Fema Search and Rescue Dog Training for Emergency Situations

FEMA search and rescue dog training is a specialized program that prepares dogs and their handlers to respond to emergency situations. This training is crucial in locating missing people, survivors of natural disasters, and those trapped in rubble.

FEMA has a rigorous training program that includes obedience, agility, and scent work. The program is designed to simulate real-life scenarios, such as searching for survivors in a collapsed building.

Dogs undergo extensive training to develop their sense of smell and ability to navigate through debris. They learn to follow specific scents, such as human scent and scent markers, to locate their target.

Each dog is paired with a handler who has undergone extensive training in search and rescue techniques. The handler is responsible for guiding the dog through the search process and interpreting the dog's findings.

Canine search teams are incredibly versatile and can work in any environment, no matter the noise level, equipment, or distractions. Their heightened sense of smell allows them to detect live human scent, even if a survivor is buried deep in rubble.

The canine teams specialize in two key areas: detecting survivors (live find search) and detecting people who are deceased (human remains detection). Each canine has a trained handler who works alongside them.

At least four canine search teams deploy with each 70-member, Type 1 US&R task force. The most common breeds in the system are Labrador, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Malinois, and Border Collie.

The average age of our canine team members is about 7 years old, and they're a minimum of 18 months old. As of March 2020, there are 284 canine search teams that specialize in searching for survivors and 90 teams that specialize in searching for human remains.

Here's a breakdown of the types of canine search teams:

FEMA's canines are extensively trained by handlers who must first achieve a national certification in search and rescue.

The training process involves placing large plastic tubes around the training site, with a person inside one of them, and the dog's task is to find them using scent detection.

The dog will start barking upon discovering the person, and their handler will reward them with food or toys.

Handlers must also go through a test examining their communication skills, strategies, and tactics, among other things.

A FEMA canine coordinator and dog handler, Victoria Ledwell, shared that the dogs love their work and are proud of their accomplishments.

Canines are typically tested after they turn two years old, as they are more emotionally, mentally, and physically mature to carry out search-and-rescue missions.

The dogs are tested on several aspects of their desired role, including agility, determination, response to their handler's command, and more.

Some breeds tend to perform better during the rigorous training, but the dogs must also go through aggression testing to examine their temperament.

The dogs are trained to detect human remains, and their ability to do so is not limited to a specific timeframe after a person is deceased.

FEMA's disaster dogs are reliable enough to remain in place in the absence of their handler, and they are often sent to disaster sites, such as Puerto Rico and South Florida, to assist in search and rescue efforts.

Human remains detection teams are brought in to search after live find searches for survivors have been conducted. They work in close coordination with federal, state and/or local law enforcement and coroner’s offices that are responsible for identification and processing of detected remains.

These canines are able to distinguish between human remains, animal remains and a wide range of other distracting odors. The canines’ ability to detect human remains is not limited to a specific timeframe after a person is deceased.

The K9210 Basic Land Cadaver/HRD Search Techniques for K-9s course is a one-day class that introduces K-9 teams to techniques used to locate human remains. Students will learn how to handle and store training aids, basic scent theory and proper handling of training material.

Field training will consist of imprinting the dog on the cadaver scent and developing a solid alert. This class is applicable to both search dog teams and law enforcement teams.

This is a prerequisite for all intermediate and advanced cadaver courses.

Here are some key courses for K-9 teams to learn human remains detection techniques:

In the world of search and rescue, having a solidly trained K-9 team is crucial for locating missing persons. K-9320 Intermediate Tracking/Trailing Search Techniques for K-9s is a 16-hour course that expands on basic skills, teaching handlers how to develop a training plan and set up problems based on training objectives.

Students practice scent discrimination and quarter-mile and half-mile trails. This course has a maximum class size of 15 students and 10 K-9s.

For those interested in disaster search techniques, K-9330 Intermediate Disaster Search Techniques for K-9s offers a unique training experience. Students train in agility, obedience, alert work, and directional training, with the opportunity to practice on rubble piles.

