Search teams are equipped with night vision goggles, a searchlight scanner, thermal imaging cameras, and FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) systems to maximize the chances of locating the missing subject. These technologies allow rescuers to search in complete darkness by detecting heat signatures or, if the subject is able, spotting the beam from a headlamp.
Unlike ordinary cameras, thermal imaging systems cannot use standard glass lenses because glass blocks infrared energy. Instead, they use specialized germanium lenses, which allow infrared radiation to pass through while blocking visible light. This enables rescuers to visualize temperature differences that are invisible to the human eye, even on the darkest nights.
Thermal cameras and FLIR are powerful tools, but they are not “magic.” Dense forest canopy, rugged terrain, vegetation, and weather can all reduce their effectiveness. For that reason, they are used alongside highly trained ground search teams, whose careful, methodical searching remains the foundation of every overnight operation.