SEAL Survival Guide (66 page)

2. Establish a search pattern: Start right and go counterclockwise. If there are multiple search teams, then direct each group or buddy pair to start at opposite ends, so as to meet in the middle.

3. Use caution while moving through the structure, remembering
not
to move any weight-bearing material. Watch your step; you could go right through the floor.

4. Search six sides to every room—four walls, the floor, and the ceiling, all of which could be places where someone is trapped.

5. Call out and then remain silent. Someone could be wedged in a very small space, or it could take them time to hear you and muster the energy to respond. When you call out, don’t merely ask, “Is anyone here?” If there are survivors in the search area, chances are they are dazed. Instruct them in how to respond. Tell them to tap something if they are unable to speak.

6. Be thorough! Do it right the first time.

Mark It

A very important aspect of search and rescue is to mark doors, indicating that the area was already searched or that it is being searched. You don’t want to have another team wasting time going over the same areas when they could be searching for survivors in other structures. You can mark the front door or a visible part of the building using anything—spray paint, Magic Markers, chalk, crayons, or even a bottle of mustard.

1. Before entering a room or building, make one diagonal line across the door. This will let anyone know that someone is inside searching.

2. If you don’t find anyone inside, place another diagonal line on the door to form an X.

3. At the top of the X write the time and date. At the bottom of the X place a “0.” This will let everyone know that the house has been searched and there are no people inside. “0” reaffirms, during a time of major unrest, that the structure has been searched with zero dead. They can move on to the next area and save valuable time.

Extracting Survivors

More than likely you will find someone who is buried under quite a lot of weight. Since there will be no backhoes or cranes available for some time, you must devise ways to get the person out safely. The person could be under rubble that cannot be moved with bare hands. There are two primary methods to use when trying to get them out.

LEVER

Use the longest and sturdiest piece of wood available, such as a long two-by-four or four-by-four, and place one end under the rubble. Then put another object under the lever a few feet from the end. This will serve as a fulcrum. The longer the lever, the more weight it will lift. Choose a place to apply the lever at a portion of the debris closest to where you believe the trapped person to be.

CRIBBING AND SHORING

The second technique you can use is what search-and-rescue crews call cribbing and shoring. This works well if you have a car jack available.

1. Place the jack on top of several pieces of wood to distribute the weight at the base. The width of the wood should be greater than the base of the jack to prevent slippage.

2. Place another piece of wood between the top of the jack and the object to be lifted.

3. Slowly start jacking up the object to a height of about four inches.

4. Place pieces of wood that form a box, or “cribbing,” under the object you are lifting. This will shore it up and keep it from dropping back down.

5. Then continue lifting the object another four inches and repeat the cribbing process until the object is high enough that you can pull the victim out.

STALKER AND SURVEILLANCE DETECTION

A person can be stalked or under surveillance for any number of reasons—everything from a spouse wanting to know if their husband or wife is cheating to a criminal preparing to kidnap a wealthy banker, or a would-be robber wishing to learn of your routine prior to committing their crime. In addition, every forty seconds someone is reported missing. Many are found, but a great number end up kidnapped and ultimately as fatality statistics. Learn to detect surveillance and thwart it to help you avoid becoming a victim. Those wishing to do harm follow the rules that all predators do: They watch before they attack and wait for the opportunity to get you alone.

Situational Awareness

We all know what looks normal for a neighborhood. Perhaps we see the same cars go by, or people walking their dogs, or certain landscaping trucks, or the same well-marked service vans serving an area. Without realizing it, what we have done by observing these normal details is establish a baseline. Every place, whether it is an urban, suburban, or rural setting, has its baseline of regular activity. The first step in surveillance detection (SD) is to be alert to changes in this baseline. These can come in many guises. Sometimes, it could be a person pretending that his car is broken or someone knocking on your door who just doesn’t seem right, perhaps pretending to try to sell you something. In the city, someone might be loitering in a doorway, seemingly drinking a cup of coffee, but they still have the same cup in their hand two hours later. Whenever someone seems out of place, let them know that you see them. One of the best tools available now is your cell phone camera. Take the person’s picture. Those doing the surveillance don’t want to be caught in the act, or “rolled up.”

What to Do If You Are Being Followed

If you are alert and practicing situational awareness, you may see a car in your rearview mirror that seems to be taking the same route as you. If walking, you may notice that same person you saw ten blocks ago is still behind you. Most times, predators, especially if setting up for a kidnapping or robbery, repeat their observations for days or for weeks.