Lost Person Behaviour Ontario Search and Rescue Volunteer Association Team Leader Training

 Definition of missing and lost persons  Behaviour characteristics of the missing person(s)  Lost person strategies  Lost Person Questionnaire (LPQ) Lost Person Behaviour Objective

 Definition of missing person LOST  Person may have intentionally become “LOST”  Definition of lost person LOST  Person did not intentionally plan to become “LOST” These terms are commonly interchangeable Lost Person Behaviour

 Behavioural characteristics of a lost person  Anyone can become lost  Looking for something familiar (landmark)  Often exhibits the 7 enemies of survival  Different characteristics for age groups, singles and groups of lost persons Lost Person Behaviour

 Behavioural characteristics of a lost person  Analyzed behaviours and characteristics allow grouping of common trends into categories, making it possible to predict the actions of a similar lost person  Can be used as a tool to assist in indicating high probability areas Lost Person Behaviour

 Categories  Children 1 to 6 years of age  Children 3 to 6 years of age  Children 7 to 12 years of age  Youth 13 to 15 years of age Lost Person Behaviour

 Categories  Despondents  Psychotics  Mentally Challenged  Alzeimher’s Lost Person Behaviour

 Categories  Hikers  Hunters  Fisher persons  Boaters Lost Person Behaviour

 Categories  Mountain Bikers  Climbers  Cross-Country Skiers  Off-Road Vehicle Users  Miscellaneous Adults Lost Person Behaviour

 Lost Person Strategies  Random travelling  Route travelling  Direction travelling  Route sampling  Direction sampling Lost Person Behaviour

 Lost Person Strategies  View enhancing  Back tracking  Folk lore  Staying put  Do nothing Lost Person Behaviour

 Lost Person Questionnaire (LPQ)  A document containing all pertinent information about the lost or missing person  Usually completed by the Search Manager or Command Lost Person Behaviour

 Lost Person Questionnaire Content  Occurrence number/date and time  Sources of information  Lost person data  Physical description  Trips/planned activities  Clothing  Last seen  Outdoor Experience Lost Person Behaviour

 Lost Person Questionnaire Content  Habits/personality  Health and general condition  Equipment  Contacts  Overdue groups  Media  Action taken so far  Other information Lost Person Behaviour

 Lost Person Questionnaire Content  Lost person data  Name/nicknames  Date of birth (DOB)  Birthplace  Home address, phone  Business address, phone Lost Person Behaviour

 Lost Person Questionnaire Content  Physical Description  Height  Weight  Age  Build  Hair (colour, length, style, beard, moustache, sideburns)  Facial features/shape  Complexion  Distinguishing marks  Photo available Lost Person Behaviour

 Lost Person Questionnaire Content  Trips or planned activities  Clothing (style, colour, size)  Shirt/sweater  Pants  Outer/inner wear  Gloves  Foot wear (size, sole type, etc.)  Head wear  Rain wear  Glasses Lost Person Behaviour

 Lost Person Questionnaire Content  Last seen  Shirt/sweater  When  Where (Point Last Seen (PLS))  Why/how  By whom  Witness/witness location now  Weather at time last seen  Direction of travel when last seen  Reason for leaving Lost Person Behaviour

 Lost Person Questionnaire Content  Outdoor experience  Familiar with area (how recent)  Familiar with similar area  Formal outdoor training  Medical training  Military experience  Overnight experience  Ever been lost before Lost Person Behaviour

 Lost Person Questionnaire Content  Habits and personality  Smoker (brand, how often, etc.)  Alcohol (brand, how often, etc.)  Drugs (type, how often, etc.)  Hobbies/interests  Personality (outgoing, quiet, gregarious, loner)  Evidence of leadership  Legal troubles  Emotional history Lost Person Behaviour

 Lost Person Questionnaire Content  Health and general condition  Overall health  Known medical problems  Handicaps  Medications  Physiological problems  Vision without glasses  Equipment  List of equipment possibly taken (knife, food, money etc,) Lost Person Behaviour

 Lost Person Questionnaire Content  Contacts  Friends and family members (relationships with each)  Overdue groups  Name of group/members/type of group/dynamics  Leader/leader’s experience/clashes with members  Media Lost Person Behaviour

 Lost Person Questionnaire Content  Action taken so far (when and results)  By friends and family members  By others  Other Information  Any other information not already documented Lost Person Behaviour

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