Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout202.014d - Water Rescue Operations STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES MANUAL TACTICAL OPERATIONS 202.014d WATER RESCUE OPERATIONS EFFECTIVE: AUGUST 2009 Current Revision Date: 7/1/19 Next Revision Date: 7/1/22 Author’s Name/Rank: Sean Johnson, Fire Captain Review Level: 1 Administrative Support: Sherrie L. Badertscher Management Analyst II PURPOSE This policy is intended to provide guidance for Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department) first due companies and the Department’s Water Rescue Team (WRT) to conduct safe and effective surface rescue and dive operations. APPLICATION This policy will be applied to any incident where entry into a body of water is necessary for either a rescue, search or hazard mitigation including; canals, ponding basins and the San Joaquin River. All bodies of water within the WRT response area are considered cold water and provide victims of drowning a one (1) hour timeline for full resuscitative measures. OPERATIONAL POLICY Water Rescue Dispatch Assignment The dispatch assignment for a water rescue will include the following resources: 1. Engine 19 2. Rescue 219 or 319 depending on nature of call per captains discretion 3. One (1) Engine Company 4. One (1) Truck Company 5. Battalion chief 6. Two ALS ambulances a. One ALS ambulance will be assigned as a standby and medical monitoring for WRT members b. One ALS ambulance will be assigned to the potential victim Section 202.014d Page 1 of 10 Upon confirmation of a water rescue, the incident commander may request the following additional resources, as needed: 1. Additional first responder units: Fire, EMS, Police 2. WRT Coordinator 3. Public Information Officer 4. Swiftwater Flood Search and Rescue (SFSAR) OES Resources WATER RESCUE TEAM OPERATIONAL MODES Rescue Mode – Used when there is a chance a life may be saved, involves quick decisions, brief witness interviews, and prompt search patterns. Per Fresno County EMS protocols, all bodies of water in Fresno County are considered cold water. Rescue efforts should be conducted for at least one (1) hour. Extended Search Mode – Used when the victim is not located within the hour of initial report. The incident commander should consider additional resources including recall of WRT members and/or mutual aid requests of specialized water rescue resources. WRT members on the initial search will be monitored for signs of hypothermia and/or fatigue and rehabbed as necessary including consideration of medical monitoring Recovery Mode – Used when victim has been in water for over an hour, recovering articles, or vehicles. Recovery mode searches are conducted at a slower pace. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) 1. First Due and Supporting Fire Companies PPE A perimeter will be established and entry denied from the water to 15’ from the water’s edge to bystanders and first responders not properly equipped with the appropriate safety equipment. All members operating within 15’ at the edge of a body of water will be dressed in the following PPE at a minimum: a. Personal floatation device (PFD) with whistle b. Day boots or tennis shoes (1) Turnout boots create a safety hazard and inhibit the ability to self- rescue in the event of an accidental submersion c. Grass pants or regular duty pants d. Regular short sleeved shirt or grass jacket e. Rescue helmet if available Section 202.014d Page 2 of 10 (1) Firefighting helmets create a safety hazard and may result in cervical spine trauma or airway obstruction. If no rescue helmets are available then no helmet will be worn. 2. Water Rescue Team PPE PPE requirements are dependent upon the incident requirements which are typically a surface rescue or dive operation. The following are minimum requirements for WRT members: a. Surface Rescue PPE (1) Waterproof radio (2) Water Rescue Helmet (3) Wetsuit or dry suit (4) PFD with knife and whistle (5) Booties and/or tennis shoes (6) Personal belt-type throwbag with quick release (7) Night Operations o Glowstick with colors other than white attached to helmet and PFD. o Waterproof flashlight or headlamp b. Dive Operations PPE (1) Surface Supplied Air Primary and Backup Divers o Wetsuit or Dry Suit a. Dry suit must be a diving dry suit with pressure regulating mechanisms o Booties and Gloves o Kirby Morgan Band Mask & Umbilical o “Bail out bottle” capable of supporting four (4) minutes of reserve air at depth o Commercial Diving Harness with two (2) cutting devices attached o Weight belt configured for environment a. Heavy overweighed for swiftwater diving b. Neutral weighted for static water diving o Night Operations a. Glowstick with colors other than white attached to helmet and harness b. Waterproof high powered flashlight rated to depth (2) SCUBA Primary