Swift Water Rescue - Research Paper Example

RUNNING HEAD: SWIFT WATER RESCUE Swift Water Rescue School Swift Water Rescue Emergency management is a field in disaster management that is gaining ground in both the public and private sectors. Swift water rescue is a sub-specialty in emergency management wherein trained personnel are engaged to rescue individuals from capsized ships or who have been swept by raging waters. This method ensures that the power of water is deflected so as to create an environment for sailing along the seashore. It is necessary to employ qualified personnel, ropes and mechanical systems in order to enhance successful rescue operations. The rescue operations are performed in moving bodies of water such as lakes, creeks, rivers, storm drains and any other similar types of waters. This paper will discuss the different skills and knowledge that one needs to acquire in order to understand the rescue process. Introduction Over the past years, deaths related with drowning in the water bodies have been on the increase. This has been attributed to lack of knowledge on how to deal with incidents occurring on the sea and fast moving waters. The incidents may occur when the victim intentionally enters an unknown body of water, when a vessel capsizes, or when someone without training attempts to save someone who is drowning. Special training is required for a person to be certified as a swift water rescuer. And the rescuer must be physically capable of engaging the rough waters in order to save another. One skilled in boat racing cannot be certified based on that capability. And another who can swim fast will not guarantee that he will qualify as a swift water first responder. A swift water rescuer, besides having sufficient training is saving people, should also know how to use rescue tools and equipment. And more than that, the rescuer must also wear personal protective gears so that he or she may not sustain bodily harm. With the rough nature of swift water, the rescuer may not be able to predict or control its movement that would push the rescuer towards huge and pointed rocks, and ultimately cause trauma to the head or other parts of the body. Swift Water Rescue Swift water rescue involves the removal of a victim from a body of water. This requires a person to have the right skills and knowledge to handle the problem effectively. A rescuer should put on the right attire to protect oneself from suffocation and being hurt during the rescue process. There are devices that ensure that the rescuer is well protected and armed in the rescue process. For instance, overalls are made of high-density polypropylene webbing that makes the rescuer clean and his or her life is also protected when approaching the stressful areas at the shoreline. The edges of the overall should have nylon meshes that allow water to drain and at the same time are washable and replaceable. Other protective devices that a rescuer should put on that include the Ranger class V PFD, Kokota dry suits, wet suits, helmets, knives and footwear. Range Class V PFD is a vest used in the swift water rescue. It can either be in red or yellow color. This type of vest has the following features: nylon belt, breakaway harness, nylon tabs, mesh pockets, knives, nylon cord and a plastic ball. The features make it the best outfit for a rescuer since they enable him or her carry out his activities effectively. Kokotat dry suits are of good quality fabric and durable. They have zippers that the wearer must zip up before getting into water so as prevent water from getting into the wearer. This suit is designed so as to facilitate retrieval of the victim from the water, and can protect the wearer even when the water is polluted. Wet suits are worn when the rescuer may need to submerge under water in the process of rescue. This type of suit can regulate the body temperature of a person when the weather is warm. It is not as expensive as a dry suit. Its limitation include absorption of water that creates a layer or water between the wearer and the suit, thus creating a barrier in providing sufficient insulation for the wearer. The helmet is another protective device. It classified as either cascade helmet, simple foam block helmet, or pacific helmet. The cascade helmets have mounted lights and nylon-webbing suspension that allow the rescuer can see under water. Foam block helmets are good since they fit properly but can lose the foam if handled improperly. Pacific helmets have sockets with a flashlight mounted on it and can protect the eyes from infections. The other protective devices are knives, gloves and footwear. Knives are used to enhance gripping of items at sea. The footwear is especially designed for water rescue to adequately protect the feet of the rescuer. It should be of good quality so as to support, stabilize a rescuer and for traction when moving through sticky surfaces. Gloves protect the hands of the first responder from harmful objects during rescue operations (Daveport, 2003). In some types of rescue operations, anchors may be needed. An anchor should have features for load sharing, self-equalization and bombproofs. All movements and activities must be coordinated and initiated by a Command Officer. The officer must be able to identify the individuals involved in the incident or about to be rescued, their gender and quantity. This way, the officer can make appropriate plans and rescue strategies. This would also ensure that the rescue personnel would not be put at risk. Other persons in the vicinity must also be identified. They must be informed not to enter the waters at the time when the rescue operation is in progress. A rescue operation follows two modes: the rescue mode and the recovery mode. In the first, a command is initiated to determine the potential