The Managing the Lost Person Incident course is designed to teach the essential knowledge and skills necessary
to perform as the initial response Incident Commander on a lost person incident
with the primary focus on the Search element of SAR. The course prepares the student
for the management responsibilities and leadership skills required during SAR
missions. The course explains the tasks and procedures needed to effectively manage
SAR operations from the initial response through the expansion phases of the search
to the final demobilization of all resources. This is the first true management
course of the NASAR series of SAR courses. The ISAR, FUNSAR, and ADSAR courses
focus on the individual and crew responsibilities as well as techniques and tactics
at the crew level, whereas, the MLPI course explains and describes in detail the
overall objectives, strategies, and tactics needed for a successful outcome of
SAR missions. With further incident management training and field experience;
the person with this training can perform as the Incident Commander on prolonged
and more complex searches. The recommended duration of the course is thirty-two
(32) class hours. This course may be taught over two weekends or straight through
over four days. Extra practical exercises can be added and may increase the time
to 40 class hours.
The course is designed for the following types of people: Persons who have been
crewmembers and/or crew leaders during search and rescue operations and are ready
to advance to the management level and/or want to be able to perform on an incident
management staff, Managers of emergency response organizations who have designated
responsibilities from their organizations to function as the "on-scene manager"
during a lost person incident, SAR Incident Commanders and key staff personnel
who would like to refresh or expand their knowledge of search and rescue management
practices, SAR personnel who want to learn comprehensive and detailed information
about the complexities of the lost person incident and, Community leaders who
have an interest in participating in a lost person incident in one of a number
of capacities.
It is recommended as prerequisites for MLPI students to have taken Fundamentals
of Search and Rescue and/or Advanced Search and Rescue courses (or equivalent),
Introduction to Incident Command (NIIMS) ICS-100 and the (NIIMS) ICS I-200 series
courses (or equivalent). (NIIMS) ICS I-300 series may also be very helpful to
the MLPI student.
