Water and Flood Rescue Manual

225 Pages·2018·11.76 MB·English

by  Rescue 3 International

Copyright 1999-2018
Rescue 3 International, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
No part of this book may be reprinted, reproduced, or utilized in any form by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Editor: Jennifer Miller
Authors: Amy Copeland, Keith Dudhnath, Barry Edwards, Keith Gillespie, Jon Gorman, Daniel Graham,
Mark Hogan, Chris Jonason, Paul Jones, Matt McLay, Julie Munger, Chris Onions, Paul O’Sullivan, Abigail
Polsby, Julie Munger, Geraint Rowlands, Jim Segerstrom, J Michael Turnbull and Phil Turnbull
Illustrations: Carol Davies, George Manley, Rick Webber
Photos: Chris Cieszko, Julie Munger, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, Keith Dudhnath,
Rescue 3 Greece, Raven Rescue, Dan Wheeley, J Michael Turnbull, or as credited
Layout: Vicky Barlow & Jennifer Miller
Version: 6.1
Safety notice
This Rescue 3 International manual is a basic text to be used in conjunction with Rescue 3
classes taught by instructors certified by Rescue 3 International. Utilization of this material
without certified instruction may be hazardous to life and limb.
Scope of manual
This manual is designed as an accompanying reference for those undertaking Rescue 3 training. It is not a
standalone document and does not replace training by a qualified instructor.
These notes are designed to provide initial pre-course reading, and to act as a post-training resource.
Training courses are only one part in the development of competent rescuers. Without post-training practice
and experience, students will be unable to develop the necessary levels of skill and judgment to allow them
to operate effectively as rescuers in a swiftwater and flood environment.
Contents
About Rescue 3 5
.. ....... ..... .. .. ..................................................................
Progressing within Rescue 3 6
.. ..... ... .. ...........................................................
Rescue 3 contact details 7
.. ..... .. ..................................................................
Section 1: Rescue principles and philosophy
Rescue 3 philosophy 10
.. ..... ... .. .. .. .. .........................................................
Water rescue training standards 11
.. ..............................................................
Rescue 3 Best Practice Guidelines 14
.. ............................................................
Communications 19
.. ..... ... .. .. .. .. ............................................................
Section 2: Hydrology
Hydrology 24
.. ..... .. ... .. .. .. ...................................................................
Section 3: Flooding
Flood theory 40
.. ..... ... .. .. .. .. . ...............................................................
Floodwater dynamics and hazards 46
..............................................................
Section 4: Rescue equipment and safety
Personal equipment 52
... ........................................................................
Technical and team equipment 60
... .. ............................................................
Knots and anchor systems 72
.. ..... .. ............................................................
Tensioning systems and mechanical advantage 87
.................................................
In-water victim management 92
......... ..........................................................
Medical and decontamination considerations 94
...................................................
Section 5: Rescue techniques
Swiftwater swimming techniques 110
.............................................................
Strainer swim 113
... .. .............. ..............................................................
Shallow water techniques 114
... ...... . .. .........................................................
Conditional rescues - talk, reach, throw 118
........................................................
Belay systems 120
.. .......... .. .. .. . .............................................................
True rescues - tethered 122
.. ..... .. ..............................................................
Inflated fire hose 126
... .. .. ............ ..........................................................
Line crossing methods 131
.. ... ..... .. .. .. ........................................................
Continuous loop 133
... .. ..... .. .. .. .. ............................................................
Tensioned diagonals 134
.. ..... ... .. .. .. .. ........................................................
People and equipment entrapments 136
..........................................................
Litter management - low angle 141
................................................................
Section 6: Boats
Paddle boat handling 146
......... . .. .. .. .........................................................
Tethered boats 151
.. ....... .......... ............................................................
Boat wraps 153
... .. .............. ................................................................
Flips and rights 159
......... ......................................................................
Section 7: Incident management
Pre-planning 164
................... ...............................................................
Risk assessments 166
......... ....................................................................
Incident size-up 168
......... . .....................................................................
Incident management and site control 172
.. ......................................................
Section 8: Specialist rescues
Night/poor visibility operations 188
... .. .. ........................................................
Searching rivers and floods 190
......... . ..........................................................
Animal rescue considerations 198
... .. .. ... .......................................................
Canals and locks 199
.. .......... .. .. .. . ...........................................................
Weir (low head dam) rescue considerations 200
...................................................
Mud, ice and unstable surface considerations 207
.................................................
Rescues from vehicles in water 209