dangers that the victims and the rescuers may encounter. In the recovery mode, a risk-benefit factor is used to determine the gain or loss that may result when a particular course of action is undertaken. The more benefit is assessed from the situation, then the risk would be on the lower side. On the other hand, if the benefit is low, then the risk to the rescuers would be high. The command then can formulate effective action plan for the recovery process. Three zones that a rescuer should be cautious about while sailing are the cold, warm and hot zones. The cold zones are normally greater than 15 feet from the edge of water level. This area should be approached with caution since it is dangerous and could cause accidents. The warm zone is an area begins 15 feet from the level of water edge and ends at the water edge. The operations level personnel is supposed to wear fitting and secured flotation devices to facilitate the wading process. At the hot zone, all types of activities can take place. The activities are performed by trained personnel who are work at the technical level. They are required to wear personal flotation garments and equipped with necessary tools (Paul, 2008). The risk algorithm is another method used to ensure the safety of both the rescuer and the victim. The risk algorithm may either be classified as low or high. A high algorithm means that the rescuer and the victim are at risk of danger and threats. This method ensures that a rescuer is protected from endangering himself and that of the victim. Risk algorithm is classified as talk, reach, wade, throw, helo, go and tow method. It is necessary to talk to a victim when performing a self-rescue as there is a danger when a rescue enters the water. In this case, the rescuer provides instructions to the victim on the proper course of action, such as swimming toward the shoreline. Alternatively, a rescuer can use an object (e.g. tree branch, paddle, rope) to make sure that the victim can land of a safer ground. On the other hand, a rescuer can wade along the banks of a moving body of water while talking with the aim or reaching out to the victim. This system is appropriate with the laminar flow of a moving body of water that curves through the sea. The rescuer can throw a bag device from a boat, platform or dry land to the victim. This would place the victim in a position to wade toward the shallow portion of the body of water. Row is another method used in the rescue process. This involves the use of a boat with shape and modification designed to resist waves and deflect the force of the water upon the vessel (Daveport, 2003). In the live bait rescue, the rescuer has to swim in order to save the victim. A team member can be anchored at a point in the dry land. The victim can be asked to reach out for the rope, and then pulled out of the water through the rope. The rescuer should tow the victim toward a stable platform that would not succumb to rising water. Towing an injured person can be a difficult task since it might lead to the drowning of the victim. A trained personnel and good communication can enhance the safety of both the victim and the rescuer. Using a helicopter would be a suitable stable platform for rescue. The helicopter can carry the needed rescue equipment and tools. The helicopter crew should also be equipped with the proper rescue equipments and trained for rescue missions. During Hurricane Isabel that hit Chesapeake Bay River and its coastal areas in September 2003, strong winds from the Northwestern side trapped water in the upper bay that pounded the houses and submerged a number of vehicles. Fuel oil spilled all over the place since most houses were heated by oil. Rescuers utilized inflatable boats to evacuate hundreds of affected people. An area nearby known as Miller’s Island had its vehicles submerged in water. The dispatch of trained personnel and good quality equipment and machineries ensured effective rescue operations. Sturdy boats with outboard motors and airboats were used in rescuing people from the raging waters. The airboat was in a position to pull out over three hundred people with a crew assisting the victims. However, the engine of the boat lost control while sailing with the rescued victims. As a result, the boat slammed toward a tree. Fortunately, jet skies deployed were able to rescue the victims. Arial photographs were used for the rescuers at the helicopter to clearly see the locations where the victims were trapped and properly plan out strategic moves. The following rules are followed in conducting a swift water rescue: a) a person swimming or towing along a line should wear class VPF8 outfit with a harness that is break away, b) turnout gears, bunker pants, bunkers boots, coats and linings should not be worn since they absorb water quickly, d) all persons that are 15 feet from the shoreline should wear vests in order to avoid accidents, c) there should be an upstream spotter with a radio so that proper notice can be given to the rescuer of the existence of large debris ahead, e) and downstream recovery systems should be employed in order to be armed in case an accident occurs. Swift Water Rescue in Relation to Emergency Management Emergency management is the process that involves strategic organizational management aimed at protecting equipment and materials of an organization from risks or hazards. The risks or hazards can be from disasters or catastrophes that occur unexpectedly. To enhance effective emergency management in the rescue process, rules and standards of operations must be formulated by concerned organizations. The swift water process is an expensive and risky procedure, therefore appropriate tools and gears should be acquired in order to protect the rescuers from harmful substances. Different agencies and