Service Delivery 2

1
Service Delivery 2

• Water Rescues

2
Aim

• To give firefighters an overview of the
  techniques and hazards associated with water
  rescues.

3
Water Rescues

• Learning Outcomes
• State the hazards involved in water rescues
• State the various rescue methods
• Describe the appropriate casualty care.

4
Water Rescue

• There are 2 types of current generated in a
  river
• Laminar

5
Water Rescues

• Helical Flow

6
Water Rescues

• Hazards
• Weirs serious hazard
• Eddie an upstream current that forms behind an
  object in the water
• Undercut a rock that has been worn or eroded,
  usually below the waterline
• Strainer trees, rubbish, old bedsteads, allow
  water to flow through, but not you.

7
Water Rescues

• Debris Old bedsprings, bicycles, shopping
  trolleys, etc
• Entrapment getting feet caught in rocks, etc.
• If the water is deeper than 1m, the best way to
  cross is to float or swim.

8
Saving a Drowning Victim

• Reach
• Throw
• Wade
• Row
• Swim with an Aid
• Swim and Tow.

9
Rescue

• First try to throw a buoyant object
• Try to reach victim with a line or rope
• Next try a boat (if available)
• Swimming rescues should only be attempted by a
  qualified person
• If a line is attached to the rescuer it must be
  easily jettisoned.

10
Mammalian Diving Reflex

• There have been several cases of recovery after
  being submerged for considerably longer than the
  accepted 4 minutes
• This is attributed to a phenomenon called the
  mammalian diving reflex
• This is the bodys ability to channel blood away
  from non-vital functions and direct it to the
  brain
• For this reason do not give up just because its
  more than 4 minutes.

11
Line Rescues

• Stand sideways to the river
• Look for obstacles, tree branches, etc
• Throw the line upstream and allow it to float
  down to the victim
• Once the person has the line the current will
  usually swing them into shore, like a pendulum,
  be aware of any rocks which may be in their path.

12
Line Rescues

• If access to both sides of the water hazard is
  available a tag-line rescue can be used
• This is simply brought to a level with the
  stranded or trapped person
• A floating tag-line is a line stretched across
  with a buoyant object tied in the middle for the
  victim to hang onto.

13
Stabilising the Casualty

• In many circumstances it will be necessary to
  stabilise the casualty prior to rescue
• A line or a lifejacket can be thrown to the
  casualty
• Mouth to mouth can be given if the casualty is
  trapped in shallow water
• Consider using a BA set to allow the casualty to
  breath while rescuing.

14
Casualty Care

• Casualtys must be transported to hospital
  following drowning or near drowning due to a
  condition known as secondary drowning
• In this the casualtys lungs fill with fluid in
  response to the entry of water
• This can occur up to 24 hours after rescue
• It may also be necessary to treat the casualty
  for any pollutants in the water
• This also applies to any rescuers affected.

15
Ice Rescue
16
Rescues from Ice

• Victims can rescue themselves but panic often
  makes this unlikely
• Reassure the victim and try to get them to stop
  thrashing about
• They should try to crawl forward on their
  stomachs until their hips are at the edge of the
  ice then roll clear.

17
Rescues from Ice

• Never attempt an ice rescue without adequate
  preparation
• All rescuers on the ice must have safety lines
  around them
• Your safety depends on being able to recognise
  unsafe conditions
• Only minimum numbers on the ice.

18
Rescues from Ice

• Spread rescuers weight as much as possible, use
  ladders and attach lines to ladders as well as
  rescuers
• If the ice breaks and the ladder falls in, it may
  be possible to use it to climb out of the water
• On reaching the victim attach a lifejacket or
  grasp them firmly.

19
Rescues from Ice

• The rescuers will have to do all the work as the
  victim will probably be suffering from
  hypothermia and unable to assist in their own
  rescue
• Tag-line rescues can also be used for ice rescues
  if the victim has not been in too long.

20
Confirmation

• Assessments will be based on this lesson and the
  corresponding study note
• State the physiological effects of cold water
  immersion
• Demonstrate the treatment for hypothermia
• Demonstrate in-water survival techniques as a
  single survivor and in group conditions.