Lost Person Behavior: A search and rescue guide on where to look - for land, air and water

by Robert J. Koester

Lost person behavior is the cornerstone of search and rescue efforts. Based on a landmark study, this book is the definitive guide to solving the puzzle of where a lost person might be found. It presents new and updated subject categories, behavioral profiles, current statistics, suggested initial tasks, and specialized investigative questions. Whether the subject is underground, underwater, under collapsed rubble, on land or has fallen from the sky, this book delivers what search managers need. This book is aimed at law enforcement and SAR personnel responsible for the initial response and subsequent search. Searchers in the field will also find this a fascinating and practical read.

Genres: Nonfiction, Outdoors, Nature, Psychology, Science

416 pages, Spiral-bound

First published May 31, 2008

Reviews

[Marjorie Elwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chock full of statistics and really aimed for Search and Rescue searchers, this book is nonetheless quite interesting. For instance, most lost dementia patients are found along a straight line from the exit of the building. Lost hunters are at risk for long-term survivability for a variety of reasons, one of which is that "game is often most active just prior to major weather fronts moving in." And extreme sports fanatics rarely die when they are lost.

If you are a hiker, keep in mind the following two best strategies for getting "unlost":
-if you have a decent visual memory, backtrack.
-if you don't, stay put.

[Eduardo Santiago · Rating 4 out of 5]

He had me at Hello--the preface, that is. Acknowledgments of the uncertainties in his dataset; admission that this is a work to be improved upon; conscious discussion (in 2008!) of gender pronouns.

There is no purpose whatsoever to my reviewing this book. It has been the canonical mission reference for years, it is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future, my GR rating is not going to make the slightest difference to any future search incident. I'm just writing because I found myself so pleasantly surprised at how readable the book was, how engaging and candid and thoughtful the author. I have a better understanding now of how IC makes decisions, and that in turn will help me in the field.

[skeptic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not all those who wander are lost.....but some people ARE just straight up lost. And they all do it differently! (Ie. People with Dementia vs. seasoned hunters vs. a newbie day hiker, etc). The suicide section is fascinating but sad.

Really good technical book for SAR work.

[Katherine Addison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I bought myself this book for my birthday because of the number of times David Paulides cites it. As I suspected, he cites it badly and misleadlingly.

Koester is, on his own merits, fascinating. I could never do Search and Rescue myself--my OCD means I would work myself into a nervous breakdown in very short order--but if you do, or are interested in, SAR and haven't read it, I recommend it highly. I learned a great deal about how lost people behave and about how you go about the daunting task of finding them. The part about using probability theory to decide where to search, how that works and how you balance it with human assessment, is freaking brilliant--and I mean that not about Koester only, but about everyone who runs this kind of endeavor, who makes these kinds of judgment calls in the field.

Five stars for those who are interested in the subject matter.

[Richard]

I hike and backpack a lot solo — and there have been times when, by some definitions of the word, I've been "lost". This has almost always been because I'm on a poorly maintained trail that occasionally simply disappears. Nominally, at that point an experienced hiker is probably supposed to backtrack to the last place the trail was certain (assuming the track back is known). But since I've been backpacking for over thirty years now, I'm pretty adept at navigation skills, and I'm pretty comfortable heading cross country until I pick up the trail again. Which is precisely what I did a month or so ago along Bear Pen Creek in the Granite Chief Wilderness Area. Of course, I did it with a topo map, GPS unit, and backup compass. It's a pretty exhilarating feeling, no longer being bounded by trails.

The author of this book was interviewed at Backpacker Magazine's website (see Professor Rescue: Q & A with SAR Statistician Robert Koester), and thought his book looked interesting. Here's the summation of "The Biggest Loser":

Search-and-Rescue guru Robert Koester creates a quick profile of the average victim and his behavior.

WHO
Male, age 38, dayhiking solo.

TYPE OF TERRAIN
Mountains (88%)
Dry, non-forested terrain (like deserts and above treeline) (62%)
Forests (38%)
***%’s add up to more than 100 since types of terrain often overlap

WHEN
July and August account for the most incidents (each 19%), followed by June and September (12%).

