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WATER RESCUE

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Water Rescue

• Need for water rescue awareness– Most FD’s have some body of water– Potential for flooding– Many water incidents require resources

beyond capability of FD• Operations and technician trained• Proper PPE• Technical rescue equipment

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NFPA 1670

– Water related disciplines• Dive• Ice• Surf• Swift water

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Hazards Associated with Water Rescue

– Firefighter (human) nature • Action oriented

– Need to do something now

• Make rescue attempts without proper training or equipment

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Hazards Associated with Water Rescue (con’t)

• An average of 7 public safety rescuers die each year in water related incidents.

• WHY?– Sound judgment, good reasoning, and disciplined plan of

action was not followed.– The temptation to enter an uncertain environment was

too great.– Lack of training and expertise in water related

emergencies.

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Environmental Hazards

– Extreme temperatures• Cold

– Hypothermia, frostbite, equipment malfunctions» Effects ability to think clearly & fine motor skills

• Heat– Hyperthermia, overheating in PPE– Underwater survival time lost in hot temperatures

» Exhaustion, dehydration

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Environmental Hazards (con’t)

– Weather• Rain, snow, high winds, fog

– Accelerates hypothermia– In still water, body heat is lost 25 times greater than in air

at the same temperature

– Aquatic environment• Animal life, fish, insects• Plant life, seaweed• Biohazards, bacterial, viral

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General hazards

– Utilities• Electric, gas, sanitary,

communications• Hazardous materials• Personal hazards – water’s edge

– Tripping, falling– Steep, slippery terrain– Drop-offs– Holes– Hidden obstructions

» Cause injury, entanglement

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Dive Operation Hazards

– Barotraumas• Decompression sickness• Nitrogen narcosis• Oxygen toxicity• Embolism

– Drowning• Fatigue• Lost diver• Loss of air• Anxiety reactions

Dive Operation Hazards

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Ice Operation Hazards

– Cold injuries• Frostbite• Hypothermia

– Thin ice• Sudden

immersion reflex• Entrapment

under ice

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Surf Operation Hazards

– Breaking waves• Generate extreme

force

– Undertows, tides, current

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Swift Water Operation Hazards

– Awesome, relentless power of moving water– Strainers & debris

• Stationary objects– Holes– Obstructions

• Above the water surface• Below the water surface

– Upstream “V”– Downstream “V”

Swift Water Operation Hazards

Swift Water Operation Hazards

EddiesCaused by an obstructions in the current that extend above the waters' surface. Upstream water flows around these obstructions leaving a void on the downstream side of the obstruction, causing the downstream to flow upstream to fill in the void behind the obstruction.

Upstream V’s

• Upstream V's should be noted as they indicate areas that may be trapping a subject against an obstacle. The Upstream V as shown in figure- 2 helps to indicate where the obstacle lies. Visible eddys downstream of an obstacle can be possible resting spots or dead zones that may be passively holding a subject from further travel down the waterway.

Downstream V’s

• Downstream V's are generated by water moving around several obstacles coming together in the path of least resistance. These downstream V's will contain some of the fastest moving water in the channel. If the subject does not become trapped, the downstream V's have the highest probability of containing the subject

Holes & Pillows• Holes and Pillows are also indicators of a submerged or partially submerged

obstacle. The pillow will lie upstream if the obstacle is completely below the surface of the water and downstream if the obstacle extends above the surface of the water. A hole is created by the void formed by water swirling around the obstacle. Water flows back into the hole to fill the void which may cause a strong flow of upstream current immediately following the obstacle.

• Local hazards play a large role in local waterway rescues. Holes as explained above can create a strong upstream current. Striking these upstream currents while traveling downstream may be equivalent to striking a solid surface. An extended head or neck could be easily injured if submitted to this abrupt change in water-flow direction.

Limb entrapmentLimb Entrapment is probably the most common hazard, where an arm or a leg becomes wedged into a rock or submerged debris and the body is held downstream by the force of the water.

For this reason if one finds himself trapped in a channel he should travel feet first with his feet high as is shown below.

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Swift Water Operation Hazards (con’t)

– Current patterns• Laminar flow• Helical flow

– Upwelling

• Eddies– Back current

– Heavy downpours• Make quiet streams

swiftwater

Swift Water Operation Hazards (con’t)

Water weight 62.4 lbs per cubic foot and typically flows downstream at 6 to 12 miles per hour.

