OXSAR Flashcards by Nige Forshaw

What 3 searches?

Corridor, Area, Route & Path

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What is a ‘search’?

An emergency

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What is the classification number of the kit required for a road search?

‘3’ - hi-vis orange jacket and trousers.

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What is the minimum distance to a water bank before you ‘hit’ the Warm Zone?

Hot Zone = water
Warm Zone = water’s edge to 3m
Cold Zone = outside 3m

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What is the acronym used for briefing and what do the letters stand for?

IIMARCHQ

I - Information
I - Intention
M - Method
A - Administration
R - Risks
C - Communications
H - Human/Legal
Q - Questions?

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What is the acronym used for gathering information from a witness and what do the letters stand for?

ADVOKATE

A - Amount of time since the witness saw the Misper?
D - Distance between the witness and Misper?
V - Visibility conditions?
O - Obstructions to the witnesses’ observations?
K - Is the Misper known to the witness?
A - Any reason why the witness remembers the Misper?
T - Time the witness had the Misper under observation?
E - Errors in description given by the witness?

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What is the role of the ‘Search Planner’?

Predominantly to decide on those areas to be searched.

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Who is attracted to water and why?

Women (drowning perceived as less violent).
Those whom suffer from autism.

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What is the order of the ‘Priority of Care’?

Self, Team, Public, Misper.

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What professions are most likely to be at risk of taking their own lives?

Medics & Farmers

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What is a ‘PolSA’?

Police Search Adviser

Acts as a Chief Officer’s adviser on counter-terrorism search and other search-related matters, planning searches and controlling search teams on low risk and other police search operations, and supporting and developing search team and force search training.

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What are the 6 main types of Mispers we search for?

Despondent
Dementia
Suicidal
Mental Illness
Autism
Children / Young persons

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What does the acronym DR (c) ABCDE stand for?

D - Danger
R - Response
(c) - Catastrophic haemorrhage
A - Airways
B - Breathing
C - Circulation
D - Disability
E - Exposure & Environment

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What does the acronym AVPU stand for?

A - Alert
V - Voice
P - Pain
U - Unresponsive

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What is the aim of First Aid?

Provide immediate assistance for minor and major injuries.
To preserve life.
Prevent condition worsening.
Promote recovery.

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What initial message should be sent to Control upon finding the Misper?

“Control, Team X, Priority Call, over.”

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What does the abbreviation AED stand for?

Automated External Defibrillator

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What actions should you take when you believe an adult is choking?

Encourage them to cough.
Get behind them, place an arm across their chest.
Bend them forward.
Slap/back blow between shoulder blades.
Check to see if obstruction has cleared.
If not, repeat steps 3-5, five times.

If still not clear:

Carry out abdominal thrusts (fist covered by other hand between base of breast bone and belly button), thrusting sharply into the diaphragm upto 5 times.
Check to see if obstruction has been cleared after each thrust.

Repeat back blows and abdominal thrusts, as required.

If patient falls unconscious, carry out CPR (adult - 2 breaths/30 compressions).

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What is ‘Purposeful Wandering’?

When searching uneven terrain, or terrain with obstacles such as trees, bushes, buildings, etc, searchers actively look around, through and under obstacles, always using Searcher Cube, calling and stopping to listen.

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What are some of the characteristics of someone with either dementia or Alzheimer’s ?

Memory loss.
Disorientation.
Impaired judgement.
Dishevelled appearance.
Inappropriate dress.
Poor concentration.
Repetition.
Suspicion/paranoia.
Hallucinations/delusions.

What factors should you consider when approaching someone with either dementia or Alzheimer’s?

Attempt to approach from within their field of vision.

Introduce yourself and calmly state your purpose.
Employ a non-threatening tone of voice.
Speak slowly and maintain a low-pitched voice.
Maintain eye contact.
Use short, familiar words.
Ask closed (yes/no) questions.
Ask one question at a time and allow plenty of response time.
Repeat questions exactly as before, if necessary.
Attempt to remove the individual from noisy/stressful situations.

What factors should you consider when approaching someone who is despondent?

Do not get physically involved if the person is distressed or threatening.
Stay with the person if you consider there is a risk of suicide.
Advise Control ASAP.
If the person is consuming alcohol and/or drugs, try to stop them from consuming any more.
Try to ensure that the person does not have ready access to some means to take their own life.
Encourage the person to talk. Listen without judgement. Be polite and respectful. Don’t deny the person’s feelings. Don’t try and give advice.
Give reassurance about a favourable outcome for the person.
If you think some is at risk or suicide, ask them directly - “ARE YOU CONTEMPLATING SELF-HARM OR SUICIDE?”

