Now for some words on policy. As we continue to practice and gain proficiency at litter packaging and tieing, we must consider how this task fits into the flow of events on a real mission, and how it fits within our policy on rendering medical aid in the field. CSAR’s policy on rendering medical aid, as described in the new CSAR Member Guide, states that:

"SAR volunteers are permitted by law to care for and treat injured or sick persons. However, the basic duties of Cibola SAR volunteers shall be limited to the tasks associated with the location and evacuation of such persons. Cibola SAR volunteers may provide basic emergency first aid, or other medical assistance, but only to the extent to which they are trained and certified to provide such care.

When a Cibola SAR volunteer performs medical care in the field, it is expected that he/she will perform such care adequately and consistently with the standard of care required by their certification. A paramedic or EMT can only perform those acts in the field that are permitted without medical direction or control. Cibola SAR volunteers who have not been trained and certified to give emergency medical care or other medical assistance shall not under any circumstances provide, or assist in providing, any medical care, except for the basic necessities of blankets and water."

The policy goes on to say that if you do provide aid, or do not provide aid when you were obliged to do so by your medical certification, the team and its members are not responsible for the consequences. Since litter packaging and tieing is intimately connected with the location and extent of the subject's injuries, an obvious question arises. Where does injury assessment end (read "medically qualified"), and litter evacuation begin? We have yet to address the specifics of this issue as a team, but my response to the question goes like this: If the subject is injured, Incident Command Staff will put a qualified medical person on scene to assess injuries and direct evacuation. CSAR members will always follow the instructions of trained medical responders for preparing a subject for litter evacuation. At the same time, it is useful for all of us to understand the basic goals of a packaging and tieing system, so that we can act with confidence when asked by the medical responder on scene to perform some of these duties. Our goal should therefore be to understand how to prepare a subject for transport, in as comfortable and secure a manner as possible, with the realization that the trained medical provider on scene may have their own (different) preferred techniques for doing this.

Boots and Blisters

by Larry Mervine

4X4 Training Sunday October 13 th at Montessa Park
On a hot Sunday afternoon we met with members of the New Mexico Four Wheelers Club. There were more of them than us. The training began with an overview given from the back of Paul's truck. Then we were divided into four groups:

1. One group demonstrated tire placement to avoid vehicle damage, and then we practiced on a course they set up. The reason for this exercise was to learn how NOT to straddle obstacles but to put one tire on top of the obstacle and crawl slowly over.
2. Another group reviewed our vehicles and gave suggestions on what equipment we should have such as tow straps, hi-lift jack, skid plates, and extra belts, to name a few items.
3. Another demonstrated how to do use a tow strap and hi-lift jack to get "unstuck."
4. Finally, another station showed us how to avoid getting stuck. Items covered were: look before you leap, deflate tires, always back straight down a hill, and put vehicle in reverse and let the engine do the work instead of the brakes.

• The election and nomination process was described. All nominations and ballots can be absentee. No quorum is needed at the election meeting. All active members will receive a ballot of 'final nominees' for 1997's officers. This will happen a few weeks after the November meeting.
• Phone lists and other documents will no longer be copied separately for meetings. All information will be in the newsletter.
• People attending missions need to indicate this on the hotline, so we can record their attendance, know they are on the road, and notify them of a change in mission information. State insurance is also a reason to leave a message with the hot line.
• A state-appointed committee called the 'Policy Advisory Committee for Education' (PACE)has been formed. John Mindock is chair of the committee. Their first deliverable will be the basic SAR Certification system. In time, they will coordinate all SAR education that is provided by the state.
• The bank balance was reported.
• There will be a litter evac competition on the 16th of November (Turkey Challenge).
• Helicopter training attendees will be reimbursed at the November meeting.
• The equipment committee will be asking for @$2000 for upgrades to the litter equipment, etc. Bob may be able to make group orders for helmets, snowshoes, etc.
• We discussed reimbursing people for phone calls used on missions. Also about 'typing' members according to some criteria, including physical fitness.
• We agreed that a panel to investigate and make recommendations re: member inappropriate behavior, etc. was a good idea.
• We discussed some methods to assure that a majority of members vote. This did not reach any sort of agreement, so was tabled.

