11.11 Conclusion of SAR Operations
Purpose
To outline the requirements for concluding, suspending, transferring, or standing down SLS involvement in search and rescue (SAR) operations.
Overview
SAR operations may conclude when the person, vessel, craft, object, or search target is located, when information confirms the person or object is no longer in distress, or when the Control Agency determines that search activity should be suspended or terminated.
In South Australia, South Australia Police (SAPOL) is the control agency for all search and rescue activities.
SLS personnel must distinguish between:
- Conclusion of the overall SAR operation, which is determined by the Control Agency, and
- Conclusion of SLS involvement, which may occur when SLS tasking is complete, SLS resources are stood down, conditions become unsafe, or continued SLS involvement is no longer appropriate.
SLS personnel must not independently declare a SAR operation concluded where the incident is under Control Agency control.
SLS resources may be stood down or withdrawn in accordance with Control Agency direction, SLS command and coordination arrangements, risk versus gain, available capability, and member safety.
SAR conclusion, suspension, transfer, or stand down must be clearly communicated, recorded, and followed up.
Definitions
Conclusion means the completion of SAR activity because the search object has been located, the assigned task is complete, or the Control Agency has determined that the SAR operation is complete.
Suspension means SAR activity is paused or stopped, but may resume if new information, improved conditions, additional resources, or further direction is received.
Termination means the Control Agency has formally ended the SAR operation.
Stand down means SLS personnel, Search Teams, or resources are released from the SAR task or operation.
Search Team means a person, team, vessel, aircraft, vehicle, or other resource tasked to undertake SAR activity.
Search object means the person, vessel, craft, object, or item being searched for.
Control Agency means the agency responsible for the overall direction of emergency management activities for the incident.
SITREP means Situation Report.
Procedure
Authority to Conclude, Suspend or Terminate SAR Operations
The Control Agency is responsible for decisions regarding the conclusion, suspension, termination, or continuation of a SAR operation.
In South Australia, SAPOL is the control agency for all search and rescue activities.
Where a SAR operation is under Control Agency control, SLS personnel must not independently declare the SAR operation concluded, suspended, or terminated.
SLS may conclude its own involvement or stand down SLS resources where:
- Directed by the Control Agency,
- Directed through SLS command and coordination arrangements,
- The assigned SLS task is complete,
- Conditions become unsafe,
- There are not sufficient SLS personnel or resources to safely continue,
- Personnel, equipment, communications, or environmental limitations prevent safe continuation,
- The task exceeds approved SLSSA capability,
- Fatigue or welfare concerns require withdrawal, or
- Continued SLS involvement is no longer appropriate.
Where SLS involvement is stood down but the Control Agency continues the SAR operation, SLS personnel must ensure that any relevant information, records, search areas, limitations, or outstanding matters are communicated to the SOC and, where required, the Control Agency.
When SAR Operations May Enter the Conclusion Stage
A SAR operation may enter the conclusion stage when:
- The person or search object is located,
- Survivors are rescued,
- Information confirms the person or search object is no longer in distress,
- All known persons are accounted for,
- The Control Agency determines that further searching has no significant chance of success,
- The Control Agency suspends or terminates the search,
- Conditions are too dangerous for SLS personnel to safely continue,
- There are insufficient SLS resources available to safely continue,
- The assigned SLS task has been completed,
- The search is transferred to another agency, service, or operational period, or
- SLS involvement is discontinued or stood down.
The conclusion stage may apply to the overall SAR operation, a specific search area, a specific Search Team task, or SLS involvement in the operation.
Search Object Located
Where the search object is located, the Search Team or responsible SLS command role should:
- Notify the State Operations Centre (SOC) immediately,
- Provide the exact location,
- Confirm whether the person is alive, injured, deceased, or unknown,
- Commence rescue or emergency care where safe and appropriate,
- Request emergency service support where required,
- Maintain observation if immediate rescue is not possible,
- Preserve potential evidence where required,
- Record the time and location,
- Record actions taken,
- Update search areas and tasking, and
- Follow Control Agency or SLS command direction.
Where the person is located alive, priority must be given to rescue, patient care, transfer, and emergency service coordination.
Where the incident involves death, suspected death, body recovery, or evidence preservation, the relevant emergency and post-incident SOPs must be applied.
