NIGHT & WORKING IN THE DARK

Deploying in the dark and at night brings with it a unique set of challenges and issues to prepare for.

You can usually assume a few things on a night time call out:

• It will be darker than in the day
• It will be colder than in the day
• You will need to prepare (such as lights, clothes, no shops, etc.)
• Witnesses and public will be less if at all
• Your activities at night if seen or heard may concern the public who dont know what you are doing

Learn to use your flashlights and red lights (because that does not ruin your night vision) and also any adjuncts such as

• Passive NVGs (Night Vision Goggles)
• TICs (Thermal Imaging Camera)
• FLIR (Forward Looking Infra Red) etc.

5 types of light source on your operations

• High powered spot light / search light
• Lower powered search light
• Personal light (i.e., Head torch, periscope torch, pocket torch, etc.,)
• Low ambient light (i.e. dim red light & glow sticks)
• Reflective Light

Carrying a Torch Light

ALL SAR Members should always have a torch on them, even if in the day. I have seen, more than once, the ‘unprepared’ being out and entering a dark building with no lights or power and not being able to see in front of them..

How to use the 5 different types of light

If you are using ‘lights’ to search with we usually have 5 mentioned about used like this below. Obviously take it in context and use it as effectively as possible given the circumstances. Reflective striping on member uniforms and clothing so we can see where we all are – for safety and operational efficiency. You might use a low ambient red LED light or glow stick attached to the member’s rucksack to be seen in the distance, by cars or to map read but also a proper torch like a head torch or hand torch to see where you are going and the area ahead of you. (Use a good LED type where you get a lot of ‘on’ time in good brightness for the battery.) Then you may do a general search with a good low powered hand light and then if you see something in the distance (that isn’t a reflective team member!) then blast the high-powered ‘bazillion candlewatt’ search light over there.

NB: Caution with our Animal Team Members

One note here is that if you are working with dogs and horses etc., in a search try to be considerate to their eyes too. Don’t blast your lights in their eyes!

They also have a tapetum lucidum which is a layer of tissue in the eye (many vertebrates have) that lies immediately behind or sometimes within the retina. It reflects visible light back through the retina, increasing the light available to the photoreceptors. (Ever notice that strange blue in a dogs eyes at night, or a cats’ or rabbits?)

Red lights

Remember a “dim red light” or “Red lens over your white light” is a good idea for night searches.

It doesn’t necessarily help you see better in the dark but what it does do is reduce any degradation of your own ‘night vision.’ When our eyes are fully night adapted, we are using our rods.