In addition to protection against liability in the unlikely event that we are called upon to justify what we claim to be able to do, standards are a good idea anyway. One argument against standards I have heard is that our present system is good enough. Right now we require our members to attend two training events every six months. Are you satisfied that your teammate has all the training needed to handle the situation? Suppose they met our requirement by attending training on search techniques and litter packaging within six months. Now you are in unfamiliar country and must rely on your land navigation skills to get back to base camp. Was that add or subtract magnetic declination? If you’re lucky, you or someone else on your team attended map and compass training and can get you home. Of course, to be sure you can handle the situation, you could go to all the training events and not worry about what anyone else can do. I think this attitude undermines a fundamental premise on our team - that we rely on one another. Our cooperative spirit and teamwork is one of the things that sets us apart from many other teams in the state. I would personally want a second opinion out there, or the opportunity to offer an informed recommendation, not everyone blindly following one person. Are we going to be a team of peers, or do we want a few "experts" that are always the team leaders on field assignments?

Changing the subject…remember that it is the responsibility of the person who holds team pager #1 (or pager #2 if pager #1 does not answer the page) to call the person who pages our team. If more than one member calls the person paging us, it makes us look unprofessional as well as taking time away from getting our team deployed. We have a deployment system in place that has proven to be effective. If you think it is not working, bring it to the attention of the officers and we’ll address the problem as a team. Don’t take it upon yourself to modify our system on the spot.

Boots and Blisters

by Larry Mervine

Summer Bivy '97, June 14-15, 1997 (by Chuck Girven)
On June 14th 1997 Cibola Search and Rescue had their annual summer bivy. This year Larry Mervine, our training officer decided to incorporate the use of GPSs in the training. We were given the UTM coordinates to the camp site and the CSAR members had to choose the best way there by using a topo map (Aspen quad). Our objective was to arrive by 1800, but as usual, things do not go as planned. The last of the eight members and two guests arrived at camp around 2030.

We arrived at the Santa Fe Ski Resort parking lot at around 1300 and proceeded up the Windsor Trail to the Nambe Lake Trail turnoff, from which point it was all uphill until we reached Nambe Lake. Two members had gone up earlier that morning to try some fishing. With this in mind, the rest of us forged on with hopes of fried fish awaitng us. The weather was clear for most of the day but as night came on a thunderstorm started to roll in. As we hiked to our camp we all admired the scenery that surrounded us. We went from summer type weather to six feet of snow in just a matter of hours. Yes, that's right, snow. The lake we were hoping for fish from was still mostly frozen over from winter. After everyone set up their night's bivy we had supper. Mike Dugger was scheduled to give a talk on summer clothing, but decided to let our experiences with diverse weather conditions on our day's hike suffice. We all knew what to do when we are out on a mission and bad weather rolls in. After supper most of us retired to try and get some sleep. With all the snoring that was going on there was no fear of any wild animal paying us a visit. It probably sounded like a crew of lumberjacks were cutting down the forest and the animals stayed away for fear of their lives.

Morning came and was crisp and clear. After a brief breakfast we struck camp and departed on the hike back to the cars. On the way back a few members encountered a couple of lost hikers and helped get them turned around and headed towards their right destination. We stopped and talked with several other hikers about conditions by Nambe Lake, and the need to drink more water.

The GPSs CSAR members recently purchased proved their usefullness on this hike. Because more and more of our missions are occurring out of district in areas where we are not familiar, a map and a GPS will help us to know where we are and locate basecamp too.

The following weekend the training is a mock search on the West side of the Manzanos. We will be using the litter training from the pre-business meeting training. The directions will be passed out at the business meeting. This training will be like a real search with teams being deployed in search areas. The time is set for 1:00 pm, Sunday, July 13th. This is mid-day, so be prepared for hot desert conditions. Some ecommendations for hot desert conditions: Lots of water, sun screen, sun glasses, hat, long pants and shirt. Also, this area will be flat and featureless, so think about how you will navigate. Meet at 12:30 pm at the McDonalds in Los Lunas. Directions: Take I-25 South, exit at #203 (Los Lunas), go east 4 stop lights. You will see the McDonalds on the left-hand side. Further directions will be distributed. Don't be late.

