For an extended SAR search, what step is recommended?

• A. Late deployment of a SLDMB
• B. Early deployment of a (SLDMB)
• C. Immediate recovery of all assets
• D. Disregard SLDMB data

Answer: (B)

In an extended SAR search, having drift data early is crucial to focus the search where a survivor could have moved. Deploying a Self-Locating Datum Marker Buoy early places a marker in the water that drifts with currents and wind, providing real-time and historical drift information that feeds trajectory models. Those models help adjust the search plan as time passes, narrowing theAreas where the subject is likely to be and saving valuable time. Delaying deployment wastes valuable drift history and reduces the accuracy of predictions, which can expand the search unnecessarily and hinder the chance of a quick rescue. SLDMB data should be used to guide the search, not ignored.