SOP 209.04D
WATER RESCUE
SCOPE
This procedure applies to all members of the Ennis Fire Department that
are responsible for emergency response.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this procedure is to provide a guideline for conducting
all water rescue/recovery operations.
TACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Phase I Arrive on scene. Take command. Size up.
Command should secure a witness as soon as possible
after arriving on scene. This will help in identifying and locating the problem
the problem.
Command should immediately begin assessing the need
for additional resources. If additional resources are necessary, Command should
put in an early call for them. If later, it is determined that they are not
necessary, Command can put those units back in service.
Command should do an immediate assessment of the
present hazards. Command may want to assign an individual the Safety Sector.
Safety Sector will be responsible for identifying the hazards present
and to have them secured if possible. If it is not possible to secure hazards, Safety
Sector will notify all personnel of the hazards and notify Command so that
an action plan can be established. Some hazards associated with water rescue
operations would be: volume, velocity, and temperature of water, floating
debris, unusual drop-offs, hydraulic effects, and depth of water.
Based on the conditions present and the hazards to
rescuers, Command will have to make the decision to operate in the rescue or
recovery mode. If Command determines that the operation will be run in the
rescue mode, rescue should begin quick.
Command should establish an action plan as soon as
possible. The step-by-step plan should be communicated to all personnel
involved in the rescue.
Phase II Pre-Rescue Operations
Command or his/her designee should begin to make the
general area safe. On water rescue operations, this would include securing the
area and not allowing civilian personnel in to the water. In swift-water rescue
incidents, Command should assign an Upstream Sector to spot floating
debris and notify Command or Extrication Sector. Command may also want
to assign a helicopter the task of aerial recon for spotting hazards.
Command should secure the immediate rescue area.
He/she may want to assign a Lobby Sector to account for all personnel
working within the rescue area. Personnel working in the rescue area (waters
edge) shall have personal protective equipment (PPE), including personal
flotation device (PFD) and water rescue helmet, or appropriate SCUBA gear
during dive rescue/recovery operations. If at all possible, the hazards in the
rescue area should be secured. If it is not possible, Command or his/her
designee shall notify all rescuers in the area of the possible hazards.
Depending on the action plan established, Command
may want to establish an Extrication Sector. Extrication Sector
will be responsible for gathering all equipment and personnel necessary to
operate according to the action plan. Extrication Sector will assign
rescue personnel to conduct the rescue, and support personnel to support the
rescuers, during the actual rescue phase. Extrication Sector should have
an alternative action plan should be communicated to all personnel operating in
the rescue area.
Phase III Rescue Operations
After pre-rescue operations are complete, Extrication Sector
shall put forth the action plan for the removal of the victim(s). Rescue
operations should be conducted from low risk to high risk order. Rescues should
be conducted with the least amount of risk to the rescuer necessary to rescue
the victim. Low risk operations are not always possible by means of a high risk
operation, Extrication Sector shall communicate with Command the
risk/benefit of the operation. Command should assign downstream personnel, with
throw bags, and an opposite water-side/bank-side sector for incidents involving
swift-water rescue. The order of water rescue from low risk to high risk will
be:
TALK
the victim into self-rescue. If possible, the victim can be talked into swimming
to shore or assisting the rescuers with his/her own rescue. If a victim is
stranded in the middle of a flash flood, this will not be prudent.
REACH
If possible, the rescuer should extend his/her hand or some other object, such
as a pike pole, to remove the victim from the water.
THROW
If the victim is too far out in the water to reach, rescuer(s) should attempt
to throw the victim a throw bag or some piece of positive flotation (i.e., PFD,
rescue ring). Downstream personnel should be in position during the actual
rescue operation. If the victim is able to grab the throw bag, the rescuer can
pendulum belay or haul the victim to the nearest bank. Care should be taken to
assure the victim will be belayed to a safe downstream position.
First responders that have had operational level water rescue training
should be able to conduct the above rescues without the help of the Technical
Rescue Team (T.R.T). If the victim cannot be reached by either of these
methods, Command should consider stopping the operation until units of the
T.R.T. arrive. If the operation becomes a high risk one, Command will want the
equipment and experience of the T.R.T. After the Technical Rescue Team arrives,
Command should discuss with them the action plan. Command should consider
re-assigning the Extrication Sector to a company officer from the T.R.T.
The next order of water rescue from low risk to high risk would be:
ROW
If it is determined that a boat based operation shall be run, Command should
assign a company on the opposite bank to assist Extrication Sector in
establishing an anchor for a rope system. The company on the opposite bank will
be made aware of the action plan. Extrication Sector will be responsible
for seeing that the rope system used for the boat based operation is built safe
and proper. A minimum of 2 point tether should be built for swift-water
operations. Extrication should consider personal protective equipment
(PPE) for victim(s).
GO If it is not possible to ROW (boat base
operation) to the victim, Extrication Sector should consider putting a
rescuer in the water to reach the victim. This is a very high risk operation.
Only rescuers with the proper training and equipment should be allowed to enter
the water. Prior to the rescuer actually proceeding into the water, he/she
shall discuss the action plan, including specific tasks and objectives, hazards
and alternate plans. The rescuer shall never be attached to a life line without
the benefit of a quick-release mechanism. The rescuer should take PPE of at least
a PFD to the victim. Members shall not do a breath-hold surface dive in an
attempt to locate a victim beneath the surface of the water.
HELO
At times the use of a helicopter is the most reasonable method of reaching the
victim. Helicopter operations over water are considered high risk operations.
Command should consult with Extrication Sector and the pilot to
determine the risk/benefit of the use of a helo. If the pilot says he/she can
do the operation, Command should consider it. Extrication should assign
rescuers to the helicopter and discuss with the pilot and the rescuers the
specific action plan. Extrication Sector, or his/her designee should
address the weight and balance considerations. Command will have the final say
on the use of a helicopter for water rescue operations. The pilot will have the
final say on how the helicopter will be used.
ASSESSING THE VICTIM
Once the rescuer(s) have reached the victim, they should do an
immediate assessment of the victim; a quick assessment of the ABC's and the
exact method of entrapment. If the victim is conscious, the rescuer should
determine if the victim can assist in his/her own rescue. If the victim is
unconscious, the rescue must be quick. If it has been determined to be an
underwater or recovery operation, Extrication should proceed with a dive
operation (see Dive Operations). Depending on the length of submersion, Extrication
Sector will decide on a dive rescue or recovery operation. If the victim
can assist in his/her own rescue, the rescuers should proceed with the rescue
action plan. The victim should be brought to shore as soon as possible.
TREATMENT
As soon as the victim is brought to safety, an assessment should be
done by ALS personnel. Treatment shall be administered as per local protocol.
If necessary, the victim shall be transported to the appropriate facility.
Phase IV Termination
Command should begin termination as soon as possible after the victim
has been removed from the water. This shall include securing all the equipment
used for the rescue and personnel accountability. This may also include
witnesses, photo's, victim's personal affects or equipment used in the rescue.
Members should not become part of a towing operation to remove vehicles from
the water. One company should stand by for rescue if a tow truck driver insists
on retrieving the vehicle. Command should also consider activating the C.I.S.D.
for extraordinary or extended operations.
I. PREPARE FOR TERMINATION
Additional Considerations: