Dogs have long been used as man’s best friend, but they can also serve a practical purpose in the search for survivors during an earthquake. The use of search and rescue canines has been invaluable in the recovery of personnel after a major disaster, such as an earthquake.
Search and rescue teams rely on these highly trained canines to help them find survivors quickly and efficiently. The dogs are invaluable members of the team and can often find survivors in places that traditional search and rescue personnel may miss.
According to the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, “Canines have an uncanny ability to find people buried beneath rubble and debris, and they can do it faster, with less manpower, and with greater accuracy than the most advanced technologies.”
In order to become a search and rescue dog, the canine must undergo rigorous training and be certified by a recognized organization. The training includes learning to follow commands from their handler, recognizing the smell of humans and alerting their handlers when they have found a survivor. The dogs must also be comfortable in a variety of environments including water, mud, and darkness.
Once the canines complete their training, they are ready to assist in search and rescue missions. During an earthquake, the dogs are an invaluable asset to the team. They can cover a large area quickly and can be more successful in finding survivors than the traditional search and rescue methods.
“Canines are used in search and rescue operations because they can cover a large area quickly and effectively,” says Mike Satterfield, a search and rescue professional. “They have a keen sense of smell and can detect survivors that may have been overlooked by traditional search and rescue personnel.”
Statistics show that the use of canines in search and rescue operations is highly successful. According to the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, canine teams have been used in over 400 successful search and rescue missions, resulting in over 600 personnel recoveries. In addition, the Foundation reports that canine teams have been successful in recovering personnel in over 97% of their missions.
Furthermore, research conducted by the California Office of Emergency Services has found that canine teams are able to locate survivors up to four times faster than the traditional search and rescue methods. This is largely due to the dogs’ exceptional sense of smell and their ability to cover large areas quickly.
In addition to the speed and accuracy of the search, the dogs provide an invaluable emotional support for the survivors. After a traumatic event such as an earthquake, survivors often feel isolated and scared. The presence of a canine on the team can provide comfort and reassurance to the survivors in their time of need.
All in all, canines are an invaluable asset to the search and rescue teams during an earthquake. Their speed, accuracy and emotional support are unmatched by traditional search and rescue methods, making them a vital part of the team.
References
1. National Disaster Search Dog Foundation. “Our Work.” https://searchdogfoundation.org/our-work/
2. Satterfield, Mike. “Why Are Canines Used in Search and Rescue Operations?”
3. California Office of Emergency Services. “Canine Search and Rescue Teams in Earthquakes.” https://www.caloes.ca.gov/Cal-OES-Divisions/Information-Technology/Documents/Canine-Search-and-Rescue-Teams-in-Earthquakes.pdf