Search Object No Longer in Distress
A SAR operation may be concluded or SLS involvement may be stood down where credible information confirms that the person, vessel, craft, or search object is no longer in distress.
This may include:
- The person has safely returned,
- The person has made contact and confirmed they are safe,
- The vessel or craft has arrived at a safe location,
- All known persons are accounted for,
- The original report is confirmed to be incorrect, or
- The Control Agency confirms no further SAR response is required.
Where this occurs, the responsible SLS command role should ensure:
- The SOC is updated,
- The Control Agency is advised where required,
- Any deployed SLS resources are stood down,
- Incident records are updated,
- Any false alarm, good intent, or mistaken report details are recorded, and
- Any follow-up requirements are identified.
Suspension or Termination by the Control Agency
Where the Control Agency suspends or terminates a SAR operation, the direction must be clearly recorded and communicated.
The responsible SLS command role or SOC should confirm:
- Who issued the direction,
- The time of the direction,
- Whether the search is suspended or terminated,
- Whether any SLS tasking remains,
- Whether any SLS resources are required to continue support activities,
- Whether any search areas or records need to be provided,
- Whether any witness, evidence, or scene preservation requirements remain, and
- Whether further updates are expected.
Where the search is suspended, SLS personnel should ensure records are retained and accessible in case the search is recommenced.
SLS Stand Down Decision
SLS resources may be stood down by the appropriate SLS command or coordination role where continued involvement is unsafe, impractical, outside capability, or no longer required.
Before standing down SLS resources, the responsible SLS command role should consider:
- Control Agency direction,
- Current tasking,
- Search areas completed,
- Search areas not completed,
- Current conditions,
- Available daylight,
- Personnel fatigue,
- Equipment condition,
- Communications,
- Risk versus gain,
- Whether replacement or specialist resources are required,
- Whether the SOC and State Duty Officer have been updated, and
- Whether stand down may affect the wider SAR operation.
Where SLS stands down resources due to safety, capability, fatigue, or insufficient resources, the reason must be communicated to the SOC and, where relevant, the Control Agency.
Stand Down Message
When SLS resources are stood down, a clear stand down message must be communicated to all activated SLS resources.
The stand down message should include:
- Incident or task reference,
- Who is being stood down,
- Whether the stand down applies to all SLS resources or selected resources only,
- Whether the overall SAR operation is continuing,
- Whether SLS involvement has concluded,
- Whether resources are to return to patrol, base, station, or home,
- Whether equipment checks are required,
- Whether records, notes, GPS tracks, maps, or reports are required,
- Whether a debrief is required,
- Whether welfare follow-up is required, and
- Any further instructions.
The SOC should record the stand down message and time.
Accounting for Personnel and Resources
Before SLS involvement is concluded, the responsible SLS command role should ensure all SLS personnel and resources are accounted for.
This should include confirming:
- Search Teams are safe,
- Personnel have returned from the search area,
- Vessels, vehicles, aircraft, or other assets have returned or are otherwise accounted for,
- Personnel are no longer operating in hazardous locations,
- Communications are complete,
- Equipment has been recovered,
- Any injuries, illness, exposure, or fatigue concerns are identified,
- Any member welfare concerns are identified, and
- Any personnel requiring transport, support, or follow-up are identified.
Any unaccounted personnel or resources must be escalated immediately.
Equipment Recovery and Readiness
After stand down or conclusion of SLS involvement, equipment should be recovered, checked, cleaned, refuelled, recharged, repaired, replaced, or quarantined as required.
This may include:
- IRB, RWC, JRB, vehicle, aircraft, or vessel checks,
- Radios and communications equipment,
- GPS or mapping equipment,
- First aid or trauma equipment,
- PPE,
- Search markers, buoys, or lines,
- Lighting equipment,
- Batteries,
- Fuel,
- Rescue equipment,
- Damaged or contaminated equipment, and
- Any equipment required for operational readiness.
Equipment faults, damage, contamination, or loss must be reported through the appropriate process.
Final SITREP
A final SITREP should be provided to the SOC before SLS involvement is concluded.
