1. Welcome to Still Water Rescue Operation Level Training

2. The Goal of this class: Ensure personal safety during water emergency operation. Identify all possible hazards. Fully utilize all witnesses. Conduct shore-based rescue operations

3. What Equipment do we use? Datum Point Recues Tube

4. Surface Water Fact Sheet 2/3 of the earth is water ½ the earths population will enter the water each year #1 outdoor recreation is water activities #2 cause of accidental deaths for people under 44 is drowning #3 cause of accidental deaths for all people is drowning About 5,000 drownings are reported each year Men drown 4X more than women 13% of all drownings are 4 years of age or younger Most drownings occur within 10 ft of safety and 50ft of shore 2 out of 3 drowning victims are non swimmers 10% of drowngs occur at guarded pools and beaches 60% in rual lakes, ponds, streams, and water holes 30% occur at home The longest time for submersion with complete recovery was 66 min. (June, 1986, in Salt Lake City, Utah)

5. Signs of a Distressed Swimmer struggling keeping head barely out of the water submerging uncontrollably gasping, fixed eyes time in the water for weather conditions and water temp. You will NOT see: Hollywood style of arm splashing, yelling “I’m Drowning!!””

6. Scene Management Size Up Set Zones Hot - In the Water Warm- 10ft from Shore, PFD required, Utilize scene tape Cold- Beyond the scene tape Establish Command Determine Rescue Swimmers Isolate Witnesses Make a Plan Call for Resources Extra Eng. Co. Dive Team- Mercer Island, Renton, King County Sheriff Local PD for crowd control Chaplin(s) Active Rescue Locate Victim

7. Witnesses Utilization Separate the witnesses to the locations last seen. Use triangulation for possible datum point. Do not allow witnesses to compare stories Location of witness last seen victim (mark with cones) Time victim last seen What did they look like (swim ability, age, gender, clothes) How deep was the water Was victim alone? How long have they been missing? Your calmness is the name of the game!

8. Triangulation Have the witness go to the same location and position they were in when they saw the victim last. Place cone at that location until incident is terminated to the end. Have witness find a fixed object beyond that point for you to see. Document location so it can be used for datum point placement. Do this with as many witnesses as you can so rescue swimmers can place datum points for possible search sites. Always remember to also do on-shore searches.

9. Active Rescue of Visible Victims Things to consider… First on Scene, One on shore(IC) and two rescue swimmers When rescue swimmers approach Pt. in water, one swimmer affects recue while other acts as back up. Initiate a surface water rescue Pt. exam Incident termination

10. Surface Water Rescue of Non-Visible Victims Size Up Zones Implement the ICS Conduct a Risk/Benefit Analysis Primary Assessment Secondary Assessment Resource Assessment

11. Cont... Site control and Scene Mgt. Assist Rescue Divers, other resources EMS Incident Termination

13. Safety First! - Pre-plan - PPE - Size UP - Equipment - IC - Communication - Safety off. - Personal swimming ability - Hazards

14. Personal Safety How deep is too deep? When was the last time you went swimming? Do you know your limits? Do you know what to expect from a panicked person in the water? Operations level can go into the water up to their waist with a PFD!

15. Operations Level PPE Minimum, type 3 USCG PFD with light and whistle No bunker gear!

16. Types of Thermal Protection:

17. Size Up What do you have? What is your plan? What do you need? What are you doing?

18. Factors for Size Up: Safety Location & number of victims With or without flotation Distance from shore # of victims on surface poss. under water Hazards Risk/Benefit, Rescue vs Recovery

19. Hazards Weather Bottom conditions Bridges Submerged objects Docks Boat traffic Temp. Water

20. Reaching Assist

21. Throwing Assist

22. Human Chain

23. Linear search

24. Half Circle Search

25. Boats/PWC

26. Victim Removal Victim packaging for water rescue Info. needed Neck and back injuries Rapid extraction

27. What can Operations Level do? Use PFD’s Get info./witnesses/cones/Datum Points Reach and Throw Assist set up ICS Set up zones Set up equipment EMS Assist Rescue Swimmers/Divers

28. Your Typical Rescue: You are first at scene Grab all your water rescue stuff/PFD’s Make contact with family/witnesses What do you have? What do you need? Is the victim seen or underwater? What can you safely do? Separate witnesses and find Datum Points Use cones, give info., asst. Rescue Swimmers

29. Questions? Please contact one of your shift instuctors: A shift: Tom Craig/Jeff Storey B shift: Mark Vetter/Steve Williams C shift: Kyle Wood/TomTull