1. First Aid & Survival Skills
Team Leader Training
First Aid & Survival Skills
Ontario Search and Rescue Volunteer Association

2. First Aid & Survival Skills
Objectives – First Aid and Survival Skills
First Aid
Survival Skills
The team leader must ensure that team members have the required first aid credentials and survival skills suitable to their assignment and that the team is equipped with essential first aid/survival supplies and equipment.
The first aid equipment carried will be based on the level of training and the program that the team has been qualified. As a team leader, ensure that you are aware of these requirements and that equipment is checked prior to taking on an assignment.

3. First Aid

4. First Aid Objectives – First Aid
Explain and understand the role of a team leader in a first aid situation
Explain the steps to be taken in a rescue situation
Explain the procedures for completion and debriefing

5. Role of the Team Leader – First Aid
Responsible for overseeing the process
Assigning tasks to team members
Request additional resources as required
In situations requiring first aid or a rescue, the team leader is responsible for overseeing the process, assigning tasks to team members and requesting additional resources as required

6. Role of the Team Leader – First Aid
In situations requiring the application of FIRST AID, the team leader must
Assign
Notify
Document
Contact
Assess

7. Role of the Team Leader – First Aid
Assign
Assign first aiders to care for the patient
Always assign the most competent or experienced first aiders to provide care
Always have the patient’s best interests foremost in all operations
If you cannot remove the patient(s) to a higher level of care (e.g. EMS) in a timely fashion, be prepared to spend the night

8. Role of the Team Leader – First Aid
Notify
Notify command of the situation
Provide as much detail as possible
Report any change in conditions or circumstances as they arise

9. Role of the Team Leader – First Aid
Document
Keep proper documentation of the entire process and stay in constant communication with the lead first aider
Although no successful law suits have been recorded in Canada, it is vital that proper documentation be kept of all events for your own safety/benefit, and that of the team

10. Role of the Team Leader – First Aid
Contact
Stay in contact with command, informing them of the progress being made as well as passing on information about the patient so that EMS is aware of subjects’ condition and are prepared when the patient(s) arrives
Your efficiency in the field and proper reporting to medical personnel will assist in the next level of care and facilitate a speedier recovery for the patient(s).

11. Role of the Team Leader – First Aid
Assess
Assess the situation and determine what resources are necessary to provide proper care for the ill or injured person and/or perform a rescue if required
Stay in contact with command
Only request the equipment and personnel necessary to perform the required tasks

12. First Aid

13. Role of the Team Leader – First Aid
In situations requiring a Rescue, the team leader is responsible for
Personnel
Access
Equipment
Requesting specialty skills
Transport

14. Role of the Team Leader – First Aid
Personnel
Request all required additional personnel and/or resources to enable effective and efficient rescue
Do not bring in any more than necessary as too many personnel/resources will only creates confusion

15. Role of the Team Leader – First Aid
Access
Assign two members to find and flag the best possible route to transport the patient safely
Have route cleared sufficiently to allow safe passage of personnel carrying a rescue basket or other equipment used (e.g. (Snowmobile, ATV, etc.)
Clear an area in order to prepare the patient for transport if required

16. Role of the Team Leader – First Aid
Equipment
Be prepared to receive any additional equipment
Assign appropriate personnel to take charge of each piece as it arrives
If a chainsaw is necessary, make sure the person operating it is qualified and authorized

17. Role of the Team Leader – First Aid
Requesting specialty skills
If specialty skills are required for extrication, notify command of what speciality skills are required.
Allow leaders of special teams to perform his/her duty without interference
However stay in touch with him/her so as to pass on information to command as it becomes available.

18. Role of the Team Leader – First Aid
Transport
If it is necessary to carry a patient in a basket for any distance, remember it is exhausting work. Have members trade off regularly so as not to become fatigued
Remember slow and steady gets the job done safely
Stop regularly to check on the patient

19. Role of the Team Leader – First Aid
Completion & debriefing
Transfer to EMS
Head-count
Equipment
Report
Debrief

20. Role of the Team Leader – First Aid
Transfer to EMS
Upon arriving at the EMS vehicle, allow only one person, preferably the lead first aider to report to EMS personnel

21. Role of the Team Leader – First Aid
Head-count
Check that all rescue personnel are accounted for

22. Role of the Team Leader – First Aid
Equipment
Assign one person to over-see that all equipment is accounted for, cleaned and properly stored.

23. Role of the Team Leader – First Aid
Report
Upon completion of all tasks, make a full report of the incident to command, and be prepared to answer any questions which may arise

24. Role of the Team Leader – First Aid
Debrief
Debrief the incident from start to finish
Take notes of any errors and recommendations to improve efficiency in the future
Remember, keep the debrief positive
Remember it is essential to ensure the entire team participates in the overall debrief

25. First Aid

26. First Aid
Question ?

27. Team Leader Training
Survival Skills

28. Survival Skills Objectives - Survival
Explain and understand the role of a team leader in a survival situation
Explain the steps to be taken in a survival situation

29. Role of the Team Leader - Survival
Survival Skills
Role of the Team Leader - Survival
Identify
The 7 enemies of survival
Survival patterns
Taking the essentials
Survival techniques

30. Role of the Team Leader - Survival
Survival Skills
Role of the Team Leader - Survival
Demonstrate/describe survival patterns
First aid
Fire
Shelter
Signals
Food and water

31. Role of the Team Leader - Survival
Survival Skills
Role of the Team Leader - Survival
Demonstrate/describe 7 enemies of survival
Fear and panic
Pain
Cold
Thirst
Hunger
Fatigue
Boredom and loneliness

32. Role of the Team Leader - Survival
Survival Skills
Role of the Team Leader - Survival
Responsible to oversee the process
Organize and assign tasks to team members
Maintain positive attitude at all times
Check each member
Coach
Be Positive
As search operations may take place in remote areas and in adverse conditions, the team leader must have a firm understanding of the skills necessary to survive in these conditions. These skills must extend to caring for an injured or ill person for an extended period of time. As stressed in the OSARVA Search Techniques Manual, in preparing for an assignment, the team leader must remember these two rules of thumb:
“Dress for the season not for the day”.
“Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”

33. Role of the Team Leader - Survival
Survival Skills
Role of the Team Leader - Survival
Check each member
Ensure members are prepared and equipped for assignment
Safety of the team relies heavily on the equipment carried and knowledge of its use

34. Role of the Team Leader - Survival
Survival Skills
Role of the Team Leader - Survival
Coach
Coach team members about survival patterns
Team members will look to you for guidance
Brainstorm with team members
But the final decision is yours to make

35. Role of the Team Leader - Survival
Survival Skills
Role of the Team Leader - Survival
Be positive
Maintain a positive attitude at all times
Your positive attitude will help prevent other team members becoming disheartened

36. Survival Skills Be Positive The result of positive leadership
and LOTS of
time. This might,
however, need a
building permit.

37. Role of the Team Leader - Survival
Survival Skills
Role of the Team Leader - Survival
Organize & assign
Organize the members and assign required tasks
Ensure all members are kept on task
In many cases you may have to work quickly and efficiently with whatever supplies you have at your immediate disposal.
Knowing your team, their abilities, and that they are properly equipped prior to embarking on your tasks is essential

38. You never know who requires your assistance!
Survival Skills
You never know who requires your assistance!

39. Survival Skills
Question ?