Water Safety Theory

David WebsterJune 2015

Plan for tonight: Lowland Rescue’s Water Safety Policy Water Awareness

Basics Hydrology (what water does) Physiology (what the body does)

Bank Search Team Structure PPE Rescue Techniques Communication

Bodies in Water Who/what/how/where

Water Training

Water Awareness

(WA, mod 1)

Bank Searcher(BS)

Bank Search Team Leader(speculative)

Water Rescue First Responder

(FR, mod 2)

Swiftwater Rescue

Technician(SRT, mod 3)

Swiftwater Boat Operator(mod 4)

RYA Powerboat 2 (PB2) Kayak? …

Everyone needs WA

We’d like everyone to do BS

Floods/in water search

Deeper or faster water

Thames at high flows?

Lowland RescueDEFRA

Other

Key:

Minimum for boat operator

Water Awareness – every searcher.

Bank Search – anyone searching near water.

Water Rescue First Responder – anyone entering still or slow moving water

Swiftwater Rescue Technician – anything moving water relatedphoto credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/calemaphotos/4557785089/

Warm zone

• minimum of 3m from water’s edge

• does not include access routes, bridges, etc. while transiting

• can be extended by TL with a DRA

• doesn’t apply to shallow water where PPE wouldn’t help, e.g. puddles, almost dry ditches, etc.

Picture Credit: © Rescue 3 Europe Ltd.

Swimming ability

Bank and Water based searchers must:

• Be able to swim 50m in light clothing

• Practical at Hinksey Heated Outdoor Pool next week

• We allow Self-certification

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/artbandito/48

50563283

Hidden Dangers

Weir Demo Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TlSMD1iEwU

Hydrology

Cold Water Immersion videos: https://

www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxKdp8_KfCQnMeVV5WjCGLQtOk0IdR_4S

Physiology

Water Awareness in a nutshell:

Stay away, stay dry, stay safe.

Water Awareness:

• Stay Away

• Stay Dry

• Stay Safe

This photo was taken in Feb 2014 at Days Lock, Dorchester, just a few days after we had a callout there.Photo Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/aiddy/12410864565

Bank SearchTheory

David WebsterNovember 2014

Why do we need Bank Searchers?

Dynamic Upstream SearchTeam: 1x TL, 1 or 2x Safety, 1x Searcher

Drag picture to placeholder or click icon to add

Text book bank search example (but wearing Flood First Responder PPE)

Bank Search PPEEach team

2 x Throwline 2 x Karabiners 2 x Knife 2 x Pole TL Kit. Night:

Search Torch(es)

Each person

PFD (Life Jacket) Yellow Helmet (White for TL) Whistle Reduced Search Kit? Night:

Head Torch Glowsticks:

Yellow on Helmet Green on Throwbag

Team Leader’s Responsibilities

Ensure searchers’ safety Continuously monitor the condition of

the searchers (e.g. effect of weather, fatigue, etc...)

Have overall control of searchers’ effectiveness and positioning

Maintain visual and verbal contact with searchers

Initiate emergency action if necessary

Just the same as in any other sector, but in a higher risk scenario

Team Leaders: DRA.

Searcher safety The potential need for rescue Available resources, PPE Lighting Current, past & expected weather Communications Downstream safety Additional hazards (e.g. bio, chem.,

electrical etc.)

The greatest difficulty may be in stopping an unsafe search or rescue attempt

SM/TL Risk AssessmentSearch Manager

Duration of Immersion Familiarity of area Light Weather Downstream Hazards Comms Access

Bank Search Team Leader

River Levels High/low, rising/stable/falling

Terrain Steep or flat

Bank Conditions Clear or not?

Water Grade 1 = flat 2 = flat & flowing 3 = small rapids 4 = large rapids

Water Speed Meters/second

Rescue Options & Principles

Rescue Priorities

You Team Public Casulty

Looking after yourself first is the most important thing you will learn today.

Absolutes of Water Rescue

Wear PPE in the Warm Zone. Wear it correctly. Never put your feet down if swept away. Once the casualty is contacted, never lose

them. Never count on a casualty helping themselves. Keep It Simple. Always use the right equipment. Never tie a rope around a rescuer. Never tension rope at a right angle to the

current. The Clean Rope Principle

Rescue Options

Shout Reach Throw NOT: Row NOT: Go

Casualty Management

Get an ambulance. Drowning people panic. They will be cold. Keep horizontal. Survival bag & warm dry clothes.

Communications:

Whistle: short blasts:

1. Stop. Look towards whistler

2. Look (/move) upstream

3. Look (/move) downstream In Emergency:

3 long blasts repeated

Check signals with team during brief

If you fall in:

Do NOT try to stand up in moving water.

Float on your back, letting PFD do the work.

Feet up, pointing down stream.

Look around you and listen

Bodies in WaterDavid Webster

June 2015

Stats

4 people per day drown 75% in inland water 2/3 accidental, 1/3 suicide Typically young adults & children, but

Grampian lists for almost all ages Autistic Mispers: 90% of fatalities due

to drowning

If you find a body in water

Treat as you would a dry body. Your safety. Signs of life? Crime scene?

What to look for:

Bodies are always face down, head hanging lower than body Head injuries? Immersion artefacts:

Goose bumps Swelling & wrinkling Waxy substance

Bodies sink Resurface time depends on water temp

Jan/Feb: possible no resurfacing Apr, May, Sep, Oct: 3 -5 days Jun, Jul, Aug: 2 days Nov, Dec: 10 – 14 days

80% of mispers found within 10m of entry

Find locations

Suspected find locations: Strainers Eddies Weirs Outside of bends Bridge Stanchions Undercut banks Pools of water after rapids

Clues: Piles of clothes Slip/entry points

Questions?

More Information

See D4H for: Defra Concept of Flood Ops ALSAR Standard Operating

Procedures Bank Search Training Notes Dundee Drowning Research and more

Consider: rescue3europe.com