information Officer (PIO) is a member of the Incident Command staff. They are the person responsible for communicating incident-related information with the public, the media, and other related entities. This person may also act as the liaison between the ICS staff and the family of the missing person(s).
Scent-Specific
Scent-specific search techniques use a Scent Article that is presented to the K9, and they will seek that specific scent to the exclusion of all others. A scent-specific search is unaffected by other persons in (or that have been in) the given search area. This means the Search Manager does not need to clear the area before we can work, and contamination of the area is not usually an issue.
Search and Rescue (SAR)
Search and Rescue is the activity that takes place to locate one or more missing persons and then either return them to safety, provide assistance to them until they can be rescued by higher-trained personnel, or notify authorities of the location of their remains so that they can be properly handled and ultimately returned to their loved ones. There are many specialty fields to Search and Rescue, typically determined by either the terrain where the search is conducted or by the techniques and/or technologies used to effect the search activity. See more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_and_rescue.
Search and Rescue Technician (SARTECH)
A standardized certification (designed, trained and tested by NASAR) for three levels of Search and Rescue skills. See more at http://www.nasar.org/education/courses-certifications/sartech/.
Search Manager
Also known as “MSO” for Manager of Search Operations, the Search Manager is the person authorized by the Incident Commander to oversee the search operation and act as the IC’s proxy in the field. Training programs, like the “Managing Search Operations” courses offered by some entities, teach the Search Manager to plan, organize, and execute search and rescue missions. They cover topics like SAR plan development, resource management, communications, and incident management. Training is available for different levels, from basic operations to specific environments like water or post-initial response scenarios.
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX)
Home to the National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center since 1998. See more at http://www.teex.org/.
Trained Final Response (TFR)
A behavior that a canine has been trained to exhibit when at the strongest source of a specified odor or scent. The TFR may be described either as a Passive response, such as sit, down, or point, or as an Active response such as bark, scratch, or paw.
Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
Weapons that can kill or significantly harm a large number of living beings and/or cause great damage to structures or the environment in general. WMD Awareness training is designed to teach first responders to recognize, avoid, and report weapons of mass destruction incidents to the proper authorities, rather than on performing active response operations.