Unit 10 Scent Theory

Slide1: 

Canine Search Specialist Training Unit 10: Scent Theory

Unit Objective: 

Unit Objective Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to explain the theory of scent as it relates to canine search for live victims in a collapsed structure

Enabling Objectives: 

Enabling Objectives Rationale for understanding scent movement Factors that may affect scent How scent is transported away from the victim Plan the search of a collapsed structure to efficiently work canines into scent

Rationale: 

Rationale Dogs “see” the world through their nose Scent is 3-dimensional to them Our job is to put them where they can best detect scent

The Nose Knows: 

The Nose Knows w

Canine Olfactory System: 

Canine Olfactory System Olfactory Sensory Cell Estimates Man=5 million Fox Terrier=147 million German Shepherd=220 million

CONTRIBUTORS TO HUMAN SCENT COMPLEX: 

CONTRIBUTORS TO HUMAN SCENT COMPLEX Human Scent Sebum, Squalene Respiratory Tract GI Tract Volatile Fatty Acids Amines Bacterial Action K, Cl, Urea, Ca Mg, PO4, HOH MEOH H2SO4 Volatile Fatty Acids Other factors: Genetic, Diet, Environment Adipose

HUH?: 

HUH?

What is scent to a canine?: 

What is scent to a canine? Dying/dead skin cells laden with bacteria – called rafts These rafts are shed from the skin as well as the respiratory and digestive tracks

Skin Rafts: 

Skin Rafts Approximately 40,000 per minute!!!

Slide13: 

“If one gram of butyric acid was made to evaporate evenly in all the rooms of a ten story office building, a man would barely be able to perceive its existence by standing in one of the rooms. However, if the same gram of butyric acid was diluted to fill the air above the entire city of Hamburg, the dog could still perceive it at an altitude of 300 feet.” William Syrotuck Scent and the Scenting Dog, pg. 13

How is scent dispersed?: 

How is scent dispersed? The scent is heaviest at the source and dispersed away from the victim in a cone

Influences on Scent Dispersal: 

Influences on Scent Dispersal

Environmental Influences: 

Make rubble Environmental Influences

Environmental Influences: 

Environmental Influences Temperature Wind strength and direction Humidity Sun

Slide18: 

Make rubble

Temperature: 

Temperature Hot Cold The temperature of victim versus the temperature of the environment

Wind : 

Wind Strength Direction

Humidity: 

Humidity High Low Rain

Sun: 

Sun Clear Overcast Night

Slide23: 

Night-time Flows Day-time Patterns

Structural Influences: 

Structural Influences

Structural Influences: 

Structural Influences Building architecture Elevator shafts Closed stairwells Windows Breached Floors/Walls

Structural Influences: 

Structural Influences Scent flows well in: Broken rubble Light framing Brick

Katrina 2005: 

Katrina 2005

Scent Flow and Detection: 

Scent Flow and Detection The FEMA canine is trained to indicate the presence of a live victim by performing a focused bark alert at the point in the rubble where the strongest live human scent is emitted. Bark, Bark

DETECTIONVSLOCATION : 

DETECTION VS LOCATION Dogs are SCENT detectors NOT victim locators!

Scent Flow - Channeling: 

Scent Flow - Channeling Solid Slabs Large Chunks

Slide31: 

Solid Slabs Large Chunks Bark bark!!!

Scent Source Detection: 

Scent Source Detection Be able to interpret your dog’s alert Document Debrief Handler to STM Handler to Handler

Scent Flow - Funneling: 

Scent Flow - Funneling Bark Bark!!!

Scent Flow - Pooling: 

Scent Flow - Pooling Bark Bark !

Typical Collapse Patterns: 

Typical Collapse Patterns Lean-To “V” Pancake Cantilever

Lean-To: 

Lean-To

“V”: 

“V”

Pancake: 

Pancake

Cantilever: 

Cantilever

 What’s This?: 

What’s This?

Use Your Scent Knowledge: 

Use Your Scent Knowledge Identify scenting conditions Surveyor’s tape, Puff bottles/talc mirror scent pattern Interpret pattern of alerts Send canine from position which maximizes probability of detection

Considerations: 

Considerations Hazardous materials Live vs. Dead Number of Victims Found Distractions

Slide45: 

Questions?

Unit Summary and Evaluation: 

Unit Summary and Evaluation

Unit Summary: 

Unit Summary Explain the rationale for understanding scent movement Discuss the factors that may affect scent Explain how scent is transported away from the victim Explain how to plan the search of a collapsed structure to efficiently work canines into scent

Unit Evaluation: 

Unit Evaluation Please fill out the evaluation on this briefing