Swift Water Rescue Awareness

SL 1
Course Objectives
• To provide fire service personnel:
– Basic knowledge concerning the
characteristics and dangers of moving water
– Specific information regarding the hazards
associated with rescues from moving water
– Information regarding basic equipment and
skills necessary to accomplish shore based
and self rescues from moving water
– Overview of 1st responder support roles for
extended SAR ops
SL 2
Background
• 1980 - Los Angeles
– Man trying to save boy in flood control channel falls
in, dies on TV
• Fiancé pushes for LAFD response
• 1992 - Los Angeles
– Boy swept down river on TV with no one able to save
him
• swift water teams developed and several depts. trained
• swift water rescue movement begins
• Roughly 5,000 fatalities annually
• Drowning deaths usually occur within 30 to 70
feet of shore and are over in less than 60
seconds. Drowning is the leading cause of
SL 3
death for children ages 1 to 5
Overview
• There are numerous engineered and
natural water-ways including lakes,
reservoirs, ponds, rivers, and drainage
channels throughout CA. This training
program provides basic information for a
safe and effective response for awareness
level responders.

SL 4
Moving Water Hydrology

SL 5
Turbulent Whitewater
• Up to 60% air = Loss of buoyancy

SL 6
Laminar Flow
• Layered flow of the main
body of water
Main current moves
faster near the
surface/middle

SL 7
Helical Flow
• Slow moving water along
shore circulates with
water in main channel

• Pulls people from shore

out into main channel

• Can undercut dirt/sand

banks that can lead to
collapses
FASTEST CURRENT IN
THE LAMINAR FLOW

SL 8
Strainers
• Anything that allows
water to pass through it
but not you

SL 9
Hydraulic, Hole, Stopper, Keeper
Water flowing over a steep drop, creates
depression
• Creates a cyclical motion, filling the hole
• Even small holes can be difficult to escape
• The “recycling” power can hold people or
even boats underwater

SL 10
Example of a
hole.

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Eddy
• Calm area
separated from the
main current =
slower water
• Characterized by
horizontal reversal
of water
• Potential resting
and rescue areas
SL 12
River Terminology
• Upstream
• Downstream
• River Right
• River Left
Referenced when
facing down stream

SL 13
Special Hazards
• Low Head Dams
– Create a powerful hydraulic across entire
width of channel
– People caught in low heads have low survival
rates
– Do not put rescuers in the water!

SL 14
Note the inner tube
is caught against
the low head flow
from the upstream
current.
Flood Control Channels
– Various widths and depths depending on area
– Water moves very quickly
• 9 to 45 mph (30 mph average)
• Swimming ability not a factor
• Victim will be unable to stand
– Most have smooth sides and are relatively
steep
• Difficult to escape
• Difficult operating area for rescuers

SL 17
Flood Control Channels
• Prone to flash floods
• Monitor water speed
• Very limited area for operations
• These are examples of operations used by
appropriately trained personnel
– Inflated fire hose from overpass
– Tensioned diagonals
– Dynamic throw bag rescue
– Tethered rescuer
SL 18
Flood Control Channels
(examples)

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Low Water Crossing
• Pre-Plan areas
• Assess vehicle
stability
• 1ft. of water depth will
displace 1500lbs from
total weight of vehicle

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Low Water Crossing
• Very high risk!
• Cars can become strainers
• Calm victim down
• Assess stability of vehicle
• Victims on cars will have poor footing

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Operations and Technician Level
Rescuer PPE
• Personal Flotation Device required
– Within 10’ of water’s edge, per the 7000 Handbook
– Coast Guard approved Type III, V, or III/V
– Fit very important, should be snug around torso
– Provide flotation and protection from impact
– Average adult weighs 15 LBS in water
– Minimum floatation for PFD is 15.5 LBS
• Whistle (pea-less)
• Knives
– Small, straight, strong, blunt end
– Attached to PFD w/ handle down
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Operations and Technician Level
Rescuer PPE
• Head Protection
– Light weight, ventilated,
padded, chin strap
• Foot Protection
– Light weight and keep feet
warm
• Tennis shoes w/ wool or
neoprene socks
• Wet suit booties or specialized
water boots
• Hand Protection
– Gloves w/ leather palm
SL 23
Did we miss anything?
• Additional PPE
– Personal throw bag w/ carabiner– 50 ft. – 75 ft.
– Wetsuit / Drysuit and hood
– Fins
– Water Proof Headlamp, Strobe
• Do not wear!!!!!!!!!!
– Turnout coat or pants, boots, fire helmet
– Heavy equipment belts

SL 24
Victim/Rescuer Safe Swim Position

Current

Awareness level personnel will not enter the water.

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Search Organization for Water
Rescue
• Rescue Acronym
– LAST
– Locate the victim
– Access the victim
– Stabilize the victim
– Transport the victim

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 Water Rescue ICS
Incident
Commander

Safety PIO

Liaison

Law Enforcement Family

Waterway Flow
Control Agency

Operations

Search Medical Rescue Air Operations

Upstream Spotter Treatment In Water Team

River Left Triage Back Up Team

River Right Transport Downstream

California USAR Teams
• 8 throughout state
• Each can field Type I
swift water/Flood team
– 14 member team, 2 boats
– 24 hr. operations
• California OES has
multiple swift water
rescue teams available
for response

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Incident Ordering
• IC
• Safety Officer
• Upstream Spotter
• Downstream Safety x 2
• Rescuers
– Suggested initial response minimum of 9
• Support personnel needed
– rope systems, logistical support ie. lighting, drinks,
shelters, medical team, decon, etc

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Communications
• Use positive communications
– Point the direction you want victim/rescuers
to swim
• Acquire command and tactical nets
• Whistle blasts
– 1 = stop or attention
– 2 = upstream
– 3 = downstream
– 3 long and repeated = emergency
SL 30
Communications (cont.)
• River hand signals

When in the water

Move this direction

ARE YOU OK?

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ICS for Water Rescues
• Incident Commander
– 1st in Company Officer
• Safety Officer
– Concentrate on rescuer safety
– Keep the “big picture”
• Public Information Officer
– Keep media/concerned relatives away from incident
and up-to-date

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Operations
Staffed with Operations/Technician Trained Personnel

• Order adequate resources for search

teams.
– Basic swift water rescue incidents can require
a minimum of 9 trained and equipped
personnel

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Reporting Party / Witness Interview
– Reporting Party’s Name/Contact Number
– Victims Name
– Number of Victims
– Point Last Seen
– Time Last Seen
– Description of Victim(s)
• Sex, Age, Clothing, Swimming Ability
– Destination of Victim
– What events happened to cause the search to
take place
– Local friends phone numbers
– Vehicle Description
Establishing Search Area
Measuring Distance Traveled
• Measure 100ft. along bank
• Throw in floating object
• Time the object for the 100 ft. distance in
seconds
• Divide by 68.2 = MPH

SL 35
SECONDS IT TAKES AN OBJECT TO TRAVEL APPROXIMATE SPEED OF CURRENT IN
100’ M. P. H.
5 13.6
10 6.8
15 4.6
17 4
20 3.4
23 3
25 2.7
29 2.4
37 1.8
50 1.4
80 0.9
110 0.6

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Common Mistakes
• Tying a line around a rescuer
• Tensioning a line perpendicular to the
water flow
• Wearing turnouts within 10 feet of water
• Failing to place spotter upstream and
downstream safety
• Improvising equipment

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Summary
• Establish command
• Ensure all personnel within 10 feet of the
water are in appropriate PPE
• Communicate situation to ECC
• Order appropriate resources
• Gather victim/search information
• Do Not Enter the Water!

SL 38