WHY
The typical victim is poorly equipped — often lacking map and compass — and compounds a wrong or missed turn by forging ahead rather than retracing his steps to his last known location.

WHERE THEY ARE EVENTUALLY FOUND
In the mountains, it’s usually 11-to 12 miles from the point the hiker was last spotted/known to be. Research suggests that “most people get lost near the middle of a route to a destination or halfway in between when coming back.” Koester has also seen a rise in recent years in the number of people found uphill from where they were last seen or known to be. While some hikers have always headed to higher ground in an attempt to reorient themselves, Koester says that many more are now saying that they moved uphill searching for cell-phone coverage.

Interesting. (Friends and relatives, please note: when I'm not intimately familiar with my terrain, I always have my GPS, map, compass, and emergency kit.)

But this isn't in any libraries accessible to me, and at Amazon's $25 I'll probably pass.

Oh, a final note — he clearly states exactly what I've always told my worrying mother:

Are you safer at home or on the trail?
It's pretty clear to me that you're safer out on the trail. Getting to the trailhead is probably the most dangerous part of your whole adventure.

­

[Slamdunk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Koester, a veteran in finding lost people, offers an analytical and practical manual for coordinating searches. The book is loaded with available research on tendencies that can help rescuers create a comprehensive search area--whether the lost subject is a disoriented hunter or an elderly person suffering from dementia.

Koester's book provides case examples that allow the reader to understand applied concepts as well as addressing some myths and legends related to the field. For instance, it has been said that lost subjects do not travel at night. In contrast, research indicates that more than a third of lost persons studied found that they did walk at night. That whether a lost person is comfortable with night movement depends on the individual and the terrain. He also addresses whether or not it is true that lost subjects travel to the direction of their dominant hand.

Over 100 pages of the guide is devoted to specific types of lost subjects. What investigative questions should be asked in relation to a missing autistic child? What historic tendencies have lost snow mobilers exhibited? What actions should be taken immediately in searching for a missing runner?

It is well written, humorous, and comprehensive.

I found Koester's work to be a valuable contribution to those interested in field rescues. He emphasizes building in historical knowledge of the analytics with proper planning and investigation to maximize the chances of finding a lost person.

Great book.

[Edward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its a good book, with a few flaws. The statistics are weak - the author is upfront about it, sometimes you have to use the data you got. But be sure you understand his methodology before you jump into the conclusions. And the book is old and not likely to be updated. :-(

[Domingo Kaller · Rating 5 out of 5]

When it comes to SAR profiles this is the most complete thing out there.

[Christie Bane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that is hard to rate because it is extremely useful, well-written in an academic sense, but also a little dull. I will give it 4 stars overall, with 2.5 stars for "interesting" and 5 stars for "useful." There are a lot... A LOT... of numbers in this book. If you ever need to know how to figure out a Probability of Area in a search, this book right here -- or whatever the updated version of it is, since this one was published in 2008, and the chapter on cell phone towers probably is not even worth reading -- will be your best friend. If you want to know the differences in search parameters for children, despondent people, hikers, and snowmobilers, just to name a few of the categories they break down here, look no further. If you're looking for a relaxing beach read, look somewhere else.

[Patrick Sherlund · Rating 4 out of 5]

Completely changed the way I perceived search and rescue. My focus was purely on outcomes of natural disasters, not the psychological patterns of those who intentionally become lost. Now I’m asking myself how can we predict where these rescuees may have went, given their psychological profile and tendencies? How can we better inform SAR teams with this information? Great read, just wish there were more like this one!

[Mr. Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have done Search and Rescue since 2005 and I use this book often as a source of reference to assist me in my planning of SAR operations. It definitely aids you in selecting the correct Probability of Area.

[Lorne Cheeseman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an excellent resource. It is a technical reference book for lost persons a real tour de force of analysis of a database of lost person reports. Not much of a read as such so this is not a book for light reading.

[David Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful for SAR & cold case investigative work...a classic!

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is probably the single most important book for any search and rescue professional to read and own. While it's detailed and a bit of a slow read at first (not like we're reading fiction here!) there is, quite simply, no way you can do your job effectively without this book. Read it, then read it again, then buy a second copy so you can keep one in your gear bag. It's that simple.

[Matt Weeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading again