Remaining hot on the trail


Published on Friday, March 30, 2007 10:20 AM CDT



Search-and-rescue team visits Whispering Forest Elementary

By Andrea Daniel

St. Tammany News

Matthew McDermott, of the K-9 Austin Search and Rescue, speaks to the first- and third-grade classes at Whispering Woods Elementary in Slidell about K-9 search and rescue efforts.(Staff Photos by Shane M. Douglas)

Sitting cross-legged, waiting to be found, a third-grader let out a laugh of surprise when a small black nose appeared under the tent.

Laughter and applause erupted from the other students watching to see if Willa really could locate which of the three tents the student was under.

Matthew McDermott of the K9 Search Austin brought Willa, his 7-year-old black part Australian shepherd, part flat-coated retriever, to Whispering Forest last week to demonstrate to students how Willa trains and how children can keep safe when they are lost.

Willa seemed to be smiling the whole time as students stared intently at her, all wishing to extend their arms and give her a pat on the head. Willa sat completely still, obedient to her handler, McDermott.

Days after Hurricane Katrina, McDermott and Willa arrived in Slidell with several search-and-rescue teams searching the area for missing people. The teams spent five days in Slidell, during which time McDermott said his team managed to locate one person.

Almost two years later, McDermott and Willa returned to Slidell where his sister-in-law, Cheryl Pearse, a third-grade teacher at WFE, lives. While in Slidell, McDermott made a special visit to WFE. Pearse's daughter, Jaci, was McDermott's helper for the presentation.

Willa did tricks with her tug-of-war rope toy as McDermott explained to the students Willa's strengths lie in her ability to smell and see better than humans.

McDermott also told the students how to keep calm if they every got lost.

"Don't lose your brain," he said.

The brain is the most important tool to use in a scary situation, McDermott said, for example, being lost in the woods.

McDermott offered a few tips for students if they ever got lost:

  • Hug a tree. It's easier to find someone if they stay in one place. So find a tree and stay next to it.

  • Tear a hole in a large trash bag and put it over your body to keep warm and dry.

  • Talk to strangers. The difference, McDermott said, between good and bad strangers is that the good strangers are going to know your name. People are going to be calling your name looking for you. Make sure to answer them.

  • Carry a whistle. The sound of a whistle will carry further than your voice.

    Willa has been doing search and rescue for four years with McDermott, who said he became interested in search and rescue after the tragedies of Sept. 11, 2001.

    McDermott is a volunteer search-and-rescue handler for the San Antonio Police Department and is the lead handler for K9 Search Austin.

    McDermott's day job is as a computer consultant. Willa comes to work with him and has her own little bed under his desk.

    "My boss is extremely understanding," McDermott said.

    McDermott called his boss at 9 a.m. the Monday after the hurricane to say he wouldn't be coming in the rest of the week because he was on his way to Slidell.

    "Two hours later, he called back," McDermott said. "He had got the board to put another week vacation in for me."

    McDermott's team left with $1,000 out-of-pocket money, a tank of gas plus extra gas and enough food for humans and dogs for seven days.

    Pictures from McDermott's visit in Slidell after Katrina are www.K9search.org.


    • Copyright © 2009 St. Tammany News

    Comments

    2 comment(s)

      Aunt Mary wrote on Jul 24, 2009 4:56 PM:

      " Sarah,
      You have done so well. I am sure your Dad is so proud of you. We all are.
      Praying for your Dad.
      Love, Aunt Mary "

      karen wrote on Mar 27, 2008 7:02 PM:

      " Congrats you two.. Harold I know your parents and know they must be really proud of you.. "

    WRITE A COMMENT

    Use the form below to post a brief comment to this story, or respond to other readers. Please use the word count tool to assist you in keeping your remarks to 100 words or fewer.

    Comment posters are responsible for the opinions they express and the accuracy of the information they provide. We urge comment writers to treat this as a public forum where manners matter. We encourage a collegial, non-insulting tone. All readers comments must be approved by our staff before posting to the Web site. They review submitted comments periodically during the day for offensive or off-topic content before posting. Be aware, in accordance with the Communications Decency Act and provisions upheld in judicial appeal, that you are responsible for comments posted on this Web site. The St. Tammany News is not liable for messages from third parties.

    DO NOT POST:
    * Potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.
    * Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
    * Personal attacks, insults or threats.
    * The use of another person's real name to disguise your identity.
    * Comments unrelated to the story.
    * Personal Information (phone numbers, addresses, etc.)

    Opinions, advice and all other information expressed in thesttammanynews.com's reader comments represent the individual's own views and not necessarily those of the St. Tammany News. The St. Tammany News does not endorse and is not responsible for statements, advice or opinions offered by anyone other than authorized St. Tammany News spokespersons.

    Your thoughtful contribution to the online discussion is appreciated.

    (optional)
    Current Word Count:
       






    Weather