and Backup Divers o Wetsuit or Dry Suit a. Dry suit must be a diving dry suit with pressure regulating mechanisms o Booties and Gloves o Hood o Fins (optional determined by diver and supervisor) o Diving mask (half or full face) Section 202.014d Page 3 of 10 o Buoyancy control device o Regulator o Submersible pressure gauge o 2 cutting devices o Detachable secondary air source with independent regulator o Harness with rope attachment and quick release o Standalone SCUBA 80 cubic foot tank with regulator for RIC application o Weight belt configured for environment a. Heavy overweighed for swiftwater diving b. Neutral weighted for static water diving o Night Operations a. Glowstick with colors other than white attached to helmet and harness b. Waterproof high powered flashlight rated to depth TEAM ORGANIZATION The daily staffing for the dive team will consist of four (4) certified divers. A primary diver, a back-up diver, a dive supervisor, and air box control operator. In addition, first due companies will be assigned to the WRT in a support role during incidents including tending the primary and backup diver as well as upstream spotter and downstream safety. For administrative organization of the WRT, there will be at least one (1) dive team coordinator. The coordinator will divide team management responsibilities into training, equipment maintenance, and records. Training Requirements 1. First Due Companies All companies with a water hazard in their jurisdiction will receive training in supporting water rescue team operations including tending and swift water first response. First responding engine or truck companies will be briefed and assigned as tenders as well as other required positions deemed necessary by the dive group supervisor for a safe operation. Under no circumstances are divers allowed in the water without a backup safety diver and a tender. 2. Water Rescue Team It is the intention to provide members with the training and continuing education necessary to perform safe and effective surface rescues and dive operations in all environments typically encountered in the WRT response area. The following are the minimum requirements for the WRT: Section 202.014d Page 4 of 10 a. Initial training (1) Passing score on the IADRS Watermanship swim test (2) Swiftwater Rescue Technician Unit-1 (3) Swiftwater Rescue Technician Advanced (4) Open Water Diver (5) Advanced Open Water Diver (6) Rescue Diver (7) Surface Supplied Air Public Safety Diver (8) Swiftwater Rescue Boat Operator b. Annual continuing education (1) Six (6) logged dives with a minimum of three (3) pressure group changes (2) Swiftwater skill circuit including: a. River crossing b. Self-rescue eddy out c. Throwbag d. Motorized boat hold station e. Motorized boat victim recovery f. Stalled engine eddy out paddling (3) Diving pool competency skill demonstration (4) IADRS Watermanship swim test (5) Attendance of six (6) training days COMMAND STRUCTURE The first officer to arrive at the scene will assume command of the incident and will be the incident commander until relieved by a higher ranking officer or a more qualified officer. Sizeup 1. Scene safety a. Are members and others in the area in a safe location (1) Are they out of the path of moving/rising water (2) What are the current weather conditions (3) Are they away from any hazards 2. What happened? What events led up to the rescue problem a. Find a witness b. Is the victim stationary or moving with the current c. What is the point last seen (PLS) 3. What is the condition of the victim a. Level of consciousness Section 202.014d Page 5 of 10 b. Injuries c. How long since last contact d. Multiple victims 4. What are the immediate hazards to the victim(s) and rescuers a. What are the volume and velocity of the water b. What are the depth and temperature of the water c. What hazards are approaching from upstream (1) Debris (2) Other persons/boats d. What hazards are downstream (1) Debris (2) Low-head dam (3) Low obstructions (4) Strainers e. What hydraulic effects are present (1) Drop off (2) Low-head dam (3) Smooth walls (4) Strainers 5. Is this a rescue or a body recovery a. Weigh risks against benefits and potential for a successful rescue operation First-Arriving Company Upon arrival, the first company officer will establish command and initiate the following actions: 1. Isolate and deny further entry into or near the water hazard 2. Establish communications with the victim as soon as possible. a. Can the victim be talked into self-rescue b. Is it safe to do so 3. Confine the search area a. Send an engine to the furthest downstream point the patient could have reached 4. Attempt non-entry rescue (if possible) a. Reach: Best for use when the victim is not moving (1) Use a long object such as a pike pole for the victim to grab onto (2) It is preferred an object is used rather than a hand to avoid being pulled into the water Section 202.014d Page 6 of 10 (3) Use ground ladders to provide footing on slopes/inclines (4) Assure solid footing is established for all rescuers b. Throw: Use a throw bag for the victim to grab and pendulum swing them to the side (1) Be aware of downstream hazards (2) Assure solid footing is established for all rescuers 5. Consider need for additional equipment a. Special call of additional specialized resources determined by Incident Commander b. Mutual-aid resources available (1) Fresno County Sheriff’s Office – river boats (2) Fresno County Sheriff’s Office – dive team (3) Fresno Police Department/California Highway Patrol (CHP)/Sheriff helicopters Victim considerations Before any rescue is attempted, command must determine as much information as possible. 1. What is the gender and age of the victim 2. Is the victim a good swimmer 3. Is the victim wearing a personal flotation device (PFD) 4. What is the victim’s condition (Exhausted, hypothermic, altered, etc.) 5. Does the victim have something sturdy to hang on to Water Rescue Team Upon arrival, establish communications with command and re-assess the situation. 1. Establish a perimeter and control zones a. Hot Zone: Area involving the victim; the most hazardous area (1) Only certified members wearing rescue PPE should enter the water to perform swift water rescues b. Warm Zone: Area that could potentially become hazardous and involve a rescuer or bystander (1) Area immediately adjacent (within 15 feet) to the water’s edge c. Cold Zone: Area that is a safe distance from the water and could not quickly become hazardous Section 202.014d Page 7 of 10 (1) Safe for media, family, bystanders, etc. 2. Create an incident action plan 3. Initiate a pre-dive briefing if a dive is to be conducted including a. Potential hazards to diver b. Objective c. Maximum depth d. Maximum bottom time e. Any additional information necessary for a safe dive Chief Officer Upon arrival, battalion chief will: 1. Consult with the incident commander regarding status of incident 2. Assume command of incident 3. Redirect strategy mode as required 4. Consider additional resources 5. Direct or redirect actions of on-scene companies 6. Direct or redirect actions of incoming companies 7. Provide logistical support 8. Establish rehabilitation/rotation of companies as necessary ICS POSITIONS FOR WATER RESCUES 1. Begin assigning incident command system (ICS) positions as identified in this procedure a. Incident command b. Safety officer c. Public information officer d. Logistics officer (1) Coordinates requests for rescue equipment (2) Coordinates with other agencies e. Liaison officer (1) Acts as a technical liaison to facility personnel (a) Flood Control District Section 202.014d Page 8 of 10 (b) Fresno Irrigation District (c) Fresno County Sheriff’s Department f. Operation officer (1) Develops a complete rescue plan including: (a) Access (b) Packaging (c) Retrieval (2) Coordinates rescue efforts g. Upstream lookout(s) h. Informs operations of hazards entering the rescue area from upstream i. Downstream group(s) (1) Established at bridges/overpasses downstream (2) Throw bags available for secondary rescue attempts (3) Tension diagonals placed for snaring and swinging victims j. Water Rescue Group (1) Surface Search Operations (a)Boat operations require a primary and backup rescue boat staffed with a certified operator and rescuer (2) Dive Operations require (a) Dive Group Supervisor (b) Air Box Operator (c) Primary Diver (d) Backup Diver (e) Primary Tender (f) Backup Tender k. Retrieval group (1) Place those with experience/training in these positions l. Medical group (1) Advise incident commander on rehabilitation and other rescuer needs as a result of cold water, etc. (2) Coordinate with ambulance provider (3) Conduct a safety check on all rescue group personnel (4) Conduct a pre-rescue briefing OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE This section intentionally left blank. PROCESS This section intentionally left blank. Section 202.014d Page 9 of 10 INFORMATION This section intentionally left blank. DEFINITIONS This section intentionally left blank. CROSS-REFERENCES Central California EMS Authority EMS Policies and Procedures, BLS Protocols Section 510.30, Near Drowning Kirby Morgan Public Safety Surface Supplied Diver Certification Course National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 1670/1006 Rescue 3 International Swiftwater Rescue Technician Unit-1 Course Textbook Rescue 3 International Swiftwater Rescue Technician Advanced Course Textbook Rescue 3 International Swiftwater Rescue Boat Operator Course Textbook International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists Annual Watermanship Test Section 202.014d Page 10 of 10