PCGA MARSAR Handbook - Web Version
PCGA MARSAR Handbook - Web Version
PCGA MARSAR Handbook - Web Version
FOREWORD 5
A. INTRODUCTION 21
1. CGA-SAR Organization 21
2. Role of the Coastal Community Auxiliary
Division during SAR incidents 21
4. SAR Stages 22
5. Search and Rescue Unit Members 24
6. Basic SAR Equipment 27
7. CGA-SAR COMMUNICATION FLOW 33
Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary
Maritime Search and Rescue Handbook B. SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS 34
1. Conduct of Search 34
2. Rescue Operations 38
April 2018 3. Emergency Medical Service and Evacuation
Guidelines 42
4. Survivor Debriefing Guidelines 43
2 3
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS FOREWORD
This Search and Rescue Handbook has been prepared for Coast Guard
CG Coast Guard Community Auxiliary Districts (CCADs) responding to a major emergency
CGA Coast Guard Auxiliary or disaster. The handbook will serve a guide and reference on the basic
maritime search and rescue response system for local community
CGD Coast Guard District responders of the CCAD.
ESU Emergency Support Unit
The handbook will also provide guidelines and procedures on maritime
HPCG Philippine Coast Guard Headquarters SAR trainings and SAR simulation drills for local CCAD team members to
LGU Local Government Unit effectively and efficiently carry out SAR missions.
MOB Man-Over-Board This handbook is under continual review and will be updated as
MRSC Maritime Rescue Sub-Center necessary. Suggestions toward improving the handbook are most
welcomed.
OSC On-Scene Commander
SC SAR Coordinator
4 5
I. SEARCH AND RESCUE TRAINING • To learn and demonstrate the use of basic SAR equipment
• To understand the SAR system and organization and the role and • Mapping, compass and navigation in search and rescue operations
responsibilities of each member
• Basic safety and survival skills for SAR first responders/ rescuers
• To learn the fundamentals of the Incident Command System (ICS)
• Emergency medical care and medical triage
under a SAR on-scene management structure
• Other SAR-related knowledge and skills development, such as,
• To learn the stages or progression of a SAR mission from
rope and knots and boat maneuvering
awareness, planning, operations to mission conclusion
6 7
• Coastal Barangay Information Network 2. Roles and Responsibilities
D. Who To Train • Committed to learn and participate in the basic search and rescue
training process
• Physically and psychologically sound volunteers male and female,
• Responsible for understanding each SAR components and
having demonstrated ability, capacity and willingness to work in an
applying the knowledge and skills obtained
emergency
• Able to perform and complete required tasks, assignments and
• Volunteers, of both the sex, 18 years of age and above, with a
exercises given by the trainer
minimum education level to read and write in local language.
• Abide by the policies and procedures set by the organizers
• Preference would be given to skilled persons from the community
or nearby locality
b) Trainers
• Volunteers with good moral standing in the community
• The role of a trainer is to develop competency and skill of each
E. Training Requirements SAR trainee to perform effectively and efficiently during SAR
missions
1. Audience/Participants • They are responsible for providing trainee participants the baseline
knowledge on SAR system and operations and foster their skills in
a) Trainee participants (minimum 8-10 students/instructor) order to meet the required standards
Trainee participants will include CCAD members and youth • They are also responsible for the discipline of each trainee
volunteers. Upon completion of the training, they will be organized participant in the face of actual Search and Rescue (SAR)
into teams for the Search and Rescue (SAR) Division of the CGA Operations
Squadron.
3. Strategy and Methodologies
b) Two (2) instructors will be required for up to 20 students and three
(3) instructors will be necessary for any numbers over 20. • Lecture Discussion
• Demonstration
c) Facilitators
• Practical Exercises
Facilitators are members of the CGA Squadron responsible for the • PowerPoint presentations
logistics and operational needs of the training. • Film Showing
8 9
4. Facilities 2. Policies
• Lecture Room
• The Search and Rescue training to be hosted by the Coast Guard
• Audio/Video facilities
Auxiliary Squadron will be conducted at a minimum of five (5) days
5. Staffing
• Squadron Director - overall chairman of the training; • The participants are required to abide with the PCGA training
• Deputy for Operation - in charge of the operational requirements guidelines and policies to be presented by the Instructors/ Trainers.
• Deputy for Administration - in charge of the administrative This also covers compliance with the rules and regulations set by
requirements and training documentation the training venues utilized for the programs.