The final SITREP should include:
- Incident status,
- Whether the search object was located,
- Patient or search object outcome where known,
- Current Control Agency status,
- SLS resources deployed,
- Search areas completed,
- Search areas not completed,
- Search patterns used,
- Search tracks or GPS records available,
- Significant sightings, clues, or observations,
- Hazards or limitations,
- Injuries or member welfare concerns,
- Equipment issues,
- Whether SLS resources have been stood down,
- Outstanding actions, and
- Any follow-up required.
The final SITREP should be factual and avoid speculation.
Records and Reports
Records relating to SAR operations must be retained in accordance with SLSSA requirements and any relevant legislative, regulatory, operational, or Control Agency requirements.
Records may include:
- Initial notification details,
- Incident logs,
- Operations App records,
- SOC records,
- Contemporaneous notes,
- SITREPs,
- Search maps,
- Search area assignments,
- Search tracks or GPS data,
- Photos or videos,
- Witness or informant details,
- Control Agency direction,
- Tasking records,
- Stand down instructions,
- Decisions and approvals,
- Risk assessments,
- Equipment issues,
- Injury or welfare concerns,
- Debrief records,
- Member statements where required, and
- Follow-up actions.
Where a search has been suspended or terminated without locating the search object, records must remain accessible to support resumption of search activity if further information is received.
Where SAR activity is transferred, suspended, or continued by another agency, operational period, or Search Team, relevant information must be handed over.
Information may include:
- Current incident status,
- Control Agency contact,
- SLS command and coordination arrangements,
- Search object information,
- Last known position,
- Search areas completed,
- Search areas not completed,
- Search patterns used,
- Search tracks or GPS records,
- Search Team observations,
- Witness information,
- Hazards,
- Conditions,
- Resource limitations,
- Records completed,
- Outstanding actions, and
- Any matters requiring follow-up.
Information exchange should be managed in accordance with SOP 11.10 – Information Exchange in Transfer of Command.
Recommencement of Search Activity
A suspended or concluded SLS task may recommence where:
- New information is received,
- The Control Agency requests further assistance,
- Conditions improve,
- Additional resources become available,
- A new search area is identified,
- A credible sighting or clue is reported,
- The risk versus gain assessment supports recommencement, and
- SLS command and coordination arrangements approve recommencement.
Before recommencing, the responsible SLS command role should ensure:
- Previous records are reviewed,
- Search areas already completed are identified,
- New information is assessed,
- Personnel are briefed,
- Tasking is clear,
- Resources are available,
- Conditions are safe,
- Communications are confirmed, and
- The SOC is updated.
Debriefing and Welfare
Where required, debriefing and welfare processes must be managed in accordance with the relevant post-incident SOPs.
The responsible SLS command role should consider whether the incident involved:
- Serious injury,
- Death or suspected death,
- Body recovery,
- Prolonged search activity,
- Distressing circumstances,
- Significant media or public attention,
- Member injury,
- Near miss,
- Operational difficulty,
- Exposure to confronting information or imagery, or
- Any other circumstance requiring follow-up.
Any immediate welfare concerns must be escalated without delay.
Notifications and Follow-Up
Following conclusion or stand down, the responsible SLS command role, SOC, State Duty Officer, or Lifesaving Department should ensure required notifications and follow-up actions are completed.
This may include:
- Control Agency updates,
- SOC incident log completion,
- Operations App records,
- Duty Officer notes,
- State Duty Officer updates,
- Lifesaving Department notifications,
- Executive notifications where required,
- Media or communications escalation where required,
- Equipment or asset follow-up,
- Injury reporting,
- Member welfare follow-up,
- Debrief arrangements,
- Record retention,
- Review of operational issues, and
- Allocation of outstanding actions.
Only authorised personnel should make external statements or public comments about the SAR operation.
Documentation of Conclusion
The conclusion, suspension, termination, or stand down of SLS involvement must be documented.
The record should include:
- Time of conclusion, suspension, termination, or stand down,
- Who made the decision,
- Authority or role of the person making the decision,
- Reason for the decision,
- Whether the overall SAR operation continues,
- Whether SLS involvement has concluded,
- SLS resources stood down,
- Search areas completed,
- Search areas not completed,
- Records or tracks provided,
- Outstanding tasks,
- Notifications made,
- Debrief or welfare requirements, and
- Follow-up actions.
Records should be provided to the SOC for inclusion in the incident log.
References