The type of response situation defines what type of SAR teams will be deployed.

First Response Search Team offers the services of Certified Ground Searchers, Human Remains Detection K9 teams, Tracking/Trailing K9 teams and Air Scent Area Search K9 teams.

 

Search and Recovery Human Remains Detection—Land & Water

FRST K9s trained in Human Remains can work in urban, wilderness or on the water to assist in bringing resolution to loved ones. All K9s are trained to locate human decomposition and to ignore all other decomposition odors such as animal.

When working water our K9s can work along the shoreline or on a boat.

Our K9s are trained in all areas of human remains odor detection (new or aged) and to alert to the handler of its location.

 

Tracking/Trailing Dogs [scent-specific]

Presented a scent article of the missing person, the trailing dog is trained to find the scent trail matching that article. 

Each dog is usually worked in a harness, on a leash, and given an uncontaminated scent article (such as a piece of clothing) belonging to the missing person. The dog follows that scent and no other.

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Air Scenting Area Search Dogs [scent-specific]

Air-scenting, area search dogs pick up human scent in the air instead of off the ground, allowing for a more direct path to the current location of a subject through utilization of current wind patterns & weather conditions.  Air-scenting, area search dogs search in a free search or grid pattern to find human scent, free floating in the air. This type of search dog is very efficient at clearing large search areas or heavily wooded, densely vegetated areas and at night, where human searchers may not be able to visually spot a missing subject or physically access areas.

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Common Uses for Tracking, Trailing and Air Scenting Area Search teams are:

• Missing Hiker

• Injured victims who have wandered away from a motor vehicle accident or other incident

• Stranded subjects: due to injury, navigation, or weather

• Overdue hunters and fisherman

• Wandering elderly, Alzheimer’s patients, or mentally challenged

• Missing depressed or suicidal persons

• Missing patients who have wandered away from the nursing home or hospital

• Runner/walker/cyclist who doesn’t return at the usual time

• Missing child in the neighborhood, park, or woods

• Missing persons in parks and large wilderness or agricultural areas