Truck Module Page 5 of 14 THE WATER RESCUE In addition to understanding water dynamics, rescuers need to use proper staffing and rescue equipment identified in a Water Rescue course. Like structure fires, proper safety gear must be used by all rescuers. Rescuer safety is the number one priority. When conducting a water rescue, certain safety steps must be taken and maintained. This will include an upstream safety watching for debris or other hazards and downstream safeties ready to assist if someone is swept into the water. Once these safety positions have been filled, properly trained personnel may attempt a rescue. Ropes systems and other technical rescue techniques should not be used without specialized training as water dynamics alter basic rescue evolutions. Throw bags, however, can and should be used by all personnel in downstream safety positions including low risk rescue techniques. With the possible exception of certain Code X rescues and searches, Escondido personnel will only conduct shore based rescue efforts in swift water. See EOM 508.05 and Truck Module sections 1206.00 and 1206.01. Objectives Understand Rescue Priorities, Phases of Rescue, Zones and Rescue Options. Explain five types of shallow water crossing methods. Describe the Continuous Loop rescue method. Identify the proper procedures for vehicle rescues. Demonstrate throw bag and self-rescue techniques. Rescue Priorities At all incidents the priorities of all rescuers should be: 1. Self 2. Team 3. Victim Only when rescuers have provided for their own safety, and their team s safety, can they start to perform rescues or operate in a water environment. No work or rescue can exceed the team s capability. Water Rescue Size-up The majority of water related rescues involve vehicles stuck or stranded on water covered roads. Fire personnel should always size-up each situation noting a few of the following conditions:
Truck Module Page 2 of 14 Get the BIG Picture: Weather conditions locally and upstream have a direct effect on your rescue. Flash floods and floating debris can cause tragic results. Note Water Conditions: Continually monitor any changes. Velocity - Normal water current is 6 to 12 mph. An object that takes 10 seconds to travel 100 equals 7 mph. (7 mph = 10 ft./second) Depth - 1 ft. of rise on a vehicle displaces 1500 lbs. and at 6 mph, creates 500 lbs. of lateral force. Two feet of water will float most compact cars. Width - distances across the water will affect access, communications and complexity of rescues. Local hazards - Always look for and point out to all Rescuers any strainers, hydraulics and other hazards around the victims, especially downstream of the rescue site. Rescue Considerations: As in all rescue situations size-up must include: Number of victims - Their ages and physical ability may help or increase the risk to Rescuers. Access to victims - This information will dictate the rescue complexity. Unless aerial apparatus can safely park on dry, stable ground to reach the upstream side of the victim(s) location, they should not be used. Additional resources - To safely perform a water rescue that requires rescuers to enter the water, all safety positions must be filled before entry can be made. For this reason alone, a request for additional apparatus for manpower and/or specialized Swiftwater rescue teams may be required. Primary and back-up plan - Always be flexible to current and changing conditions. Rescue plans should not cover only the immediate rescue, but also if someone is swept into the current. Think dynamic. Full safety gear - All personnel are required to wear a PFD within 10 feet of the water. PFD s must also be provided for and placed on each victim to be rescued. Firefighting turnouts and brush gear are never to be used for Swiftwater rescues. They quickly become saturated and heavy, restricting the movement of firefighters and provide no thermal protection. Personnel should never attempt to perform water rescues without the proper equipment and safety clothing. Minimum requirements: Helmets, PFD s and athletic shoes. Additional thermal protection is highly recommended.
Truck Module Page 3 of 14 Phases of a Rescue After the initial step of a scene assessment and plan can be formulated to affect the rescue. The plan should be made up of the following four phases. 1. Locate 2. Access 3. Stabilize 4. Transport This is known as the L.A.S.T. Principle and applies to all rescues. Once victims are located, then the team must (if possible) gain access to them by whatever method is appropriate. After reaching the victim, they must be stabilized. At a minimum, the victim should immediately be provided with a correctly-fitting buoyancy aid (PFD) and helmet. Lastly, the victim and rescuers will be transported back to safety and onto further care if required. Water Rescue Zones When dealing with water rescue incidents, it is advisable to zone the working area. Each zone requires a suitably trained and equipped people. Flagging or cones can be used to identify the zones. Hot Zone: The hot zone is the area covered by water. This is normally the greatest hazard and must be approached only by people capable of working safely in that environment. Rescuers should be at the Technician level. Warm Zone: In generally, it is the shoreline area within 10 of the water. The shoreline should be approached as dangerous. Personnel should be trained at the Operational level and should wear appropriate PPE. Cold Zone: This zone is for Awareness level trained personnel. Awareness level personnel may not approach the warm zone and definitely not the hot zone. Personnel in the cold zone might be medical teams and additional support staff. PPE is not required in the cold zone.