Upcoming training in August: Low angle litter evac.

We're working on switching our "real" website from Albuquerque ROS (http://www.abq.com/csar) to Southwest Cyberport which has a UNIX based system more closely resembling our development server, but because my wrist is acting up again, the going is slower than I'd like. Look for some nice improvements soon though.

Who's Who and New

NOTHING SUBMITTED

Coming Attractions

by Chuck Girven

Look for more of Mickey's Pathogen articles. Also, we just received permission to reprint some really nice articles by John Krist of the Ventura County Star.

Public Relations

by Chuck Girven

We had a PSAR meeting on June 23, 1997 at the IHOP on Tramway and Central. Three CSAR members were in attendance. We reviewed the NASAR coloring book that I recently ordered. We discussed the CSAR coloring book we have in the works. The next PSAR meeting will be at Chuck Girven's house at 1830 on July 14. There will be a BBQ grill going so bring a hamburger patty or two (or anything else you'd like to grill and/or share) and join in on the fun. We will be looking at pictures and plan on arranging a new display for presentations.

On the Right Track

by Mickey Jojola

The K-9 standards guild is finished and out for review. After months of writing and rewriting, thanks to Mary, we can look forward to moving on. Our next "adventure" is to come up with training forms which will be somewhat universal (between airscent and trailing). These forms will aid us in further training and trouble shooting, if needed. These forms will be available in the near future.

Well it's that time of year again and the K-9 resource unit is planning its second anual overnighter. The purpose of this event is to give the dogs and their handlers a chance to intensivly train for the weekend. It also gives us handlers, and others who are interested, a chance to get to get together and brainstorm for future events. It also serves as a CTF (Chew The Fat) around a campfire in the wilderness. I expect that this year's will be as fun as last year's. All are welcome and encouraged to attend and participate. This year we will hold it in the Jemez Mountains past Fenton Lake between Jemez Springs and Cuba. Details of the location will be availabe on the voice mail or contact Mickey or Mary Berry.

Some trainings coming in the future include another working weekend with the Bernalillo County Mounted SAR, this may include another helochopter; and water search techniques, which involve the subject near a body of water. And many many more.

Member Spotlight: Tom Russo

Mary and Chuck said they wanted some of the new blood to write a spotlight, and as long as we've got so few missions now I guess I have the time...

I am an immigrant from the Eastern Bloc, where I was born and where I lived for the first 23 years of my life. I benefitted greatly from the education available through the New York City Public School System, and eventually received my B.A and M.A. in physics from Hunter College, where I met my daughter Katarina's mom, Elyse. We married in January 1986 and in June 1986 we fled to the United States, specifically Texas, where I attended gradual school at the University of Texas at Austin for four years. After mucking around as an experimental physicist for those years I decided I was much more a theoreticial sort of a guy and switched advisors; my new advisor promptly defected to New York's Columbia University, and I was repatriated for two years while I finished my degree in Chemical Physics there. Katarina was born there, and was pretty much the only good thing I can remember about the Rotten Apple during those two years.

During my stay at the University of Texas at Austin I'd spent the summer of 1988 at the Santa Fe Institute's first annual Complex System Summer School at St. John's College. Thus began what Edward Abbey would have called my "lifelong love affair with a pile of rocks." I returned to Santa Fe with Elyse for a vacation in Santa Fe National Forest the next year, and from then on looked for ways I could get to live out this way. After my two-year stint at Columbia that opportunity arose when I managed to fool the folks at Los Alamos National Laboratory into hiring me to do computational chemistry for three years, during which time I became the half-time single dad you see before you today. And after that the Los Alamotians were still fooled thoroughly enough to recommend me to someone down here at Sandia to do more of the same. I learned about CSAR from the article in the Sandia newsletter, and I called Bruce Berry about joining the team within minutes of reading it. I haven't been on very many missions yet --- daddyhood takes precedence, and people seem to like to get lost most often when I've got that hat strapped on --- but I'm looking forward to a long and happy relationship with this great group of people.

