Assessor Resource

SISCAQU202A
Perform basic water rescues

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit applies to those working in indoor or outdoor aquatic facilities, such as pool lifeguards or aquatic educators teaching water familiarisation, learn-to-swim and water safety classes in swimming pools or confined natural shallow water venues. It also applies to those instructing canyoning and snorkelling activities.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to identify and evaluate aquatic emergencies and respond appropriately with basic water rescues that incorporate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). These situations will usually require an individual response.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

Nil

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the following is essential:

identifies the common signs and signals of a person experiencing difficulties in the water and promptly determines possible contributing factors and formulates a suitable rescue plan

performs all basic water rescue techniques in the water while maintaining own safety

monitors condition of affected person, applies appropriate treatment

recognises issues that arise during rescues and makes appropriate adjustments to ensure safety of self and others, according to organisational policies and procedures and relevant legislation

accurately reports incidents and notifies other relevant personnel according to organisational policies and procedures.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure performance of all swimming and non-swimming basic rescues and performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Assessment must also ensure access to:

an aquatic environment appropriate to the candidate's current or intended work role, such as a swimming pool or confined natural shallow water venue

suitable participants to enable demonstration of water rescue techniques

CPR mannequins

equipment such as flotation devices, first aid facilities and equipment, ropes and reaching poles.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of aquatic emergency situations and basic water rescues

direct observation of the candidate safely participating in and demonstrating swimming and non-swimming water rescues incorporating cardiopulmonary resuscitation

third-party reports from a supervisor detailing candidate's performance on the job.

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

problem-solving skills to:

identify factors leading to aquatic emergencies

assess and evaluate emergencies and determine the appropriate rescue technique for the situation and location

communication skills to:

alert others to the situation

delegate tasks during aquatic emergencies

provide reassurance to casualties and bystanders

planning and organisational skills to:

allocate relevant equipment under pressure to aid in rescue

devise a rescue plan after assessing the situation

monitoring and observational skills to identify aquatic emergencies requiring basic water rescues

swimming, defensive swimming and towing skills to perform basic swimming rescues

fitness and strength level to perform basic non-swimming water rescues

cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques to provide an initial response to emergencies.

Required knowledge

legislation, organisational policies and procedures and industry standards to enable:

the safe conduct of water rescues

accurate completion of incident documentation

use and location of equipment types to effect prompt rescues

swimming and non-swimming rescue methods to enable appropriate responses to aquatic emergencies

characteristics and features of water environments, such as pools or canyons, and safe rescue techniques appropriate to the conditions and location

communication systems used during rescues to inform managers, other employees and emergency services of progress

potential dangers in a range of aquatic environments and how to respond to them

cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques to provide an initial response to emergencies.

The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Signs and signals may include:

call for help

vertical body position

minimal or non-supportive leg action

vigorous arm movements

submerged or unconscious person.

Response may include:

type of rescue

number of people in difficulty

assistance

leaving existing role to assist

promptly organising a suitable replacement

contacting emergency services.

Aquatic emergency may include:

envenomation by aquatic animals

sudden unconsciousness

spinal injury

drowning

heart attack

severe bleeding

epileptic seizure

severe asthma attack.

Accepted best practice principles of aquatic rescues may include:

accepted preventative practice adopted throughout the aquatic industry to minimise safety hazards or risks to the casualty, bystanders and rescuer

guidelines and codes of conduct

Royal Life Saving Society Australia

Surf Life Saving Australia

national, state and territory or local government regulations and guidelines

the culture of lifesaving

current and past good practice demonstrated by self or peers in the same or similar situation.

Relevant legislation may include:

occupational health and safety legislation

duty of care regulations

working with children requirements.

Organisational policies and procedures may include:

occupational health and safety

use and care of lifesaving equipment

communication protocols

safety, rescue and emergency procedures

incident reporting.

Hazards may include:

slippery surfaces around pools

deep or shallow water

currents

strong wind

risk taking behaviour.

Risks may include:

imminent drowning

injury

hypothermia

cramps

choking

submersion or injury of rescuer.

Others may include:

bystanders

staff

other facility users

parents

emergency services.

Rescue plan may include:

self-preservation

available assistance

selection of rescue aids

number of people in difficulty

priorities of rescue

type of rescue.

Equipment may include:

flotation devices

ropes

reaching poles

pool safety equipment.

Basic water rescue must include:

non-swimming rescues:

reach rescue

rope throw rescue

throw a flotation aid

swimming rescues:

accompanied rescue

wade rescue

non-contact tow

contact tow

water search procedures

vice grip and extended arm roll-over techniques

defensive techniques including blocking, blocking with an aid, reverses

escape techniques including escape from front and rear grasps.

Treatment may include:

danger, response, airway, breathing, circulation routine

expired air resuscitation

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

injury, illness or shock related treatment.

Industry standards may include:

Australian Resuscitation Council standards

first aid techniques and standards.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Recognise the signs and signals of a person in difficulty. 
Assess situation to determine appropriate response to aquatic emergency, according to accepted best practice principlesof aquatic rescues, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 
Identify and assess immediate hazards and risks to self and others. 
Determine the type of rescue required and promptly formulate a rescue plan according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 
Access equipment as required. 
Perform basic water rescue according to accepted best practice principles of aquatic rescues. 
Monitor the condition of the casualty and plan course of action. 
Provide appropriate treatment according to industry standards and organisational policies and procedures. 
Record details of the incident and the action taken using appropriate forms, according to organisational policies and procedures. 
Notify appropriate personnel and statutory authorities of the incident. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

SISCAQU202A - Perform basic water rescues
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

SISCAQU202A - Perform basic water rescues

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: