Search and Rescue Manuals

For David Lovelock's writings on non Search and Rescue topics, go to Writing.

David Lovelock authored or co-authored the following manuals. He also created these documents using T_EX.

• Arizona Basic Search and Rescue.

  This 200-page PDF document—written by Aaron Dick, Eric Johnson, James Langston, David Lovelock, Dave Noland, Jason Rasch, Jesse Robinson, and Ursula Ritchie—is an introduction to the basics of searching for missing persons in wilderness environments. It is aimed at members of the public, primarily in Arizona, who are interested in becoming Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers and also at SAR personnel who are new or inexperienced in searches. This is an introduction only—there is much more to wilderness searches than is presented here. Parts of this manual form the basis of the 16-hour "Introduction to Arizona SAR" course, given by members of the Arizona Search and Rescue Coordinators Association, Ltd., which all AZ SAR volunteers are expected to attend. Manual updated to the 3^rd edition on March 1, 2018.

• Initial Response Incident Commander Wilderness Search.

  This 175-page PDF document—written by Paul Anderson, Aaron Dick, David Lovelock, and Chuck McHugh—is devoted to managing searches for missing persons, primarily in wilderness environments, during the Initial Response phase of a search. It is designed to be used by prospective and experienced search managers in conjunction with the software Win CASIE III. It forms the basis of a 12-hour course, spread over two days.

• Inland Search Management for AZ SAR Coordinators.

  This is a 425-page PDF document, written by Paul Anderson, Roial Armstrong, Aaron Dick, Mike Ebersole, Mike Friend, Eric Johnson, James Langston, David Lovelock, Rob McEuen, Jeff Newnum, Dave Noland, Ken Phillips, Ursula Ritchie, Jesse Robinson, and Barry Scott. It is devoted to managing searches for missing persons, primarily in wilderness environments. It is designed to be used by prospective and experienced search managers in conjunction with the software Win CASIE III and ICS-SAR. It forms the basis of a 40-hour Inland Search Management course, spread over five days. Manual updated to the 12^th edition on October 23, 2018.

  

• Inland Search Management (non-Arizona specific version).

  This is the non-Arizona specific version of "Inland Search Management for AZ SAR Coordinators" described in the previous entry. Manual updated to the 12^th edition on October 28, 2018.

• Find 'Em: A Guide for Planning the Missing Person Incident Response.

  This 300-page PDF document was written by Paul Anderson, Aaron Dick, David Lovelock, and Greg Stiles. It is devoted to managing searches for missing persons, primarily in wilderness environments. It is designed to be used by prospective and experienced Planning Section Chiefs (PSCs) and their Unit Leaders. This book is written to help the PSC on large, complex search incidents perform the critical functions of their position and manage their section in the most professional, effective and efficient manner possible. Parts of this manual form the basis of the 32-hour "Search Incident Planning Section Chief" course. Manual updated to the 5^th edition on January 23, 2019.

• Topics in Inland Search Management.

  This 150-page PDF document was written by David Lovelock. While almost everything in this document can be found in SAR manuals, it isn't always easy to find the answer to a specific question. That is what this document tries to address. It is aimed at people fresh to SAR and those whose memory has faded since taking an Inland SAR Management course decades ago. It is designed to be "dipped into" rather than read from cover-to-cover, although it can be used that way. Manual updated to the 2^nd edition 2^nd printing on February 12, 2017.

• Managing Spontaneous Volunteers in Search and Rescue.

  This 28-page PDF document was written by Paul Anderson, Aaron Dick, Eric Johnson, David Lovelock, Richard Martin, and Jeremy Ramirez. It suggests how to manage spontaneous volunteers—volunteers who are not currently affiliated with a recognized SAR organization—that arrive unannounced at a search incident. Dated October 24, 2018.

• Southern Arizona Search and Rescue History: 1901--2000.

  This is a 600 page PDF document writtn by Butch Farabee, with the assisatnce of David Lovelock. It chronicles over 1000 events, some large and involved, such as when two Army Air Servicemen flying between San Diego and Tucson went missing over the remote desert on December 7, 1922. The search for them lasted five months. Or the abduction of little 8-year-old Vicki Lynn Hoskinson on September 17, 1984. The kidnapping of the third-grader was high-profile, her tiny skeletal remains were finally found on April 12, 1985. And sadly, there are even greater tragedies, such as in 1981 when eight people died in a flash flood at Tanque Verde Falls or the mid-air collision over Tucson of two B-24 bombers in 1944, killing all 18 airmen onboard.

  Others are not so complex, like the two men forced high into a tree by dangerous floodwaters near the Mexican Border in 1902. Hours later, their wives finally threw them ropes and helped them carefully to shore. Or the two bicyclists overdue in the Rincon Mountains in 1999, they were located by a Department of Public Safety helicopter crew long after dark and then safely walked out by volunteers from the Southern Arizona Rescue Association (SARA). Additionally, we also document Southern Arizona SAR milestones, awards and recognitions, history of organizations, and associated specifics. Dated June 2, 2023.