The attached article gives guidelines on searching for Lost Souls
PHHH – LOST SOULS –
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s)
These SOP’s are intended as a reference guideline for the use of Hares and other concerned persons in the event of runners becoming lost on the run. They are intended to balance the interests of the hares in not being too onerous and of the club and runners in avoiding distressing and potentially dangerous Lost Soul incidents. Every Lost Soul incident will be different, and Hares and committee members must exercise common sense in the circumstances.
Responsibility for dealing with Lost Soul incidents is primarily with the hares. Committee and other members are expected to help if needed, but not to do the hares job for them.
Time-line Situation / Action
8.00pm Runners still out are deemed potential Lost Souls. Hares now taking steps to ensure all runners are back and to positively identify missing runners. Prepare to sweep the trail.
8.30pm Runners still out are Lost Souls. Hares must go in to sweep the trail.
One Hare responsible for sweeping, with a partner / volunteer.
Other Hare responsible for organising On-On and restaurant.
Hare’s discretion whether to sweep backwards or forwards.
Sweepers to take mobile phone (number known to committee), torches, water / soft drinks, 1st aid kit if available / appropriate
Volunteer(s) to remain at run-site until sweeping party and/or Lost Souls return
10.30pm First sweep should have returned by now. If Lost Souls still missing, they are deemed seriously lost. Hares must organise more comprehensive search party (or parties) with assistance of committee.
SOP should be two parties only – one with hare, other with co-hare, to go in an sweep the trail again from each direction, passing in the middle
Ditto requirements for mobiles, horns, torches and drinks – but also some food and dry clothing
12.30 - 01.30am Second sweep should be completed. If Lost Souls still not found, a third and final sweep should be conducted.
Consideration should be given to notifying the police locally or in KL (Dial 999 emergency or Bukit Aman - tel : 03 2262 6222 – they will give you the number of the nearest station to call) so that a serious search party can be organised if necessary for the following morning.
Other points to note.
1. Safe return of all runners is the primary responsibility of the Hares
2. The Hares MUST remain sober so that they are ABLE to lead search efforts if necessary
3. Runners also have a responsibility to the Hares and the club not to be irresponsible – most commonly by starting the run very late and / or by going and staying off paper. Strictly speaking, runners off paper have placed themselves beyond assistance.
Runners who insist on starting > 15 mins late should minimise their chances of getting lost by setting off backwards, joining the pack and returning with them.
Remember, the Lost Soul may well be injured and will definitely be tired, thirsty and uncomfortable.
Petaling HHH Committee – Sept 2003.
The Attached Article provides a guide to the duties of the COMIC (Committee Member In Charge and also guidelines on run judging
1. The COMIC is the Committee Member in Charge and will assist the GM (or in the GM’s absence the JM) in organizing the Saturday Run and ONON
2. The COMICS are appointed from the 8 Ordinary Members of the Committee and therefore can be expected to carry out this duty once every 8 weeks.
3. The nominated COMIC’s name appears in the Newsletter against the appropriate run and also in the receding hareline. If the nominated COMIC cannot attend he should swap with another of the Committee Members and advise the Hare Raiser and On Sec.
4. The COMIC should be present at the start of the run and if he does not have a horn borrow one. Petaling has about 8 horns. Horns are held by JM’s, Hare Raiser and Hon Sec amongst others.
5. The COMIC will run with the pack sounding the horn regularly while on the trail to keep the pack together. If a COMIC considers themselves very slow then they may pass the horn to another experienced hasher, however this does not relieve the COMIC of ensuring that items 6 and 7 below have been properly carried out.
6. If the COMIC arrives at a check before it is cleared then the COMIC should proceed to the actual check itself to ensure that the pack focuses their checking effort in the correct area. While the pack is checking the COMIC should answer any calls of “Are You” by clearly shouting “Checking”. When a check has been called “ONON” then the COMIC should sound the horn continuously to bring back those who are checking elsewhere. The COMIC should also ensure that the paper has been correctly joined and any redundant paper that could lead stragglers astray has been cleared out. (COMICS are advised to bring a small pack of their own paper for this purpose)
7. If the COMIC arrives after the check has been cleared. Then the COMIC should ensure that the paper has been correctly joined and any false/misleading trails cleared out.
8. At the end of the run the COMIC will be responsible for the asertaining the opinion of the pack with respect to run judging and should acquire the opinion of approximately 15-20 people including at least 5 other Committee Members. This opinion should be from all parts of the pack and not just front runners. Run judging is always subjective but past guidelines have included the following
a. Run Directions both printed in Newsletter and signs are acceptable
b. Sufficient and suitable car parking available
c. Distance to the run site. Anything over 1 hour from one of the exit tolls Jln Duta, Jln Kuching (now defunct), Sungai Besi, Damansara) is probably too far). However Petaling does not run in the city and because we run on Saturday are quite prepared and expect to run further away than most hashes.
d. Running Area – New areas are always a plus mark, (however can rapidly go downhill if everything else is screwed-up). Varied terrain counts (Rubber, Palm Oil, Secondary Jungle, Orchard, Rivers and Streams [bad when deep], Views.
e. Hills it was always accepted that 200m ascent was the maximum for a run [that is 35 minutes walking of uphill]
f. Checks – six [6] has been accepted number but probably 5-8 is acceptable. Did the checks keep the pack together, Did the hare use a variety of checks [forward, backward, circular]
g. Time for front runner in – Despite PH3’s recent trend for longish runs, a run has always been considered valid for a run between 45 minutes and 1½ hours. Not much empasis should be attached to comments from FROPS of too short unless supported by the majority of the pack..
h. Pack together at the end of the run [70% of the Pack back within 20 minutes of the Front Runner]
9. After the run the COMIC should ensure that the Hares have accounted for all runners (keys collected), and if not then ensure that the hares, with appropriate assistance of the Committee, are taking the correct action.
a. Experience has shown that most “lost” people find their own way out, and organising a search party early on is not always appropriate – but this is a hares decision.
b. People should be quizzed where the missing people were last seen before the end of the site circle, as not all attend the ONON
c. When people leave for the ONON one of the hares should stay behind at the site (with refreshments such as 100+). The pack should be notified that we have people out and may need a search party after the ONON.
d. If not accounted for by about 9:30pm then the steps must be taken to organize a search party from the crowd at the ONON. This is the responsibility of the hares but the COMIC and other committee members must ensure that it is happening
10. At the site circle the COMIC will assist the GM or whoever else is running the circle by serving the beer.
11. At the ONON the COMIC will assist the GM or whoever else is running this circle by purchasing the beer and serving the beer. (The GM should advise the number of beers to be purchased) (If the On Cash is not attending the circle then the COMIC should get RM100 from the ON Cash at site and get a receipt for beer purchased.
Please see the downloadable file on the main web page