What is the role of ‘Search Operations’?

The Search Operations team are in charge of executing the instructions drawn up by the Search Planner.

What does the abbreviation ‘ICU’ stand for?

Incident Control Unit

What is a ‘Route and Path’ search?

A search that is done in haste to quickly cover paths and 5m from paths - usually done at the start of a search from the last place seen.

What is a ‘Corridor’ search?

A search that is done along a linear feature (typically a route or a path) following track offset statistics, searching further off the linear feature than a normal Route and Path, but NOT searching the whole area.

What is an ‘Area’ search?

A more detailed search of an area using a team.

What is the ‘Northumbrian Rain Dance’?

A prescribed procedure that allows the calculation of the average detection distance to determine the ‘Searcher Spacing’.

How do we improve the likelihood of finding a Misper?

1. Good use of Cubing. 2. Purposeful Wandering. 3. Accurate navigation. 4. Searching only those areas allocated to the team.

What factors can impair a search?

1. Failure to Cube properly. 2. Failure to stop and scan. 3. Failure to look beyond the immediate ground. 4. Failure to scan beyond the first foliage. 5. Failure to stop and scan after a distraction. 6. Failure to get down and search low when required. 7. Talking whilst searching.

What is ‘Locard’s Exchange Principle’?

“With contact between 2 items, there will be an exchange.” A Misper can leave all sorts of evidence behind (e.g. footprints, blood) to help locate the Misper.

How often will you be tested on your First Aid skills?

Within 12-18 months of your initial qualification.

How quickly should a Misper/patient be moving off scene?

ASAP. An evacuation plan (e.g. routes, carry out or walk out, resources required, taking into account medical interventions en-route) should be prepared to move within 10 mins of initial contact.

Do you owe the Misper a ‘Duty of Care’?

Yes. It is your duty to undertake an assessment and provide safe and effective care.

For every find, what documentation is required?

A ‘Primary Care Assessment’ and a subsequent ‘Secondary Care Assessment’, using the Cas Care Cards.

What is a Primary Survey?

Find and treat any immediate life-threatening conditions. This should take no longer than 90 seconds.

What initial action should you take for a drowned adult, child or infant?

Give 5 rescue breaths. Start chest compressions.

What is the CPR process for an adult?

1. Give 30 chest compressions. 2. Give 2 breaths. 3. Continue this cycle for 2 mins then check for a pulse. 4. Give 30 chest compressions then 2 breaths. 5. Repeat at 2 min intervals.

When should you stop CPR?

1. When you are exhausted. 2. When you are told to stop by a medical professional (e.g. paramedic, medical doctor). 3. The casualty regains consciousness/breaths for themselves.

What is the CPR process for a child/infant?

1. Give 5 rescue breaths. 2. Give 15 chest compressions - 2 fingers for an infant and 1 hand for a child. 3. Continue for 2 mins then check pulse. 4. If no pulse, 2 breaths than 15 compressions 5. Continue for 2 mins and repeats until you are exhausted, told to stop by a medical professional or the patient recovers.

What is the purpose of the post-search debrief?

1. To evaluate how thorough the task (search) was carried out. 2. To identify any tasks that need carrying out or repeating. 3. To enable future planning. 4. To record any significant information.

What’s the track offset for despondent Mispers?

50m

What’s the track offset for a Misper that suffers from dementia?

15m

What for the abbreviation ‘IPP’ stand for?

Initial Planning Point * The majority of those Mispers found are within 2.5 k from the IPP.

What’s the acronym used for scene management?

SCENE: S. Safe C. Confirm this is the Misper, Create a cordon and maintain Control. E. Evidence - preserve it. N. Names - keep a log. E. Evidence - keep a log of what is seen, including diagrams and drawings as required.

What is the acronym used for reporting an incident?

METHANE: M. Major incident. E. Exact location. T. Type of incident. H. Hazards? A. Access and Egress. N. Number and type of casualties. E. Emergency services required.

What is the acronym used for reporting the finding of a casualty?

ATMIST: A. Age. T. Time of incident and time found. M. Mechanism of injury. I. Injuries. S. Signs and Symptoms. T. Treatment provided.

What is the acronym used for handing over a casualty?

SAMPLE: S. Signs and Symptoms. A. Age and Allergies. M. Medication. P. Past medical history. L. Last oral intake. E. Event leading up to the incident.