Swift Water Operation Hazards (con’t)

When a vehicle stalls in the water the water’s momentum is transferred to the car. For each foot the water rises, 500 lbs. of lateral force is applied to the automobile.

Swift Water Operation Hazards (con’t)

But the biggest factor is buoyancy. For each foot the water rises up the side of the car, the car displaces 1500 lbs. of water. In effect, the automobile weighs 1500 lbs. less for each foot the water rises.

Swift Water Operation Hazards (con’t)

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Low Head Dam Hazards

– The killing / drowning machine• Boil line

– Point where water breaks in two directions

• Illusion– Cannot be perceived from

upstream– Do not look dangerous

• Hydraulic– Vertical whirlpool

• Aeration in the hydraulic– Causes cavitation to boat props

HydraulicsHydraulics form when water flowing over the top of the obstruction hits the water below creating a hole or depression which is filled in by the downstream water or backwash.

Hydraulics are created both by natural and manmade objects.

Natural hydraulics such as rocks, have an escape because of the non uniform surface and the flow of water

Manmade hydraulics, such as low head dams, are to perfect and have a uniform flow from end to end with little chance of escape.

The design of a low head dam will have a direct effect on the intensity of the hydraulic

Low Head Dam Hazards

Low Head Dam Hazards

Low Head DamsLow Head Dams are river obstacles that create a deadly trap for exposed subjects in the waterway. If the low head dam is sufficiently covered with water flow, a continuous "Hole" that extends across the waterway may be generated. If the subject makes it to the top surface he will be trapped between the Boil line and the dam by the flow of the intense backwash. If a subject is trapped in the recirculating water below the surface, he will quickly loose orientation and expire unless he can escape the motion. A possible escape route is shown below. A subject trapped in such a situation is in most critical need of outside action. A raft rescue or a helicopter static fly away is often the only reasonable chance the subject may have for survival.

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Water Rescue PPE

– Firefighting helmets, boots, and turnout gear are NOT appropriate for water rescue

– Proper PPE includes the following– Wet suits / dry suits / exposure suits

• Thermal protection• PFD’s (whistle & knife & strobe light or light stick)

– Worn by all personnel» In or near water» On a boat

• Taglines / lifelines• Helmet, gloves

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Cold Water Near Drowning

– Age of victim– Temperature of water

• Below 70oF• Patient could be below thermocline

– Length of submersion• Under 90 minutes

– Still rescue mode• Quality BLS & ALS treatment

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Size-up

• Scope, magnitude, type of water rescue incident

• Environmental factors– Change in weather conditions– Loss of daylight– Water levels– Current changes

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Size-up (con’t)

– Assessment of hazards– Location & number of victims– Risk / benefit analysis

• Rescue vs. recovery

– Access to scene

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Water Rescue

• Awareness Level Personnel May:• Establish scene control• Establish IC• Initiate accountability & safety• Evaluate patient condition

– Can patient assist with rescue?

• Activate Needed resources

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Water Rescue

• Awareness Level Personnel May: (con’t)• Secure & interview witnesses

– Keep witnesses at scene– Interview witnesses separately– Collect witnesses’ personal information

Water Rescue

• Awareness Level Personnel May: (con’t)• Establish last seen point

Triangulate with multiple witnessesUse a reference objectHole in ice is great last seen point

Don’t destroy it

Water Rescue

• Awareness Level Personnel May: (con’t)• Identify number of victims• Identify age and sex of victim, if possible

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Water Rescue

• Awareness Level Personnel May: (con’t)• Evaluate physical evidence

– Notes– Clothes– Footprints– Tire tracks– Debris– Oil slick– Bubbles

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Water Rescue

• Beyond the awareness level– AHJ must have emergency response plan

• Operations & technician level personnel• Police & evidence technicians• Specialized equipment

– Boats, tow trucks, etc.• EMS response

– Ambulance for patient(s)– Ambulance for divers– Aeromedical transport

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Scene Considerations

• Rehab personnel early• Operational plan

– Reach, throw, row, go

Scene Considerations

• Request divers early in an incident– Victims at the surface may submerge– Keep incident operating in rescue mode

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Water Rescue Summary

• Recognize the need for water search and rescue.• Describe implementing the assessment phase. • Identify the resources necessary to conduct safe

and effective water rescue operations.• Identify the emergency response system for water

rescue emergencies.

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Water Rescue Summary

• Identify the site control and scene management procedures at water rescue incidents.

• Identify the general hazards associated with a water rescue incident.

• Identify the rescue vs. recovery mode when concerned with a cold water near drowning patient.

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