1. Practical Rescue Management DT9 1 PRM 09 v1.1 Copyright © BSAC 2009 Rescue Management Part 1

2. Practical Rescue Management DT9 2 PRM 09 v1.1 Copyright © BSAC 2009 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

3. Practical Rescue Management DT9 3 PRM 09 v1.1 Copyright © BSAC 2009 Prevention is better than cure! FatalDeath SeriousPanic EmergencyFear Minor incidents Normal activity The Incident Pit

4. Practical Rescue Management DT9 4 PRM 09 v1.1 Copyright © BSAC 2009 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

5. Practical Rescue Management DT9 5 PRM 09 v1.1 Copyright © BSAC 2009 Anticipation Before 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

6. Practical Rescue Management DT9 6 PRM 09 v1.1 Copyright © BSAC 2009 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

7. Practical Rescue Management DT9 7 PRM 09 v1.1 Copyright © BSAC 2009 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

8. Practical Rescue Management DT9 8 PRM 09 v1.1 Copyright © BSAC 2009 Recovery Controlled buoyant lift AS ascent Practise, practise, practise….

9. Practical Rescue Management DT9 9 PRM 09 v1.1 Copyright © BSAC 2009 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

10. Practical Rescue Management DT9 10 PRM 09 v1.1 Copyright © BSAC 2009 Summon assistance Assistance to casualty? or Casualty to assistance?

11. Practical Rescue Management DT9 11 PRM 09 v1.1 Copyright © BSAC 2009 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!

12. Practical Rescue Management DT9 12 PRM 09 v1.1 Copyright © BSAC 2009 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!

13. Practical Rescue Management DT9 13 PRM 09 v1.1 Copyright © BSAC 2009 Casualty records Personal details Incident history Signs and symptoms Changes in casualty’s condition and timings First aid given

14. Practical Rescue Management DT9 14 PRM 09 v1.1 Copyright © BSAC 2009 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

15. Practical Rescue Management DT9 15 PRM 09 v1.1 Copyright © BSAC 2009 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

16. Practical Rescue Management DT9 16 PRM 09 v1.1 Copyright © BSAC 2009 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

17. Practical Rescue Management DT9 17 PRM 09 v1.1 Copyright © BSAC 2009 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

18. Practical Rescue Management DT9 18 PRM 09 v1.1 Copyright © BSAC 2009 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

19. Practical Rescue Management DT9 19 PRM 09 v1.1 Copyright © BSAC 2009