There will be a copy of the 10 months ended October 31, 1996 financial statements and other financial data available for review at the November business meeting.

Who's Who and New

by Bruce Berry

The new Member Guide is finally finished. A big thank you to all who contributed to the "overhaul" of the guiding document of Cibola SAR. Copies of the guide will be passed out at the November business meeting. Be sure to get your copy, one will be available to each member of the team. If anyone has any comments or input into the Member Guide let Bruce Berry hear about them. Do keep in mind, that a new Member Guide will probably not be published for about six months (if even then, if there are no comments). This new version is more complete and certainly has a lot more information. Do submit your comments to Bruce Berry, but let's just try this new version for six months or so before we go in and change it again. Remember, that this document is a living document for Cibola SAR and nothing in it is "set in concrete." It can be changed.

There are no new members due for active membership in November, however, Ella May Robinson and Robert Schwartz are due for active membership in December. There will be a new member orientation given before the November meeting for a few of the new folks. This will be the first time using the new Member Guide. I hope that the new members like it better than the old version.

Hey Mentors, when was the last time you called your Mentee and asked them how it was going? When was the last time you did a pack breakdown on your Mentee or for that matter on anyone on the team? Did any of you know that there are some people on the team that are hiking every trail in the Sandia Mountains? They are going a few times a week to different trails. Ask around and find out who it is if you are interested in joining them for some exercise and a great way to learn the trails in the mountains.

A last note for everyone. Go through your packs, top to bottom, and make sure that you have everything you think you might need (see recommended gear list in the Member Guide). Then add all the cold weather gear that you will need for those winter searches. Why? One mission that just happened on the Sandia Mountains greeted most of us with 32 degree temperature and 30 mph winds, and that was at midnight. The temperature went down from there as the night progressed. Mentors, make sure your pack is ready to go, and then make sure that your Mentee's pack is ready to go. It can be rather uncomfortable not to have that extra jacket or vest when the temperature drops. It is that time of year.

Gearing Up

by Chuck Girven

Some of the equipment we discussed in previous newsletters is already being taken care of, such as the pins for the litter are now with the litter, and another set is on order for backup.

A deal is being negotiated for the acquisition of a set of CDs of topo maps of all of New Mexico. The contour lines are a little coarser than our 7.5 minute maps we are used to. But for out of district missions, they will be a great asset to us.

Thanks to Steve Attaway of AMRC. We are putting together an order for Petzl Erin Roc helmets. Bring your money to the November meeting or contact Bob Ulibari as soon as possible to get in on this offer.

We are awaiting team approval for purchasing the litter equipment we discussed at the October meeting.

Contact Melinda for the time and date of the next equipment meeting.

Public Relations

by Chuck Girven

I was recently approached by a 4-H club in Belen about members of our group giving a talk on hypothermia and layering or other search and rescue topics. The place and time have not yet been determined.

Just a reminder, if anyone would like to borrow any of the yearbooks to show family members what you do, just let me know.

We will try to get a team photo at the December meeting, so please wear or bring your orange shirts.

On the Right Track

by Mickey Jojola

Well hello!! It's that time again. There isn't much new except I think that we finally finished the K-9 Policy and Procedures Manual. This will be distributed to team members who wish to review the document and make comments. We would appreciate any input from handlers as well as non-handlers. After the review from the team the manual will become official.

I have set a tentative training schedule for the next three months. It should prove to be fun and informative. The next training will be held on Sunday, November 24. We will be working on a harness system for the dogs in the event they should be lowered (or raised) into an area. The trainings are scheduled as follows:

Sunday, November 24	1400-1600 at Chuck and Mary's house
Thursday, November 21	K-9 committee meeting at 7:00 location TBA
Saturday, December 14	1400-?? Obedience training at the Albuquerque International Airport
Sunday, January 5	1400-?? K-9 committee meeting/training (the training game)

