A SEARCH OPERATION IN THE KOPITNIK NAD HRASTNIKOM AREA BETWEEN 14 SEPTEMBER AND 5 OCTOBER 2011

Abstract

Every year, at least one search operation is organised on the territory of the Republic of Slovenia. One of such activities took place in the Kopitnik area of the Hrastnik municipality, although the search itself extended into the territory of the Laško and Radeče municipalities. In addition to the police, firefighters and other civil protection and rescue units (mountaineers, mountain rescuers, rescue dog handlers etc.) participated in the organisation of the search operation. Due to the involvement of different rescue services in the search operation and owing to difficult terrain and search area configuration, the search for the missing person had to be well planned and had to enable appropriate communication among rescue services. It was the communication itself that impeded the operation, as not all of the participants used the same ZARE communication system, and the TETRA system failed to function properly throughout the search area. An additional mobile antenna was set up to establish communication through the ZARE system, while the TETRA system was supported with the ZARA system, eliminating all communication-related problems. Although the missing person was not found during the search operation, the activity nevertheless proved to be a valuable experience to be employed in similar cases in the future. On the basis of the lessons learned, search operations are to become more successful and effective.