Bronze Boot
Andrew Parker, April 1997	There weren't any nominations this month, but these pictures represent previous Bronze Boot recipients receiving the award.	Chuck Girven and Bob Schwartz, May 1997

NMESC Notes

by Mickey Jojola

The new board met on June 21st at the State Police Office on Carlisle. The meeting went well with the main focus being on the ESCAPE. If all goes as planed, we will try and meet next year at a new establishment up north (maybe?). As soon as details come in I will let you know about the WFA classes to be held this fall.

Feature Articles: Pathogens in SAR Caution Near Civilization Frequently Asked Questions

• Who provides wilderness Search and Rescue (SAR) services in New Mexico?
  SAR missions are conducted by non-paid volunteers under the authority of the State Police. There is a State statute known as the 'SAR law' that sanctions the system, and a document called the 'SAR Plan' that details it. The Incident Command System (ICS) is mandated for running SAR missions.
• How does a SAR mission get started?
  Specially-trained State Police officers decide if the circumstances are appropriate for a SAR mission. If so, trained volunteers (labeled Field Coordinators) are called to manage the mission. They choose the management and field resources for the mission, and ensure that Planning, Logistics, and Operations are performed as required.
• Do you need to know how to rappel or climb mountains?
  No - in fact, the majority of assignments at missions are for 'groundpounding' - i.e., searching on foot. However, some teams do specialize in 'technical rescue', which requires mountain climbing skills. Individuals on other teams also are capable of technical rescue and perform those duties occasionally.
• Do you need to be an EMT or a paramedic?
  No - but some SAR personnel have such credentials. Searchers who are not medically trained are expected to request trained personnel to the scene if the situation dictates. Most SAR personnel know the basics of Wilderness First Aid.
• Do you need to be a volunteer fireman or an ambulance worker?
  No - people from a variety of occupations volunteer for SAR.
• Do you need to be an Amateur Radio Operator (HAM)?
  No - but many SAR personnel obtain at least a technician's license. Communications by HAM radio are often the only way to talk to incident management personnel from remote locations. On missions, we also are temporarily licensed to use the State SAR frequency (155.160).
• Do you need to be certified by any agency?
  It is not a requirement in general for SAR teams in New Mexico, but CSAR requires its members to be certified according to the latest NM State SAR standard, within one year after joining the team.
• How much do you get paid?
  Nothing for your time - but you can get reimbursed by the state for the cost of fuel used to travel to/from missions and certain specially-designated trainings. The personal satisfaction of working with others for a common humanitarian purpose is substantial.
• How often do you train?
  Cibola SAR normally has one or more trainings per month, generally on a weekend morning. We also have a speaker or training prior to our monthly business meetings.
• What gear and clothing do you need?
  You need items that will allow you to spend 24 hours safely in the wilderness, in whatever weather that might occur. Check the required Gear and Clothing List and talk to other members to get an idea of costs. Expect to spend at least $500 for the basics.
• What level of physical fitness is required?
  At this time, there are no set criteria for CSAR. But an "average" mission scenario would be the ability to hike for at least 4 hours at a 2 mph rate, in terrain above 8000 feet, carrying a 30-lb. pack.
• Do you need to buy a radio?
  No - but every search team (usually 3 people) is required to have at least one in order to deploy into the field .
• Do you need wilderness survival training?
  All field personnel are expected to be able to perform SAR duties safely in the wilderness. Inclement weather is one of the realities, and we provide information on how to handle it safely. In addition, our Gear and Clothing requirements go a long way towards aiding in survival. We do not learn how to eat grubs, make fire with two sticks, or things of that nature.
• How long do you stay in the wilderness?
  SAR field personnel are expected to be able to be self-sufficient for 24 hours, but usually you're in the field less than 8 hours at a time. The time can lengthen considerably if the subject is found injured deep in the forest, or for certain assignments that can't be completed more quickly.
• What other skills are required?
  None are required when you start. We provide training in Orienteering, Communications, Safety, Gear/Clothing concepts, Litter Evacuation techniques, and other topics.
• What insurance coverage is provided?
