Night Search Operations

Night Search Operations Workshop

Dates: 1-2 June 2024

Times: 6:00 pm - 5:00 am ET

Location: Madisonburg, PA

Cost:  $50.00

Overview:

This comprehensive Night Search Operations course is designed to equip first responders, search and rescue personnel, and law enforcement officers with the essential skills and knowledge required to conduct effective and safe search operations during nighttime conditions. Emphasizing practical skills, safety, and the use of advanced technology, this course prepares participants to handle the unique challenges posed by limited visibility and nocturnal environments.

Course Objectives:

• Understand Nighttime Navigation: Learn to navigate safely and efficiently in the dark using both traditional compass skills and modern GPS technology.
• Develop Nighttime Search Techniques: Acquire techniques specific to nighttime search operations, including line search methods, grid search patterns, and containment strategies.
• Enhance Communication Skills: Focus on effective communication protocols vital for coordinating teams and managing operations in the dark.
• Learn Safety Protocols: Understand the safety considerations unique to nighttime operations, including hazard identification and risk mitigation.

Target Audience:

This course is ideal for professionals involved in search and rescue, emergency response, law enforcement, and fire personnel who may be required to conduct search operations under the conditions of darkness.

Prerequisites: 

• Participants should possess basic search and rescue skills and be physically capable of operating in rugged terrain at night.
• Prior experience with basic navigation tools is highly recommended.
• Field Team Member qualification or higher is required. This is not an entry level course.

Student Materials / Packing List: 

1. Backpack: Hiking style preferred. Approximately 20-30L in size
2. Water Container: Suggested (2) 1L bottles.
3. Note Taking Materials: Notebook, pens, pencils
4. PPE: Clear eye protection, leather gloves, orange & ANSI Level 2 Reflective traffic vest
5. Sunscreen
6. Bug Spray
7. Snacks for the day: Trail mixes, granola bars, protein bars, etc
8. Socks: 2 pair in a waterproof container such as a dry bag or sealable sandwich bag
9. Camp chair: Weather permitting we will try to spend as much time outside as we can
10. Warm layers: Hot one minute freezing the next! (If Applicable.)

If your team has a standard packing list for a 24-Hour Kit / Day Pack we highly suggest you bring it and ensure you have the items listed above as well.

Meals & Lodging:

1. No meals are being provided as part of this course through SRTC.
2. Rustic Camping area is the lodging arrangements have been made at this time. The campsite has showers, normal bathrooms, potable water, and a fire pit with free wood to have campfires at or to cook on. Coolers can be made available to store food if needed and requested. Onsite Camping is $20 for after the class if needed or wanted. Small two person lodges may be available and would be $100 for the day. 
3. Please plan to have nigh lunch with you at the course. Lunches will be treated as workshops for the working groups as if you were actually searching at night.

Night Search Operations Workshop Policies

Registration Policy:

Payment in full is required to reserve your spot in the course / exam. Tuition is non-transferable and is payable by check, credit card, PayPal, or Money Order. Tuition covers instructor time & travel, site rental fees (as applicable), exam / course equipment, and certification fees. SRTC is not obligated to allow any student to attend a course until SRTC paperwork has been received, reviewed and approved by SRTC. A full refund will be given if we need to cancel the course for any reason.

Cancellation & Refund Policy:

If a student cancels out of a course or withdrawals from a course or exam:

1. If greater than or equal to 30 days prior to the starting date of the course, SRTC will retain a $15.00 administrative fee.
2. At 30 days or less from the starting date of the course all tuition is non-refundable and non-transferable to another course or student.
3. Participants that withdrawal at or within 30 days of the course are still responsible for cancelation fees and full course tuition payment submission.
4. A full refund will be given to each student if SRTC Cancels the course for any reason.

Late Payment Policy: 

Participants that register and choose pay via company check, personal check, or money order must submit payment in a timely manner. Payment is due no later than 10 days after your registrations is submitted. If payment is not post marked prior to this date a late fee will be assessed. Late fees will either be invoiced separately or added to any outstanding balance.

1. Initial late payment assessment fee is $25.00 for this course.
2. An additional fee of $10.00 per day will also be assessed if payment is delayed past 14 days from registration and this late fee is retroactive to the date of registration.

SRTC Student Agreements: (Including Assumption of Risks and Agreement of Release of Indemnity)

A Sergeant Rescue course student agreement will be included as part of your registration and is required for completion of registration. Please sign it and read it carefully as it affects your legal rights. If you are a minor, a parent or guardian must sign the document as well. Without a signed document, you cannot participate in the course. SRTC course participants, including minors, will have unsupervised free time throughout the above mentioned course / exam. Any activities during the free time are not part of the SRTC program or proctored exam, and are at the sole risk of the participant.