SD1D010 - Outdoor Leadership, Search and Rescue 01 Sep 2024 - 31 Aug 2030 | Version 0

Associated Module Information

Module Code: SD1D010
Module Title: Outdoor Leadership, Search and Rescue
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Leadership and Public Services
Faculty Sub Group: Leadership and Public Services
Module Leader: Mark Iggulden
Module Team: Jennifer Law, Anthony Lloyd, Simon Neenan, Hayley Jenkins, Matthew Williams-Clement
First Intended Intake: SEP 2024 Final Year of Intake: 2029
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 40 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh:
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100823 - emergency and disaster management
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 0
Valid From 01 Sep 2024
Valid To 31 Aug 2030

Module Aims

To allow students to explore and experience a range of Search and Rescue (SAR) roles in a variety of settings and with different statutory and voluntary agencies. 

To develop student’s practical skills to facilitate the effective engagement and leadership in a SAR context in a diverse range of practice situations. 

To provide students with the opportunity to observe self and apply their learning through reflective writing with focus on their personal role within a hypothetical SAR team. 

Content Summary

Operational Planning – Incident size up, GSMEAC, CLAP, METHANE, CHALET. 

Risk Assessment and mitigation, theoretical, static and dynamic risk assessment, Swiss Cheese and other modelling. 

Search and Rescue – Land, Rope & Water teams make up, training requirements, operational jurisdiction, inter team collaboration, interagency collaboration.  Roles and responsibilities, Search technician, Party Leader, Search Manger, Search controller. RRO, RRT, PL.  TL, SRTA, SRT, SFR, Rigger, Cas Care, etc. 

Casualty Management – LAST, extrication, BLS, Packaging, extraction, transport, ATMIST Handovers – considerations, equipment and methods. 

Leadership and Group Dynamics - Leadership theory, styles, models for practice and evaluation. Team development, cohesion and characteristics of high function,  Search and rescue leadership – Coxwain/Helm/WFTL/PL 

Reflective Practice – Reflective models, introduction to reflexivity. Hot Debrief, Cold debrief, Feedback models, Gibbs, Iceberg, (Actual) Reflection. 

Students to develop their learning around: 

On campus experiences - Guess speakers and visits from key search and rescue partner agencies and organisations that inform the student cohort on current professional practices. 

Students to develop a critically reflective approach to highlight strengths and skills for working in a diverse range of environments and with various rescue agencies. 

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 24
External visits (including fieldtrips) 36
Independent Study 144
Directed Study (including online independent learning) 144
Formative assessment - independent 40
Active/simulation based 12
Total Hours Selected 400

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Demonstrate the professional skills and competencies required for effective professional practice in search and rescue activities in a number of environments.
LO2 Apply theoretical concepts of the taught element of the module in a diverse range of practice situations through simulated learning and practical tasks.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Self Reflective Assessment 1 Completion of a reflective report highlighting skills and competencies developed through exercises and experiences. 0 2500 50 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Presentation (Asynchronous) 1 Presentation to a team using SAR briefing model 15 N/A 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Self Reflective Assessment 1
Presentation (Asynchronous) 1

Reading List

Adair, J (2007) Fundamentals of Leadership. Published New York. Palgrave Macmillan 

Barlow, V et al (n.d.) Water rescue field guide.  Rescue 3 Europe. 

Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2019) Flood rescue concept of operations. OGL 

Dudhnath, K et al (2019) Water and flood rescue.  Rescue 3 Europe & Rescue 3 International Inc. 

Koester, R (2008) Lost person behaviour: A search and rescue guide on where to look – for land, air and water.  Virginia.  dbS Productions LLC. 

Langmuir, E (2013)  Mountaincraft and leadership. 4th Edn. Mountain Training Boards of England and Scotland  

National Fire Chiefs Council,  (2014) Fire & rescue national resilience aide memoire.  NFCC National Resilience.