6. Requirements/Prerequisites
1. Important Instructions
Day 2 SAR PROCEDURE AND TECHNIQUES
• In-house based Search and Rescue training is recommended to
maximize exercises and camaraderie and teamwork among • Search and Rescue Planning, Procedures and
participants. This will also be a chance to observe display of true Techniques
dedication and commitment (Heart, Mind and Action) among • Mapping, compass and navigation in search and rescue
participants as future responders and members of the CCAD operations
• Completion of the training must include daily morning/afternoon • Practical exercises
calisthenics for personal development, night classes and other
important activities scheduled during off-training hours
10 11
Day 3 SURVIVAL SKILL AND OTHER SAR-RELATED
II. GUIDELINES FOR CCAD MEMBERS ON THE CONDUCT OF SAR
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
SIMULATION
CONCLUSION OF TRAINING
• Review
• Final exam
• Graduation
• All types of resources, such as, life vests, rescue boats, life ring buoys,
plastic spine boards, stretchers & other lifesaving equipment; medical
12 13
emergency vehicles, maps, PCGA Hymn, PCG Coast Guardian • Before the day of the simulation drill, a meeting of all working groups
March, Lupang Hinirang, etc. shall be made available by the PCGA should be held to check the status of all the required activities and
District and Squadrons to support the exercise concerns to identify gaps and correct problems. The form in Table 1
can be used as a checklist to confirm preparations before the
simulation.
14 15
B. PROCEDURES
• Maritime Incident Scenario: Sinking vessel with passengers or
drowning. SAR Simulation shall be assessed on the following:
• A SAR Simulation Drill is a Monthly mandatory project and one of the
PCGA Activities during District Auxiliary Conferences (DISCON)
o SAR Stages: Awareness, Initial Action, Planning, Operation and
Mission Conclusion
• A SAR Team should be organized to carry out the simulation under the
supervision of a coordinator (see Figure 1).
16 17
• A separate script depending on the scenario must be prepared for this
• Every SAR Simulation should have a security plan that includes
purpose
medical attention and management in case of real emergencies
• Each CCAD participant must act according to the role that will be
assigned. Usually, this role corresponds to the actual occupation, • Availability of first responder teams that are not actual participants and
although it may vary who can respond to real emergencies (paramedics, firefighters, etc.).
• At the time of the exercise, the person responsible for monitoring the
exercise (controller) explains the methodology and the roles assigned
to participants.
18 19
Table 1. Sample Evaluation Form for SAR Simulation Drill III. SEARCH AND RESCUE FOR COASTAL COMMUNITY
AUXILIARY DIVISION
A. INTRODUCTION
1. General
2. CGA-SAR Organization
20 21
Table 2. SAR Stages and Initial Actions
Type of incident;
• Location and time
• Search object description
• Number and condition of people involved
• Assistance needed
• Weather on scene and
• Reporting party information
Initial Action During the initial action stage, designate the SMC, alert SAR
facilities, setup an incident command post as appropriate and
evaluate the incident for urgency and extent of SAR response
required.
Figure 2 - CGA SAR Organization Planning During the planning stage, develop operational plans for the
incident-specific search, recovery and delivery to a place of
safety (search action plans and rescue action plans).
PCGA, most importantly, during maritime incidents or disasters in their Operations During the operations stage, dispatch SAR resources to the
areas of responsibility (AORs). They will serve as an extended arm of the scene, implement action plans developed during the planning
Auxiliary or as first responders during a SAR incident to minimize further stage, provide initial medical care, and deliver survivors to
loss of life, property, and environment. They will continue to respond safely medical facilities or place of safety. If the search continues
over several operational periods, the planning and operations
until redirected or relieved by the SAR authority on scene.
stage will continuously loop until mission is complete.
22 23
The response to a particular SAR incident may not require the b. Emergency Support Unit Team
performance of every stage. For some incidents, the activities of one stage
may overlap the activities of another stage such that the portions of two or • Medics & Trauma Group
more stages are being performed simultaneously. 1) Medical Doctor
2) Emergency First Responder / First Aid Personnel with BLS & EFR
5. Search and Rescue Unit Members certifications (at least 2)
3) Nurse (at least 2)
The CGA-SAR Unit is comprised by the following teams. Members of the 4) Medic Aide (at least 4)
CCAD may be assigned by the On-Scene Commander to each team o Must be able-bodied to perform physical chores, such as,
depending on their qualifications and skills. lifting, transporting of victims/ casualties, etc.
