This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to select canines to be part of a canine search team for Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) incidents, to maintain the health and welfare of canines, to provide daily care to canines and to plan search and rescue training for search canines. A canine search team consists of one disaster search canine and one canine search specialist.

The unit is applicable to canine search specialists responsible for developing a canine search team for USAR incidents.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1

Assess canines for USAR work

1.1

Selection criteria for canines to work in an Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) environment are determined

1.2

Canines are observed and assessed in relation to determined criteria

1.3

Canines assessed as meeting determined criteria are selected to be part of canine search team

2

Maintain search canine health

2.1

Symptoms of ill health or injury in search canines are identified

2.2

Animal health care practitioners who can be consulted about the establishment or maintenance of search canine health are identified

2.3

Program of health maintenance to prevent common illnesses or parasites is implemented, in accordance with organisational procedures

2.4

Recommended treatment program for ill or injured search canine is followed, as required

2.5

First aid kit for treating injured search canines is maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures

3

Manage search canine hygiene and welfare

3.1

Living environment, training areas and search canine transportation are maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures and animal health and welfare regulations

3.2

Health, welfare and fitness of search canines is maintained for USAR operational and environmental conditions

3.3

Healthy diet is maintained for search canines based upon individual animal requirements

3.4

Need to retire a search canine is assessed and recommended, in accordance with organisational procedures, specialist advice and/or animal health and welfare standards

4

Maintain records of search canine health and welfare

4.1

Vaccination, treatment and other preventative health records for search canines are established and maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures and industry guidelines

4.2

Decisions to retire search canines are recorded, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.3

Organisational policies and procedures for recording and reporting incidents that result in injuries to search canines are followed

5

Develop and implement a training plan

5.1

Training needs of canine search team are identified

5.2

Training plan that addresses the needs, strengths, weakness of the canine search team is developed

5.3

Training plan is reviewed and amended, as required, to reflect the changing needs of the canine search team

5.4

Training equipment is maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures

5.5

Progress of canine search team training is recorded and reported, in accordance with organisational procedures

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

Not applicable

Search and Rescue