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Show Technically, the dog search plan must be considered above all. That means that the entire plan is oriented toward the dog, and not the other way around; because the dog is the surest and fastest searcher. He replaces a great number of rescue workers. Therefore, he has the right to have the plan oriented towards him in order to provide him every opportunity for success. The probing crews are thus deployed according to these guiding principles, depending on the urgency of the situation: a) At once, if the dogs still require a rest and the search effort is of the utmost urgency. b) At once, together with the use of dogs, if the avalanche permits uninterrupted, divided effort. c) Not at all to begin with, if the use of dogs alone is deemed most expedient. It is exclusively up to the dog leader, his circumspection and energy, to give the primary place under any given circumstances to the use of the dog in his planning, especially if the mission leader is not familiar with the use of avalanche dogs and looks upon them with scepticism and if, in addition, he and his crew have been relegated at first to inactivity. The dog leader has to prove plainly why it is the dog searches alone at first, why he claims this search area and not another for the dog ( wind, size, etc.), why everybody has to remain quiet, etc., etc. The dog leader must never permit a search area to be merely assigned to him. The mission leader is probably experienced with the avalanche missions; however, he is not an expert in the use of avalanche dogs. Therefore, the dog leader uses all his cleverness in order to make the work of the dogs intelligible to the laymen. If he does this in a nice, quiet, brief and clear manner, he will definitely meet with understanding. If he meets no response, then he has to use sterner measures for the sake of the buried victim. The search division. The urgent nearch areas are divided, according to expediency and location, into search fields according to the prepared plan. - 58 - |