Member Spotlight: John Mindock

I was born in 1946, and grew up in a town in north-central Illinois called LaSalle (pop. 8000). As a youth, I spent a lot of time outdoors - biking, hiking, fishing, swimming, camping, as well as playing baseball, basketball, and hockey. I graduated from the U. of Ill. in 1968 with a degree in math, and taught high school math for seven years. I also coached cross-country and swimming teams. After attending night school, I made a career change and have spent the past 20+ years in Information Systems positions in Illinois, Minnesota, Phoenix, and ABQ. I currently work as a contract programmer at Sandia, having moved here in 1992. I met Terri while working at the main offices of B. Dalton Bookseller in Edina, MN, and we got married in 1981. Between the ages of ten and thirty-five, I played the drums at a variety of nightclubs, dives, dumps, and classy joints. I've made a number of studio recordings and still can tap out tuneful rhythms on my PC keyboard (much to the enjoyment of my workmates). In 1979, I took first place at the Minnesota State Master's swimming championships (age-group) in the 1500 freestyle. I acquired a black belt in the Korean martial art of Taekwondo, and captured third place in sparring (age group) at the 1992 Nationals.

Currently, I am a volunteer Wilderness Information Specialist for the Sandia District of the United States Forest Service. In this capacity, I hike the trails in the district, reporting (and often repairing) trail hazards, educating trail users, and promoting ethical wilderness standards. I also teach classes in wilderness topics for USFS volunteers. Another organization to which I belong is the New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors. This group performs trail maintenance projects throughout the state, for various state and federal agencies. In SAR, I am an elected member of the NMESC Board and chair of the Training Committee. I also serve on the ESCAPE committee, and was the instigator for using ICS for the first time in that event's history. It was so successful that the Board decided to use ICS for all events. I also have been appointed by the State SAR Resource Officer to chair the state SAR Policy and Advisory Committe for Education (PACE). PACE is currently implementing the SAR Certification system, and will eventually handle all aspects of training that originate from the state SAR Resource Office. I'm a certified ICS Section Chief in all functions, and will be attending the next Field Coordinator School.

I have been an officer in CSAR for the better part of three years. I've deployed to more than 100 missions, and my most memorable are those where the field team to which I was assigned got the `find'. However, the most heart-warming was the search for 4-year old Danny, who was lost for 48 hours in the Zunis earlier this year. I had toiled as a groundpounder all night Saturday and part of Sunday, then came back before dawn Monday morning to perform the duties of Operations Section Chief. In that capacity, I gave the assignment to the National Guard helicopter that found him - ALIVE! I'll never forget that one.

It's been very rewarding to be one of the people who has worked to bring CSAR up to its current level of respect and prestige in the SAR community. I look forward to continuing to aid that effort. I'm also looking forward to leading the implementation of the state SAR Certification system and the other tasks that will be the province of the PACE committee. For Cibola SAR, I think the next important challenge is to establish categories of membership that provide an opportunity for people of diverse interests, skills, and fitness levels to actively participate in the various aspects of the organization.

Finally - I guess I'd better mention: 1-14-26-29-36-38. 3/15/89. AZ Lottery. $1,000,000. (Ah - never mind - nobody would believe it anyway.)

The Bronze Boot Award

by Mike Dugger

Melissa Smith is this month's recipient of the bronze boot award, in recognition of the quality of her performance as Primary Contact during the month of September. The Primary Contact's job when the team is paged for a mission is to notify the backup (pager #2) that they are handling the call, place mission details on the voice mailbox, and activate the team. Melissa's voice messages were kept brief, yet contained all the information needed to respond to the mission. Subject details and base camp directions were clear and concise, and communications frequencies were established. Melissa also worked to establish a point of contact for further information during missions. Good job!!

Web News

by Mary Girven

Not much has happened in the last month as far as web development because my computer at home has been ill much of the time. I'm still waiting on software to do the conversion to our internet host's platform (it was offered during the time my computer was down). There has been some discussion about using another host with the same architecture as the development system, but the cost is prohibitive. The site at http://www.abq.com/csar contains most of the information available to non-members, including an introduction to CSAR, the most recent newsletter, CSAR resources, photographs, and links to other SAR web sites. What it lacks is user authentication and the ability to dynamically generate pages, and therefore, the members only pages which contain tools to manage the newsletter, mission logs, reports, and membership information. I'm confident that these can be added once I have set up the right development environment on my system at home. It just takes time and patience ...