  The State provides coverage for travel to/from the missions. It also provides liability and accident insurance for mission activities. No other type of insurance coverage is provided.
• How much does it cost to join a team?
  It varies by team. Cibola SAR has a one-time $10 application fee, to cover the cost of documents that are provided. Of course, the gear and clothing can get expensive, and radios are the most costly item.
• What types of teams are there in the Albuquerque area?
  CSAR primarily specializes in groundpounding (searching on foot) - there are others that specialize in technical rescue (mountain climbing skills), field communications, home-based communications and logistics, horse search, and dog search. Most teams have members who possess skills in more than just the team specialty. Two of the teams (including CSAR) have extensive gear for litter evacuations.
• What are CSAR's specialties?
  Our primary specialty is groundpounding - searching on foot. Our secondary specialty is litter evacuation. Since more than half the team members own 4-WD vehicles, we also provide search capabilities using those vehicles. Certain individuals on the team have other SAR skills, such as technical rescue (mountain-climbing) and dog handling. All CSAR members are required to be capable of groundpounding.
• Are there any age limits for participants?
  CSAR limits participants to age 18 or over. There are no maximum age limits.
• Can you join even though you're not capable of hiking for long distances?
  CSAR requires groundpounding as a skill, so you would be more comfortable on a different type of team, such as a communications team.
• Can my dog be useful for SAR?
  There is a local team that specializes in SAR dogs, and there are other similar teams around the state. CSAR also has some individuals who train SAR dogs. Dog handlers train quite often (generally once a week or more). In the past three years, dog resources were used on about ten percent of CSAR missions.
• What level of participation would be expected of me?
  CSAR expects you to attend 3 business meetings, 2 trainings, and 1 mission per 6 months. However, members are encouraged to participate much more than this minimum guideline. Experience and training are very important - the subjects of our searches deserve more than just minimal attendance by our members.
• What is the procedure for team callout?
  The appropriate mission management person calls our team page number. Two team members volunteer to carry the pagers for a month. One of these pager-holders contacts the caller and updates our hotline with the mission information. Then certain team members, who are branch leaders on our phone tree, call the people assigned to their branch. Members who can deploy leave a message on the hotline, and a few minutes later the pager-holder reviews the messages and provides a headcount to the mission management. Generally the callout is completed within 1/2 hour of the page.
• How soon after joining can I go on missions?
  CSAR requires an Orientation, generally less than an hour, which is offered to candidates after they have attended three CSAR functions. The Orientation focuses on basic SAR concepts, callout procedures, Gear/Clothing requirements, and team rules. After that, you can ask for a Gear/Clothing check vs. our required list. Upon passing the G/C check, you will be assigned a mentor who will call you for missions. For the first six months, you must always be partnered with a CSAR member on any field assignment. This is not because we don't trust you, it's so you learn how CSAR members conduct themselves on missions.
• How often do you get called?
  We averaged 45 missions in 1995 and 1996. Most missions occur on weekend nights. Attendance is optional, but team members are expected to give SAR activities a high priority.
• How far away do you respond?
  CSAR responds statewide. Each individual can decide whether to respond to any particular mission. Usually about half our missions are in the Albuquerque area. Generally a search is conducted using local teams for the first 12 hours and then more-distant teams are called.
• Do you handle dead bodies?
  Unfortunately, sometimes people die before we find them. We treat them with dignity and retrieve their remains for the benefit of their loved ones. Individuals who are sensitive to this aspect of SAR need to evaluate whether they can deal with such a situation. Of course, any mission can turn out to be a body recovery, and participation may be unavoidable once you're in the field on an assignment.
• How do I join a team?
  Generally you go to one of their meetings - all teams have some process for acquiring new members. For CSAR, you can call our hotline (ask a member), or send an e-mail to John Mindock. We'll give you a call (or e-mail) and tell you more about CSAR or SAR in general. We can also provide contacts on other teams in Albuquerque or other parts of New Mexico.