Education > Search And Rescue Procedure

1. Prevent the Need for a Search And Rescue
   • Advise all participants of the 3 hour time limit and the course closing time
   • Orienteers should only be permitted to try more difficult courses after success on lower courses. Before the competition starts, stress that, if lost, a person should stay on any trail that they come across and attempt to relocate themselves.
2. Be sure that the rescuers do not need to be rescued. Make sure all plans you make are doubly safe for the searchers and there is a high level and frequency of communication between every searcher and the search director.
3. Determine if a search is necessary
   • Check Start list to make sure the missing person started
   • Check with club members and friends to see if the person has completed the course or dropped out of the event
   • Check vehicle information to see if the person has gone home
   • Obtain phone number from registration information and try to call the missing perso
4. Organize a Search Team
   • Only good orienteers shall be assigned as searchers
   • Issue firm, positive orders, e.g. assigning search teams to search well-defined areas. Maps of surrounding areas should be available
   • Establish searcher time limits for control and accountability of all search personnel. Make a name list of all searchers dispatched
5. Conduct the Search
   • Check with the competitors on the same course to see if, when, and where the person was last seen in order to reduce the size of the area to be searched. If controls have been picked up, poll the punch boxes to see how far the missing person got on the course
   • Check all roads and trails the person is likely to cross or follow on that particular course
   • Two good orienteers follow the course upon which the missing person started. One person follow numerical order of points, the other go in reverse order. They should agree where to meet
   • Check the areas where it is possible that the person could have strayed from the course
   • Check all control locations on other courses, especially near the person's assumed route
   • Several searchers execute a planned sweep procedure of the area mapped

Experienced orienteers who become disoriented or injured can be expected to make rational decisions, e.g. rough compass to road and follow road in direction of Finish; or, if injured, remain at a control marker. Inexperienced orienteers are more likely to keep wandering if lost and then pay little attention to the map. If a night search is required, the park authorities or landowners should be notified prior to nightfall. Follow their guidelines and provide any needed maps to any searches the park authorities bring in.