24 25
NOTE:
Generally, the first team member (first responder) arriving on the scene
becomes the team leader, and is the designated Incident Commander (IC)
until the arrival of someone more competent or capable. This person
makes the IC initial assessment of the scene and determines the
appropriate course of action for team members.
Relief Group It is important that any team member has the training necessary to assume
any of the roles because during a disaster response not all members of a
regular team may be available to respond due to stress, fatigue, injury, or
Rehabilitation Group
other circumstances.
• Administration Group
Survivor strop (minimum 2) Ropes for making connection Binoculars (min. 1) Camera (min. 1)
with either ship in distress or
survival craft (minimum 2)
28 29
Breeches buoys Scrambling nets Copies of the
International Code
Towels (min. 6) Potable drinking water supply of Signals
Floating Lights Dye markers Loud hailers Blankets (minimum of 12) First-aid kits (minimum of 6)
30 31
7. SAR COMMUNICATION FLOW (Figure 3)
32 33
B. SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS 1.1 Search Crew
1. Conduct Of Search • The Search crew’s active participation in a mission begins with
their briefing and ends with their debriefing upon return
a. During Search operation, CGA-SAR units proceed to the scene and
• Search crew on a mission must be adequately briefed and
assist the Coast Guard in the conduct of search operations until
equipped by coordination with proper authority to avoid wasteful
distressed persons or crafts are located, or the mission is terminated.
delays
b. Search operations begin when the first unit is briefed and dispatched
to a search area. In a strict sense, search operations will occur even
during missions in which accurate distressed locations are known or 1.2 Weather Briefing
reported.
c. Effecting a rendezvous between the SAR unit and the distressed • The Search crew should be told of all the known pertinent facts
vessel or ship or person. Search effort on the SAR will try to eliminate surrounding the circumstances of the distress
or reduce time delays. • Knowing the prevailing weather from the time of distress to the
present will help the search crew to take appropriate steps to
remedy the environment hazards being faced by the survivors
34 35
1.3 Survivor Sighting Procedures o Wind, weather and sea condition
o Type of emergency equipment being used
Over water, search craft should keep smoke or illumination signals or sea-
o Type of emergency equipment needed
dye marker for immediate jettisoning. If survivors are sighted or the
distress scene is located, the following should be observed.
o SRU position
a. Survivor Sighting Report
o Detached description of transmission heard
Sighting Report shall include the following items, if known: o Exact time signal commenced and terminated
o Frequency signal
o Position
o Signal strength
o Survivors identity
o Action taken by SRU
o Physical condition of survivors
o SRU evaluation of signal
36 37
2. RESCUE OPERATIONS (2) Sound three prolonged blast of ship's whistle, hail "Person Overboard".
(3) Commence recovery maneuver as indicated below (See Williamson’s
2.1 On-scene Rescue and Delivery Procedure Turn & Anderson’s Turn maneuvers)
(4) Note position, wind speed & direction, time.
• When two or more CGA-SAR units capable of conducting the (5) Inform master of vessel and engine-room.
rescue operation arrive on scene and no CGA-OSC has been
(6) Post lookouts to keep the person in sight.
designated yet, the first to arrive will generally make the first
(7) Set off dye marker or smoke flare.
rescue attempt along with the PCG-OSC.
(8) Inform radio operator, keep updated on position.
(9) Stand by the engines.
(10) Prepare lifeboat for possible launching.
WILLIAMSON’S TURN
Heading
900 M
(1) When the victim is first missed, note course and position. Stop engine. Turn full rudder
Man Over Board (MOB)
to the man overboard side. Increase speed.
(2) Turn full rudder opposite side of the boat, altering the course 600- 900 from the original
Initial Action: course
(3) Alter course 1800 from original course and continue on the reciprocal course until the
(1) Throw a life-ring over the side as close to the person as man overboard is located.
possible. (4) Access the victim.
38 39
• Complete first-aid and administer emergency care with capabilities
ANDERSON’S TURN
• Report survivor status to RCC . Initiate steps to locate
missing survivor and steps for evacuation if not already done.
40 41
Some criteria to consider when selecting or requesting for an
3. Emergency Medical Service and Evacuation Guidelines
appropriate survivor facility:
C. MISSION CONCLUSION
STEPS:
1) SRU Return - Units have traveled from distant bases and must
land, refuel and rest their crews before regulations permit them to
continue.
ANNEXES
44 45
ANNEX B
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF:
LOCAL EMERGENCY HOTLINES
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
46 47