This course includes live and cadaver/HRD exercises, and K-9s attending should have a solid trained indication. The maximum class size is 8 students and 8 K-9s, with a course length of 8 hours.

Here's a comparison of the two courses:

Water Search and Recovery is a critical aspect of search and rescue operations. This training is designed for teams with land cadaver training experience.

The K9500 Water Cadaver/HRD Search Techniques for K-9s course is a two-day training that covers scent theory, search strategy, and boat safety. It's perfect for both new and experienced teams.

A solid alert on land is a prerequisite for participating in water exercises, so make sure your dog has mastered this skill before heading out on the water. This ensures the dog can effectively detect and alert on a cadaver in both land and water searches.

Training exercises are tailored to the dog and handler's experience level, covering scenarios and problems in both shoreline and open water searches. Hands-on training on the water provides invaluable experience for both the dog and handler.

FEMA offers various training courses for search and rescue dog teams, including intermediate and advanced disaster search techniques. These courses are designed to help teams develop their skills in locating live subjects or human remains.

Intermediate disaster search techniques are taught in a two-day class, K9330, which covers areas such as agility, obedience, alert work, and directional training. Students will have the opportunity to practice their skills on rubble piles, including live and cadaver/HRD exercises.

The maximum class size for K9330 is 12 students and 12 K-9s, with a course length of 8 hours. Another class, K9330, also has a maximum class size of 8 students and 8 K-9s, with the same 8-hour course length.

To participate in these courses, K-9s must have a solid trained indication. Additionally, students may need to complete prerequisites such as Hazardous Materials Awareness or IS 005 (Introduction to Hazardous Materials) and PPE for rubble search.

K-9s play a crucial role in disaster recovery. They can locate live subjects or human remains in disaster scenarios.

To be effective, K-9s need specialized training. The K9530 Basic Disaster Search Techniques for K-9s course is a two-day class that introduces K-9 search teams to disaster response.

This course covers agility, obedience, alert work, and drive building. It also includes live and cadaver/HRD exercises.

The course has a limited class size of 20 students and 15 K-9s. It lasts for 16 hours.

To participate, K-9s should have a solid trained indication. Handlers must wear specific personal protective equipment (PPE) for rubble search.

K-9s attending the K9530 course should also have a good understanding of basic tracking and trailing techniques.

Intermediate Disaster Response requires a high level of skill and training. This section will cover the key aspects of intermediate disaster response training for K-9 teams.

Class size and duration are crucial factors in intermediate disaster response training. The maximum class size for K-9330 Intermediate Disaster Search Techniques for K-9s is 12 students, with 12 K-9s, and the course length is 8 hours.

To participate in intermediate disaster response training, K-9s must have a solid trained indication. This means they should have already completed basic training and have a strong foundation in agility, obedience, alert work, and directional training.

Intermediate disaster response training involves hands-on practice on rubble piles. This includes live and cadaver/HRD exercises that help K-9 teams improve their skills and response times.

Here are the key details of intermediate disaster response training:

These classes are designed to expand on the skills learned in basic disaster response training. By participating in intermediate disaster response training, K-9 teams can improve their response times and effectiveness in disaster scenarios.

Certification and Credentialing is a crucial aspect of FEMA Search and Rescue Dog Training. Each canine/handler team must pass a rigorous national certification every three years to remain certified.

The certification test evaluates the team's skills in search strategies, tactics, mapping, and briefing and debriefing skills. Handlers are also tested on their ability to handle canines effectively.

Canines are tested on their command response, agility skills, and ability to search independently. They must also be confident enough to search in extreme temperatures and navigate through dark tunnels.

The K-9 Credentialing Test evaluates a team's ability to demonstrate required skills and performance levels in specific disciplines such as article/evidence search and cadaver search. This test is available to all individuals and must be reviewed before testing.

A canine must be at least 18 months old to attempt the test, and most canines test after they are two years old when they have been well trained and physically and emotionally mature enough for search and rescue.