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A canine cannot differentiate between rescue personnel / bystanders and missing / trapped persons in a search area.  To assist the canine in locating the correct person/s the search area must be cleared of all non essential personnel before the search commences.
 

The team must not conduct a search of a collapsed structural environment or an open area without carrying out a full risk assessment and receive a search brief before commencing the search.
 

Ensure the canines have an opportunity to relieve themselves immediately prior to working.
 

 The handler must exchange his entry control tally for a personal entrapment transponder with the entry control officer before commencing a collapsed structural search. 
 

The team must not conduct a search of a collapsed structural environment, without an additional team member being present to act as a safety person with a radio communication system.
 

The handler should not to allow their canine to work out of sight, whilst conducting a search in a collapsed structural environment. 
 

When working on a collapsed structural environment with a team of two / three canine teams, each canine team should not search for more than 20 minutes before rotating in the team.
 

After a canine team has given an indication on a buried location, this area should be re-searched by a second canine team to confirm the indication.  This procedure assists in reducing the likely hood of a false indication being given from an individual canine working in these difficult search environments.
 

All indications and points of interest should be clearly marked by using a night stick.  This marker will clearly aid the follow up search team to locate the canine’s central point of indication day or night.  This type of marking should also be followed up used the INSARAG building markings as well.  A full search de-brief must also be carried out by the handler, to the relevant personnel.
 

All relevant associated canine equipment must be removed from the canine to prevent possible entanglement prior to searching a collapsed structural environment e.g. canine collar.  A harness can be worn and this will be down to the individual risk assessment by the handler at that time.
 

Suitable and sufficient risk assessment must be carried out by the handler to ascertain if protective canine boots are needed for the risk area to minimise the potential of injury to the canine’s feet.
 

When working in darkened areas or at night the team must have sufficient artificial light to be able to work safely. This will also include a night stick being attached to the working harness / jacket to illumination the canine at distance.
 

On completion of each working period (search) individual canines are to be thoroughly checked for injury.
 

Whilst operationally deployed either in the UK or overseas, a competent team member must be handling or monitoring the canine/s at any one time, if the canines are not securely kennelled.
 

All canines must be under control at all times and predetermined areas must be selected for loose exercising when overseas, to reduce the risk of coming into contact with local animals, especially other canines.
 

When temperatures are excessive the canine/s must be kept in a shaded area and monitored constantly by a competent team member to prevent possible heat stroke / Exhaustion.
 

Clean drinking water must be available to the canine at all times.  
 

The handler is to ensure their physical readiness through proper nutrition, water intake, rest, and stress control techniques are carried out.
 

Participate in all briefings and meetings as requested.
 

All injuries, fatigue, or illness to the handler or canine are reported immediately to the Incident Commander or SAR Canine coordinator.
 

The handler must always carry their day pack on any operational task when working away from their base location.
 

Monitor the canine for adequate rest, injuries, stress, or fatigue and ensure a safe and secure place when not directly engaged in search operations.
 

When working in an operational role for more than 18hrs the handler must make sure that the canine receives at least six hours undisturbed rest in every 24 hour period.