Coast Guard Search and Rescue Flashcards
7 cards from real Coast Guard Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Coast Guard Search and Rescue flashcards as text
In SAR planning, what does 'datum' refer to?
Answer: The most probable location of the search object
Datum is the estimated most probable position of the search object, used to define the search area.
What term describes the drift of a survivor caused by wind and current?
Answer: Leeway and drift
Leeway (wind effect) and current drift move a survivor from the last known position over time.
Which search pattern is a series of parallel tracks covering a rectangular area?
Answer: Parallel track (creeping line) search
The parallel track search sweeps evenly spaced legs across a rectangular area for uniform coverage.
The expanding square search pattern is best used when the datum is what?
Answer: Well-defined and small
The expanding square works best for a small, well-known datum where the object is likely nearby.
What is 'probability of detection' (POD) in a SAR search?
Answer: The likelihood of finding the object if it is in the searched area
POD estimates how likely searchers are to detect the object given the area was searched.
Reduced visibility during a search primarily lowers which factor?
Answer: Probability of detection
Poor visibility from fog or darkness reduces the probability of detecting the search object.
What does 'sortie' refer to in SAR operations?
Answer: A single dispatch of a search unit
A sortie is one deployment of a search and rescue unit to conduct a search or rescue.