Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

SISOOPS407A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Apply search and rescue skills

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency SISOOPS407A - Apply search and rescue skills
Description This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to apply preliminary search and rescue techniques and determine the need for outside assistance in situations where persons are lost or injured.This unit covers the skills and knowledge required for generic search and rescue in an outdoor environment. This unit does not cover the technical rescue skills required in white water or vertical contexts. These contexts are covered by the units:SISOWWR301A Demonstrate self rescue skills in white waterSISOWWR302A Perform white water rescues and recoveriesSISOWWR403A Perform complex white water rescues and recoveriesSISOVTR301A Perform vertical rescuesSISOVTR402A Perform complex vertical rescues
Employability Skills This unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit applies to those working autonomously and with supervisory roles in various outdoor recreation environments. This may include outdoor recreation leaders working for outdoor education or adventure providers; volunteer groups; not-for-profit organisations or government agencies.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites Nil
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities 		Slides
PPT 		Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Prepare for search and rescue.
  • Assess the situation and identify potential hazards and risks to self and others.
  • Identify a search and or rescue method suitable to the situation according to contextual issues, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
  • Select equipment and resources required to perform identified search and rescue according to the situation.
  • Define the possible and probable search areas according to available information.
  • Develop a response plan and communicate to relevant persons.
       
Element: Carry out a search.
  • Establish communication processes and promulgate contingency plans to all involved.
  • Conduct search methodically, using appropriate search techniques according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
       
Element: Carry out a rescue.
  • Apply rescue techniques according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
  • Negotiate or avoid hazards and risks safely according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
  • Determine ambulatory status of an injured person and construct an emergency evacuation structure as required resources.
  • Monitor the injured person's condition and record actions taken according to organisational policies and procedures.
  • Assess situation to determine need for self evacuation or external assistance.
  • Minimise risk of further injury to injured person, according to organisational policies and procedures.
  • Advise party members to refer media enquiries to a nominated spokesperson, where required.
       
Element: Seek outside assistance.
  • Identify situations requiring outside assistance.
  • Identify search groups and agencies and initiate the steps to alert them.
  • Implement procedures for handing over a search and rescue to relevant authorities and agencies according to organisational policies and procedures.
       
Element: Evaluate search and rescue.
  • Evaluate relevant aspects of the search and rescue.
  • Identify improvements for future search and rescue situations.
       


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

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

Evidence of the following is essential:

assesses situation to identify potential hazards and risks, and determines efficient search and rescue procedures for lost and or injured person or party

communicates response and contingency plans to other team members, and adapts quickly to problems or issues that may arise during search and rescue situations to ensure safety of self and group

seeks assistance from outside authorities, search groups and agencies in situations beyond own control and responsibility

evaluates and reflects on own search and rescue performance to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas that need improvement.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure application of search and rescue techniques relevant to the candidate's current or intended work environment on multiple occasions to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance.

Assessment must also ensure access to:

a suitable outdoor environment, within the context of an outdoor activity, to conduct real or simulated searches and rescues

search and rescue, safety, first aid and activity-specific equipment and resources

personnel to participate in search and rescue exercises.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

observation of performing a range of safe and efficient search and rescue techniques, suitable to the situation

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of potential hazards and risks associated with search and rescue exercises

observation of communicating with rescue team, injured and or lost person or party members, and outside authorities, search groups and agencies

portfolio of response and contingency plans, and any relevant documentation

third-party reports from a supervisor detailing performance.

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, for example:

SISXEMR201A Respond to emergency situations

SISXEMR402A Coordinate emergency response.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

problem-solving skills to:

determine the most appropriate search and rescue methods to use according to the situation

anticipate and mitigate hazards and risks associated with search and rescue

decide whether to locate and evacuate or call for assistance

determine injured person's ambulatory status

planning and organising skills to:

select equipment and resources suitable to situation

implement search and rescue techniques according to situation

constantly monitor injured person

communication skills to:

outline response and contingency plans to relevant party members

inform progress and interact with other team members

refer media enquiries to appropriate person

alert authorities, search groups and agencies where outside assistance is required

literacy and numeracy skills to:

document relevant information

record actions taken

develop response and contingency plans

teamwork skills to assist with the transportation of injured party members

first aid and emergency response skills appropriate to the location to enable initial response to emergencies.

Required knowledge

legislation and organisational policies and procedures to enable safe conduct of activities

search and rescue equipment and resource types to enable appropriate selection and use

hazards and risks associated with search and rescue situations and how to safely negotiate or avoid these

search and rescue techniques and procedures suitable to the situation and experience of the participant to enable prompt assistance

communication systems to make intentions clear and update progress

outside authorities, search groups and agencies in the local area to alert and hand over searches and rescues beyond personal ability

first aid and monitoring procedures appropriate to location and level of responsibility.

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, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Situation may include:

lost person or persons

injured person or party member requiring evacuation.

Contextual issues may include:

weather conditions, including time

season

transport

location

trip distance and duration

time frame for survival

weather and topography

time factors and degree of urgency

physical and human resources

level of consciousness of person or persons

capacity of the missing person or party

size of search area.

Relevant legislation may include:

occupational health and safety

permits or permission for access

environmental regulations

marine regulations.

Organisational policies and procedures may include:

occupational health and safety

risk management

communication protocols

record keeping and documentation

removal and transportation of injured party members

procedures for dealing with the media

processes for handing over a search and rescue to relevant authorities and agencies

access to medical personnel.

Available information may include:

physical capabilities and condition of lost or injured person or persons

weather conditions

expected speed of travel.

Search techniques may include:

point last seen

hasty search

track or ridge scan

line searching

spiral and sweep searches.

Rescue techniques may include:

hand line

support techniques

flotation aids.

Emergency evacuation structure may include:

stretchers

sleds.

Search groups and agencies may include:

Police Search and Rescue

State Emergency Service

Ski Patrol

Volunteer rescue agencies.

Relevant aspects may include:

objectives

planning process

activity site

weather

equipment selection

clothing selection

food selection

instructional content

instructional technique

assessment technique

group feedback

directing techniques

rescue techniques employed.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Assess the situation and identify potential hazards and risks to self and others. 
Identify a search and or rescue method suitable to the situation according to contextual issues, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 
Select equipment and resources required to perform identified search and rescue according to the situation. 
Define the possible and probable search areas according to available information. 
Develop a response plan and communicate to relevant persons. 
Establish communication processes and promulgate contingency plans to all involved. 
Conduct search methodically, using appropriate search techniques according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 
Apply rescue techniques according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 
Negotiate or avoid hazards and risks safely according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 
Determine ambulatory status of an injured person and construct an emergency evacuation structure as required resources. 
Monitor the injured person's condition and record actions taken according to organisational policies and procedures. 
Assess situation to determine need for self evacuation or external assistance. 
Minimise risk of further injury to injured person, according to organisational policies and procedures. 
Advise party members to refer media enquiries to a nominated spokesperson, where required. 
Identify situations requiring outside assistance. 
Identify search groups and agencies and initiate the steps to alert them. 
Implement procedures for handing over a search and rescue to relevant authorities and agencies according to organisational policies and procedures. 
Evaluate relevant aspects of the search and rescue. 
Identify improvements for future search and rescue situations. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

SISOOPS407A - Apply search and rescue skills
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

SISOOPS407A - Apply search and rescue skills

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: