Rescue Management Part 1

Outline An effective rescue relies upon Personal rescue skills of participants Management of all available resources Personal skills addressed in Ocean / Sports / Dive Leader training This lesson starts to address incident management: Prior to the event - aspects affecting incident prevention Of the actual event - management at the time Rescue Manager’s role

Prevention is better than cure! Minor incidents Normal activity Emergency Fear Serious Panic Fatal Death The Incident Pit

Key factors in incident prevention It is easier to prevent incidents than it is to have to resolve them Sound training Regular practise A progressive build up of experience An effective buddy system Regularly maintained equipment Properly organised diving Constant monitoring of diving conditions

Anticipation Before the dive: During the dive: Diver nervousness and reluctance Excuses Stress indications Repeated questions Slow kitting up or constant fiddling with equipment During the dive: Continually monitor depth, time, air supply and buddy Be alert to changing conditions Resolve small problems before they have a chance to grow Terminate the dive early if necessary The surface cover should: Monitor changes in sea and surface conditions Recall the divers if necessary

When it all goes Wrong… Rescues consist of a number of related activities Unless correctly managed activities will be At best – inefficient At worst – counterproductive Will first consider what activities are needed Then consider their management

Safety Urgency of the situation pre-disposes towards unnecessary risk taking Safety of rescuers is paramount! Could create further casualties Detrimental to initial casualty Places more demands on resources available

Recovery Controlled buoyant lift AS ascent Practise, practise, practise….

Security Make casualty positively buoyant at the surface Face as clear of the water as possible Fully inflate BC Dry suits May not retain air at surface May put pressure on casualty's neck

Assistance to casualty? Casualty to assistance? Summon assistance Assistance to casualty? or Casualty to assistance?

Removal from the water Multiple activities RB Remove equipment Lift from water Protect from further injuries Requires space! Share activities between rescuers Co-ordination needed!

On Site Diving First Aid Priorities: Danger – Response – Airway – Breathing – Circulation Major bleeding Major diving conditions Other conditions Shock Tender Loving Care! Unconscious casualties can often hear!

Casualty records Personal details Incident history Signs and symptoms Changes in casualty’s condition and timings First aid given

Emergency Services on Land Police/Ambulance/Coastguard Telephone: 999 or 112 British Hyperbaric Association / Royal Navy Diver Help Line England, Wales & N. Ireland: 07 831 151 523 Scotland: 0845 408 6008 Give full details Nature of incident Location Personnel involved Report back to Rescue Manager essential

Emergency Services at Sea Contact Coastguard on VHF Channel 16 Life in imminent danger Mayday, Mayday, Mayday….. Assistance required urgently Pan, Pan, Pan……. Give full details Vessel’s name/call sign Position and intentions Nature of emergency Assistance required Report back to Rescue Manager essential

Managing activities An effective rescue requires someone to take overall charge: a Rescue Manager! Role of the Rescue Manager: Not to try to do it all!!!! Assess – Plan – Act Delegation Strategic control of activities Monitoring of progress

Delegation Break activities into related groupings Direct assistance RB, lifting from the water Support Preparing oxygen equipment, flares Communications Radio/telephone calls Dive Management Monitoring other divers Allocate activities according to skills possessed

Summary Prevention is better than cure Many activities are involved in a rescue Maximum effectiveness requires: Effective use of rescue skills of all involved All efforts are properly coordinated Rescue Manager’s role: Identification of all requirements Delegation of tasks to appropriately skilled rescuers Overall coordination of rescue Continuously monitor progress