.. ....... . ......................................................
Helicopter familiarization 216
......... ............................................................
Appendices
Personal equipment list 220
... .. .. .. ..... .. .. .....................................................
Team equipment list 221
... .. .. .. ..... .. .. ........................................................
About Rescue 3 International
Rescue 3 International produces and delivers state of the art technical rescue training courses.
More than 500,000 students have taken Rescue 3’s water, rope, boat and confined space courses. Since 1979
Rescue 3 has delivered its training in over 62 countries to fire and rescue services, ambulance teams, mountain
rescue teams, industrial and resource personnel, and commercial training and leisure activity providers.
The flagship Rescue 3 courses are Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician (SRT), Technical Rope Rescue
Technician (TRR), Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Boat Operator (SFRBO) and Confined Space Rescue Technician
(CSRT). Rescue 3 also has supporting courses, offering awareness qualifications, through to advanced
technician and management-level qualifications.
There are over 1500 Rescue 3 certified instructors throughout the world, delivering courses for a wide array of
Rescue 3 training providers in many different industries. These are within the fire and rescue services, industrial
companies, mountain rescue and water rescue teams, and other outdoor professional establishments.
Additionally, there are a number of training centers who offer Rescue 3 courses on a commercial basis.
The reputation for quality hands-on instruction, using techniques that work, has fueled the growth of Rescue 3
and its courses.
History
Rescue 3 International was started in 1979 by a group of people involved with emergency services, who
identified a need for training in areas not commonly covered in the emergency training programs of the time.
The name, Rescue 3, was chosen when the company first started, because the instruction was concerned with
all areas of rescue - land, air, and water - thus Rescue 3.
In 1981, the program was redesigned into an early form of the current Swiftwater Rescue Technician
curriculum. Swiftwater classes were taught throughout California and slowly spread across the United States.
In late 1990, Rescue 3 became Rescue 3 International Incorporated. Over the course of the next several years,
Rescue 3 International went on to develop instructor teams throughout the United States and around the
globe.
In 1999, there was a major revision in the curriculum to meet the requirements of the new NFPA1 1670 and
1006 standards. The years since have been a period of great growth of internationally accredited technical
rescue training. Rescue 3 has developed a number of specialized Rescue 3 courses in a variety of markets to
meet the ever-increasing demand for internationally recognized rescue training of the highest standards.
1 National Fire Protection Association
5
Progressing within Rescue 3
Student qualifications
Rescue 3 International offers courses in a variety of technical rescue specialties, including water, rope, boat
and confined space. These are delivered at all levels, including awareness, operations, technician, advanced
technician, and management.
Instructor qualifications
There are Rescue 3 International instructor qualifications for every level of student course. These can be for
both commercial course delivery, or for delivery within an agency (e.g., a fire and rescue service).
Training providers
Instructors delivering Rescue 3 courses must do so for a Rescue 3 training provider. Training providers can
either be commercial, or agency (i.e., delivering in-house).
There is a simple yet robust application process for becoming a Rescue 3 training provider. For training provider
criteria and application forms, or to discuss the options available, please contact the Rescue 3 International
office.
Accreditation checks
To check the status or validity of a Rescue 3 training provider, instructor or student, please contact the Rescue
3 International office.
Upon request, Rescue 3 International can also provide an organization with due dates for recertification for
their Rescue 3 qualified staff.
All Rescue 3 student qualifications are valid for a period of 3 years from the end date of the course. To maintain
continuous certification, recertification must take place before the end of these 3 years.
Recertification can be at the same level as the initial course. Alternatively, you can add an additional skill-set by
taking a higher level course. For example, you could recertify a Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician (SRT)
course, by taking either a Rescues from Vehicles in Water (RVW) or Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician
Advanced (SRTA) course.
6 © Rescue 3 International - Water and Flood Rescue Manual v6.1
Rescue 3 contact details
For a list of course providers in your area, please contact Rescue 3.
Rescue 3 International
11084 Jeff Brian Lane
PO Box 1050
Wilton
California 95693
USA
Telephone [phone]
Toll Free 800 457 3728
Website www.rescue3.com
Email [email protected]
Rescue 3 Europe Ltd
The Malthouse
Regent Street
Llangollen
Denbighshire
LL20 8HS
UK
Telephone [phone]
Website www.rescue3europe.com
Email [email protected]
Rescue 3 Canada / Raven Rescue
Box 861
Smithers BC V0J 2N0
Canada
Telephone [phone]
Toll Free 800 880 0287
Website www.ravenrescue.com
Email [email protected]

7
1 RESCUE PRINCIPLES AND
PHILOSOPHY
Flooding in North Carolina during Tropical Storm Nicole (2010) Photo: Chris Cieszko
8 © Rescue 3 International - Water and Flood Rescue Manual v6.1
1
SECTION CONTENTS
Rescue 3 philosophy .......................................................................................................10
Water rescue training standards ....................................................................................11
Rescue 3 Best Practice Guidelines ...................................................................................14
Communications .............................................................................................................19
Section 1: Rescue principles and philosophy 9