This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to prepare a canine search team to search for and locate people concealed in a structural collapse, and to manage a search canine during an incident. A canine search team consists of one disaster search canine and one canine search specialist.

The types of incidents that may require an Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) canine search team, working as a member of a USAR task force, includes earthquakes, terrorist incidents, aircraft crashes, disasters or major structural collapses.

The unit is applicable to personnel actively involved in and/or training as canine search specialists for USAR incidents and disaster operations.

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

Maintain canine obedience

1.1

Canine search specialist maintains canine obedience while canine is heeling, off lead

1.2

Emergency stop with recall is performed by canine search specialist with canine

1.3

At the direction of the canine search specialist, a down stay is performed by canine while under distraction

1.4

Canine specialist ensures canine tasks are performed without canine demonstrating aggressive behaviour towards people or other animals

2

Demonstrate canine agility

2.1

Under canine search specialist direction, an agility course is completed by canine, within required timeframe

2.2

Under canine search specialist direction, a turn on an elevated plank is performed by canine

2.3

Agility course is negotiated by canine and canine search specialist in a controlled, safe and appropriate manner

3

Maintain direction and control

3.1

Canine is directed by canine search specialist to required elevation, direction commands are given to canine and elevation is jumped on by canine

3.2

Elevation is sustained by canine for a minimum of five seconds until directed by canine search specialist

3.3

Direction and control course is negotiated by canine and canine search specialist within required timeframe

3.4

Ability to control work at a distance by canine is demonstrated by canine search specialist

4

Develop canine to indicate live human scent

4.1

Location of and commitment to live human scent is demonstrated by canine and is interpreted and acted on by canine specialist

4.2

Alert exercise is undertaken by canine and canine search specialist within required timeframe with location of live human scent being correctly indicated by canine with a bark alert

5

Manage canine in a search to locate victims

5.1

Interviews and site assessment is conducted to establish an appropriate search strategy

5.2

Canine is deployed off lead and appropriate actions, indications and characteristics are used by canine and canine search specialist to ensure search area is covered within required timeframe

5.3

Control of canine is maintained by canine search specialist at all times and assistance to canine is provided, as required

5.4

Adjustments are made to search strategy by canine search specialist, as required, in accordance with changes in information, environmental conditions, search progress and current rescue work being undertaken

5.5

Location of live human scent is indicated by canine with a bark alert during search of a collapse site

5.6

Canine actions, indications and characteristics are interpreted correctly to identify the presence of live human scent by canine specialist

5.7

Appropriate care, safety and welfare procedures for canine and canine search specialist are followed, in accordance with organisational policies and procedures and relevant legislation

5.8

Post search examination of canine is conducted, 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