organizations should proactively establish their own emergency management teams that can plan and devise strategies to protect lives and properties. Disasters and calamities may occur unexpectedly. But with the organization having trained rescue personnel and sufficient rescue equipment and tools, the in-house rescuers can perform initial rescue activities before the arrival of other rescue teams. An organization’s rescue team can also be deployed to assist in other disaster stricken areas, thus, multiplying the capacity of rescuers. Organizations should also include in their emergency management framework information and knowledge dissemination about disasters and emergencies. This approach would be particularly helpful in areas where swift water disasters may occur. The members of the organization or the workers must be informed of what they should do in case floods and raging waters invade their area of work or residence. This information campaign is not intended to make everyone rescuers since individuals would be delimited by age or sickness. This would not leave them as mere helpless victims during disasters and calamities. In a sense, this approach would make the people aware of what to do or not to do it times of calamities so as to lessen injuries or risks to themselves. Moreover, a basic knowledge on emergency might be able to save another’s life if the trained rescue personnel is still on his or her way. In emergency management, the accepted standards should be put in place. This would ensure that only qualified personnel should carry out the rescue missions. Deployment of an inexperienced person might only endanger the victim and the person attempting the rescue. Moreover, the necessary equipment and facilities should be properly stored in the premises so that they can be readily accessed when the disaster occurred (Brown, 1998). A swift water training program should be implemented by an organization. In this process, proper personnel can be selected for actual rescue missions. They can be selected from volunteers since they show sufficient motivation to engage in risky activities. However, not all volunteers can be physically able to perform tedious tasks. From such volunteers, they can be divided into groups that will comprise the actual rescuers and the support group who can man the communication equipment at the command base and take care of the tools and equipment while the first responders are out on the rescue mission. Thus, the selected personnel must be given a well-rounded and complete training on every aspect of the rescue operation. This would include training the selected personnel on the communication tools used, as well as the different rescue strategies for rescue on rivers and the open sea. Training the recruits on good communication skills is important. At times, both the rescuer and victim may be subjected to risk if the rescue boat had a mechanical failure. They must also be taught how to read maps and points, especially when the rescue has to be performed in the sea. While each rescuer must be knowledgeable of all tasks that should be performed during operations, in actual operations, the duties and responsibilities assigned to each may differ. They cannot perform the same tasks but should be assigned complementary duties and responsibilities in order to successfully pull the rescue operations. The basic skill that the rescuer should have is swimming. It would be an absurd situation when a rescuer does not know how to him or even float oneself using only the hands and feet. But as a rescuer, the person must be trained on swimming against strong water currents. They must be trained to be submerged under water so that they can maintain their presence of mind when confronted with such situation in the future. Conclusion Swift water rescue is one of the riskiest rescue operations since the force of water may drive even the rescuer to danger. It may also happen that the rescuer will have no control to himself or herself since the current would be pushing him or her. Thus, the rescuer must be adequately exposed to such rigors during trainings. The training for them should also be made regularly so that they would become skilled in all types of rescue techniques. The rescuer then must be dedicated to becoming one since trainings would entail spending time for the purpose. Skills development trainings would take a whole day to several days at specific time of the year. While the theoretical portion can be done inside rooms, the practical side may need to be done in rivers or the open sea. The national government agencies have the primary duty of training swift water rescue personnel. However, private organizations may also equip themselves by training their own personnel for such demanding operations. If their budget would permit it, the private organizations can also purchase rescue equipment and devices. This proactive approach by private organizations would be necessary especially if they are situated in areas where floods may occur or there are near bodies of water. References Brown, M. A. (1998). Swiftwater Rescue: Developing a swift water rescue plan. Retrieved 2 December 2011, from http://www.rescuenet.com/content/1998/05/000108.html Collins. L. (2005). Technical rescues operations Volume II: Common emergencies. Tulsa, Oklahoma: Penwell Corporation. Daveport, G. (2003). Surviving coastal and open water. Mechanicburg, PA: Stackpole Books. Edwards, B. et al. (2006). Swiftwater rescue technician Unit 1. Wilton, CA: Rescue 3 International. Graver, D.K. (2004). Aquatic rescue and safety. Campaign II. Human Kinetics. Hedrick, W. & Zaferes, A. (1999). Surface ice rescue. Saddle Brook NJ: PewnWell Publishing. Paul, F.V. (2008). Swift Water Rescue/ Flood Rescue: a guide to management and Response. Louisiana. Read More