Truck Module Page 4 of 14 Rescue Options Talk-Reach-Throw-Row-Go-Tow-Helo Techniques for performing a water rescue can be complex. Starting from the easiest technique to the hardest may not always be an option. Team members should have the necessary skills and judgment to make a quick decision on the technique that may be the best option for the victim s survival. The techniques listed below are dependent on the situation. Shout & Signal Communicate with the victims by any means possible and (if safe) to self-rescue. Keep communication short and to the point. Maintain eye contact, speak clearly and ensure the communication received and understood. Reach: The limiting factor the reaching is the length of the reaching aid. Throw bags, inflated fire hoses, ladders, and wading poles have all been used. Throw bags are classified as a reaching technique due to the rescuer maintaining constant contact with the end of the rope. Throw: Objects thrown must be buoyant, such as a ring buoy, and are free from contact with the rescuer throwing it. Awareness level personnel may perform the throw technique and be wearing the appropriate PPE. After throwing a buoyant object, other techniques will most likely be required to complete the rescue. Wade: Entering shallow, slow-flowing water in order to perform a throwing, reaching, or contact rescue is a relatively low risk option for trained personnel. In flooded environments, the majority of rescues involve wading out to victims and returning with them. Craft: There are a wide variety of crafts that can be used to perform rescues including PWCs, inflatable boats, rafts, canoes, kayaks and others. Other techniques are often used in combination with watercraft. Swim: Swiftwater Rescue Technicians perform in-water, contact rescues where they swim to victims and bring them to safety. These rescues are performed regardless of the victim s
Truck Module Page 5 of 14 level of consciousness. This technique is a high risk rescue that should be performed by the most skilled and qualified member of the team. Helicopter: Helicopter rescues are performed by qualified personnel aboard the responding aircraft. Ground teams must remain in constant communications with the helicopter and be a lookout for potential hazards. Vehicle Rescues Escondido personnel will only attempt still water vehicle rescue. The majority of incidents will involve vehicles. The condition of the vehicle is the most important factor in determining the type of rescue. Position of vehicle - a vehicle pointed upstream or downstream is more stable than vehicles that are sideways or at an angle to the current. The average car will float for 45 seconds, even with the windows down. Soil composition - a vehicle will easily slide on a roadway or hard surface but will settle on soft and riverbed type soils. Always be prepared for the vehicle to move or roll. Even if the vehicle does roll, there are 3-5 seconds for the rescuers to react and get clear. On a soft surface, each tire will create an eddy, scooping the sand and mud out.
Truck Module Page 6 of 14 Eventually the vehicle will settle on the chassis.
Truck Module Page 7 of 14 Hydrology - water dynamics on a vehicle will be the same as a large rock or boulder. Low water levels create a strainer on the upstream side going under the vehicle. Depending on the type of vehicle and water level, eddies are created from the tires or the vehicle itself. Always approach the eddy, on the downstream side of the vehicle. Be aware of vehicle movement. Weight displacement of occupants - Occupants of vehicles should be told to stay on the upstream side of the vehicle to prevent it from rolling. As rescuers approach on the downstream side DO NOT let the passengers move downstream until you have eliminated the possibility of rolling or you have replaced victims with rescuers. Extrication - If a vehicle is fully submerged (little or no current), or if water is flowing and splashing over the car, don't use a window tool to break a downstream window. A loss of internal pressure may break other windows causing the vehicle to fill up quickly and unexpectantly flush victims out A vehicle that has settled onto its chassis may create a hydraulic on the downstream side.
Truck Module Page 8 of 14 Line Crossing Methods In the event a rope or life line needs to be sent from one side of a waterway to the other, there are several techniques to aid in accomplishing this task. Lines are used to shuttle equipment, boats, manufacture rope systems, or construct cinches to perform live rescues. Use a bridge Throwing Wading By Boat Rope launcher Catapults, bows or line guns Swimming (not approved at the operational level or below) Shallow Water Crossing Techniques These techniques are shown for information only. Escondido efforts are shore based in swift water only. After assessment of the scene and/or vehicle has been made, the decision to perform one of the following shallow water crossing procedures may be utilized. One Man Method - With the use of a stick, pike pole or paddle, a rescuer facing upstream puts the tool out in front of them leaning forward for support. The rescuer then side steps one foot at a time repositioning the tool in front of them, making the crossing. Line Astern Method - Three or more rescuers stand, one behind the other, facing upstream and supporting the person in front of them. The front person moves first, then number two, and finally the third, until the team is in a line again. In fast moving water, each member of the team moves at the same time. Victims would be numbers three and/or four with a rescuer behind the last victim. Line Abreast Method - Three or more rescuers stand side by side facing upstream with their arms interlocked and holding onto a pole or paddle. Everyone moves together giving each other support as they move. Victims would be placed in the center of the line.