NMESC Notes

by John Mindock

• We're planning a winter skills training. It will be near Taos, sometime in late winter. More info will be provided as the event shapes up.
• We will hold the ESCAPE '97 in Roswell, at the National Guard Training Center. It will probably be the first weekend in May.
• Wilderness First Aid classes are also being planned. No details at this time.

State certification is under the direction of the state SAR resource officer, i.e. Rick Goodman. Right now, the only proof Rick has that SAR teams around the state can do what they have listed in the resource directory (used by Incident Commanders to request resources for a mission) is what the teams themselves write into the resource book. If a team can't search effectively, or causes the subject some additional injury due to lack of training, the state, the team, etc. could be sued. How would the state attorney prove that the SAR team knew how to do the job properly? Certification will establish a standard which field personnel will ultimately be judged against. Its purpose is to document that searchers understand three basic skills:

1. how to take care of themselves (not become a liability during a mission),
2. how to accomplish some basic search techniques (can be effective on a mission), and
3. not increase the suffering of the subject once found (and ideally do some good).

Resource typing is a related concept, but different in intent. This system is also being developed at the state level. The purpose of typing is to define the skill level of individual resources, so that ICs can select the proper type of resource for a given mission. For example, different resources are needed for a two-day search and evacuation of backpackers 15 miles into the Pecos wilderness during a snowstorm, than are needed to locate a child who walked away from a picnic at Elena Gallegos on a mild summer afternoon. Typing is another way of ensuring that the IC can select the proper type of resource depending on the difficulty of the mission. CSAR members will by "typed" based on skills and equipment expertise defined at the state level, and this should have no impact on the membership status of active CSAR members.

CSAR has discussed placing some additional requirements on field responders, for the safety of our members as well as to maintain the reputation for effective ground pounding which we have earned in the eyes of many ICs. At the most basic level, we are discussing implementing a physical fitness requirement. Although no test can guarantee that a member will not have difficulty due to the physical demands of a mission, a physical fitness requirement will give members confidence in themselves and each other. We should also develop some measurable criteria for the winter readiness qualification code.

Classified Ads

(20 words maximum, no services)

At the December business meeting, we are going to have an inter-team equipment sale. So everyone bring items you want to sell. -- submitted by Larry Mervine

Special Notes

Special thanks to Mickey for providing the "Wintery" setting for the CTF to discuss winter gear. It also provided a refresher course on winter driving skills.

From Don Gibson and Family: My family and I buried my Dad this afternoon. After a lengthy illness, he passed away in his sleep. Dad was proud of my involvement with search and rescue and that reflects back on the people I'm involved with. It's amazing that people who meet and train a few hours a month can do what is required, as a team, in the small off hours out of a normal life, and not have much in common but search and rescue. That says a lot for the character and heart of the people I'm involved with. Thank you so much for the kind messages, the beautiful flowers, and your support at my Dad's funeral.

Recent Missions

Number	Start	Stop	Mission Type	#	Subject(s)
960537	10/19/96 at 0030	11/19/96 at 1400	Search	20	Couple from Oklahoma
961118	10/23/96 at 2:30	10/23/96 at 1030	Search	3	Male hunter
960733	10/30/96 at 1120	10/30/96 at 1230	Search	4	37 year old male hunter
960540	11/4/96 at 1930	11/5/96 at 1030	Search	27	8 year old boy

Calendar

November, 1996		December, 1996
9 Sat NMESC Board Meeting, 1 pm 14 Thur Training, 6:30 pm Business Meeting, 7:15 pm 16 Sat Cibola Turkey Challenge (Held at Cedro Campground, 5 miles south of Tijeras stop sign on lefthand side of road)		13 Fri Business Meeting/Elections, 6:30 - 7:30 pm Potluck/ Used Gear Sale, 7:30 - 10:00 pm at Mike's (Take I-40 east to exit 181, go east on old Rt 66 to Dressage (<0.1 mi), turn right, go south to Sedillo (first stop sign), then west to Steeplechase Dr. (<0.1 mi), then south to #31 on the left -- look for pink trail tape)

Disclaimer:	This information was gathered from many sources and presents facts as we believe them to be true. This is not meant to be an official document, but a means to disseminate team information.