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Elements and Performance Criteria

Required Skills

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit

Required Skills

select combustible and smoking materials

construct ignite and maintain a fire

Required Knowledge

air search procedures

aircraft recognition and response signals

ground search procedures

international distress signals

Evidence Required

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessment must confirm the ability to

accurately illuminate a target at least m away

site and build a trench symbol visible from the air at m may be a simulated trench if ground is too hard ie through use of charcoal rocks etc

site and construct a tinsel tree to be visible from the air at m

site construct and maintain the fuel and foliage stock for the fire and on order light the fire so that it is well ablaze within seconds and then generate smoke through the application of green foliage

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated in a range of simulated visual emergency signalling techniques that could be expected in a survival situation

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency must be assessed in a simulated environment

While a person can demonstrate the technical ability to employ visual signalling devices doing so in a survival situation is crucial consequently it is strongly recommended that holistic assessment be conducted with other associated survival units

Assessment under simulated survival conditions should include

food restrictions food should be restricted to half the recommended daily caloric intake

the absence of normal living conditions and amenities such as showers beds and bedding warmth to be provided by fire kitchens etc with the attendant levels of personal discomfort and fatigue

a significant period of time the recommendation is four days

Specific resources for assessment

Access to emergency signalling devices

Guidance information for assessment

Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA Public Safety Training Package

Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

Range Statement


The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.
Natural resources may include	Charcoal Rocks Vegetation (logs, foliage)
Artificial resources may include	Foil Glass (rear vision mirrors, headlight lens) Metals (hub-caps, headlight dishes) Tins
Ground may include	Hills Openings in canopy
Searchers may include	Aerial Ground Sea
Ground-to-air emergency signals may include	Proceeding in this direction Require assistance Require fodder Require medical assistance Yes or affirmative No or negative
Improvised markers may include	Bright textiles Glass sheet (e.g. windscreen) Metal sheet (e.g. bonnet, boot, fuselage/wing sections) Natural materials such as ash or contrasting foliage Plastic sheet (e.g. hootchie)
Constructing an emergency signal fire includes	Considering the prevailing wind's effect (if any) on smoke trails
Siting shadow trenches includes	Considering the sun's movement Or if the ground is hard, simulated using natural resources
Purpose built signalling devices may include	Electronic position indicative radio beacon, Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) Heliograph Marker panels Pyrotechnics Radios Sea dye marker Strobe lights
Maximising timeliness of initiation and visual signature of the emergency signal fire includes	Achieving an immediate and robust bonfire Applying large quantities of green leafy material or improvised smoking resources (e.g. car tyres; petrols, oils, lubricants; foliage) to the bonfire
Search aircraft recognition and response signals may include	I require your attention Message received and understood Message received but not understood Follow aircraft in same direction