Truck Module Page 9 of 14 Triangle method - Three rescuers face inward with arms firmly linked, heads close together and feet apart. One person moves as the other two support the one who is moving. This technique works to transport an infant or small child positioned on the arms of or in the middle of the team. Wedge Method - Five rescuers and stokes litter are needed to form a wedge with rescuers positioned on each corner of the basket facing upstream. One rescuer is the point person positioned at the head. All team members move at the same time during the crossing. Never lash victims into stokes litter during a water operation! Box Cinch The Box Cinch is used to capture a victim that is caught in a river, canal, or flash flood. Using throw bags, rescuers are able to catch the moving victim without entering the water with a reach of approximately 60 feet across. Equipment needed: 50 or 75 rope throw bag (drop bags) 2 Carabineers Gloves Helmet PFD (recommended) Rescuers A & B attach a carabineer to their throw bags. Rescuer A throws their throw bag across the water to B. Rescuer B throws their throw bag across to Rescuer A.
Truck Module Page 10 of 14 Rescuer A clips the carabineer on the throw bag that was sent over to their throw bag line. Rescuer B does the same. Both rescue then hold one of the lines down at water level and the other high above. As the victim approaches, the rescuers yell to the victim grab the line while the rescue shake the top line to capture the victim s attention. It is important to not let the victim actual grab the top line. As the victim reaches up at the top rope, which is just out of grasp, drop it behind them. Rescuers A and B pull fast and hard on their lines to collapse the lines onto the victim creating a cinch. Once the victim is captured, Rescuers A and B move upstream as far as their lines allow. Rescuer A then lets out line and Rescuer B pendulums the victim to shore.
Truck Module Page 11 of 14 Continuous Loop The continuous loop is a dynamic rescue system that is ideal for rescues suitable for shallow water crossings at a distance of 75 feet or less. This method should be used where swimming or floating may be necessary. Rescuer [B] is upstream and [C] is downstream of the victims with at least three times as much rope as the distance to cross tied into a large single loop. The distance between Rescuers [B] and [C] is at least the distance to cross apart. Rescuer [A] starts upstream next to [B] and slowly walks out towards the victims. If rescuer [A] falls, [B] belays the rope and [C] pulls [A] back to the riverbank. When [A] has reached the victims, they have created a loop (triangle) with each rescuer at the corners. A fourth rescuer [D] starts upstream next to [B] and walks out to [A] as each corner runs the rope through their hands. Do not anchor the corners as the system needs to be dynamic. Rescuer [D] then brings the victim back finishing next to [C]. [A] [B] [C] Throw bags Downstream safeties should all utilize a throw bag to affect a rescue. These rescuers should be spaced apart to avoid tangling lines. Rescuers are positioned with the end of the rope in one hand and the rope bag in the other. They aim for the victim when they are slightly upstream and deploy the bag in an underhanded smooth throw.
Truck Module Page 12 of 14 Once the victim grabs the rope, rescuers should take up the slack in the line and brace themselves for the load. Give slack if needed and swing the victim to shore. If the first toss doesn t work recoil the rope quickly and make a second attempt. Maintain verbal contact and give the victim directions and encouragement. Self-Rescue/Proper Swimming Position If suddenly thrown into the current, rescuers should position themselves on their back and both feet downstream. A Ferry Angle is the defensive swimming position with the body at a 45- degree angle to the current. This position allows the force of the current to assist you in reaching the riverbank. The key is, while on your back and facing downstream, point your head toward the riverbank, then backstroke and kick your feet. Look for and use eddies. 45 o to Current
Truck Module Page 13 of 14 Water Rescue Procedures Revised 8-16-17 THE 15 ABSOLUTES OF FLOOD AND SWIFTWATER RESCUE Rescue 3 identified 15 Absolutes for the basic principles of swiftwater and flood rescue. General Principles Keep it simple Always be pro-active Before the rescue starts The priority at the scene is always self-rescue first, the rescue and security of teammates second and the victim last. Always wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) Use the right equipment Do not use a fire helmet for water rescue operations Before entering the water Always deploy upstream spotters above the location of the rescue operationideally on both sides of the river Always have appropriate downstream backup Always have a backup plan Working with rope in the water Never tie a rope around a rescuer Never tension a rope at right angle to the current if it is to be used for in- water operations Never stand inside a loop of rope and always stand on the upstream side of the rope Performing the rescue Never put your feet down if swept away
Truck Module Page 14 of 14 Water Rescue Procedures Revised 8-16-17 Never count on victims to help in their own rescue Once victims are contacted, never lose them