1. WATER RESCUE 1

2. 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 2

3. NFPA 1670
Water related disciplines
Dive
Ice
Surf
Swift water 3

4. Hazards Associated with Water Rescue
Firefighter (human) nature
Action oriented
Need to do something now
Make rescue attempts without proper training or equipment 4

5. 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. 5

6. 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 6

7. 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 7

8. 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 8

9. Dive Operation Hazards
Barotraumas
Decompression sickness
Nitrogen narcosis
Oxygen toxicity
Embolism
Drowning
Fatigue
Lost diver
Loss of air
Anxiety reactions 9

10. Dive Operation Hazards

11. Ice Operation Hazards Cold injuries Thin ice Frostbite Hypothermia
Sudden immersion reflex
Entrapment under ice 11

12. Surf Operation Hazards
Breaking waves
Generate extreme force
Undertows, tides, current 12

13. 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” 13

14. Swift Water Operation Hazards

15. Swift Water Operation Hazards

16. Eddies
Caused 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.

17. 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. 

18. 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

19. 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.

20. Limb entrapment
Limb 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.

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

22. Swift Water Operation Hazards (con’t)
Current patterns
Laminar flow
Helical flow
Upwelling
Eddies
Back current
Heavy downpours
Make quiet streams swiftwater 22

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. Swift Water Operation Hazards (con’t)
Two Feet of Water
Will Carry Away Most
Automobiles!!!

27. Low Head Dam Hazards The killing / drowning machine Boil line Illusion
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 27

28. Hydraulics
Hydraulics 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

29. Low Head Dam Hazards

30. Low Head Dam Hazards

31. Low Head Dams
Low 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.  

32. 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 32

33. 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 33

34. Size-up Scope, magnitude, type of water rescue incident
Environmental factors
Change in weather conditions
Loss of daylight
Water levels
Current changes 34

35. Size-up (con’t) Assessment of hazards Location & number of victims
Risk / benefit analysis
Rescue vs. recovery
Access to scene 35

36. 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 36

37. Water Rescue Awareness Level Personnel May: (con’t)
Secure & interview witnesses
Keep witnesses at scene
Interview witnesses separately
Collect witnesses’ personal information 37

38. Water Rescue Awareness Level Personnel May: (con’t)
Establish last seen point
Triangulate with multiple witnesses
Use a reference object
Hole in ice is great last seen point
Don’t destroy it

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

40. Water Rescue Awareness Level Personnel May: (con’t)
Evaluate physical evidence
Notes
Clothes
Footprints
Tire tracks
Debris
Oil slick
Bubbles 40

41. 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 41

42. Scene Considerations Rehab personnel early Operational plan
Reach, throw, row, go 42

43. Scene Considerations Request divers early in an incident
Victims at the surface may submerge
Keep incident operating in rescue mode

44. 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.  44

45. 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.  45

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