What clues might indicate a casualty's recent presence in an area, and how should you record these signs?

• A. Footprints, disturbed vegetation, and gear should be noted only if found at the end of the search.
• B. Disturbed vegetation, footprints, gear, fire pits, scent; document location, time, and description of signs with photos if possible.
• C. Only record GPS coordinates without descriptions.
• D. Record signs but never time or location.

Answer: (B)

Clues that someone was recently in an area include footprints, disturbed vegetation, gear left behind, fire pits, and even a noticeable scent. Each of these signs helps you infer where a casualty might have passed, where they could be now, and when they were present. The key is to capture both the what and the where and when.

Record these signs by noting the exact location and the time you observed them, and describing what you found in clear terms. Photograph the signs if possible to preserve details such as scale, orientation, and context. Include a brief description of the sign (for example, “footprints aligned along a faint trail,” “recently disturbed brush 5 meters off the main path,” “campfire ring with charred wood”), and record any supporting details like terrain, slope, weather, or visibility. If you can, log GPS coordinates or a map reference so others can locate the sign precisely.

This approach matters because it builds a reliable trail of evidence for the search, helps infer the casualty’s movements, and supports planning and reassessment as the search progresses. Recording time, location, and a descriptive context ensures signs can be revisited, correlated with other data, and used to guide search decisions rather than interpreted from memory later.