Assessor Resource

SISOWWR302A
Demonstrate white water rescues and recoveries

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit applies to those working as outdoor guides in a range of activities performed on graded water. This may include those required to demonstrate white water rescues and recoveries in routine and predictable situations during rafting, canoeing or kayaking activities on water up to Grade 3 standard.

This unit may also apply to leaders working for outdoor education or adventure providers; volunteer groups; not-for-profit organisations or government agencies.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to perform rescues and recoveries in routine, predictable situations in rafting, canoeing or kayaking activities on water up to Grade 3 standard.

No licensing, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.

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:

assesses rescue situation in a timely manner to identify potential hazards and risks, and determines efficient rescue and recovery methods

selects and uses rescue equipment and resources, including mechanical advantage systems, in a variety of white water rescue and recovery situations

communicates with other members of the rescue team and adapts to problems or issues that may arise during white water rescues and recoveries to ensure safety of self and group

evaluates and reflects on own rescue and recovery performance to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas that need improvement

carry out multiple rescues utilising the full range of rescue and recovery methods, one of these being in a time critical environment

release and rescue an entrapped victim in a time critical environment

safely recover a wrapped, pinned or breached craft using a mechanical advantage system ensuring equalisation of load and anchors to minimise damage to craft.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure conduct of rescues and recoveries in routine and predictable white water rapids that reflect local conditions and are of sufficient breadth to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance.

Assessment must also ensure access to:

a white water location, with up to Grade 3 standard white water

personnel for team based rescues

rescue, recovery, safety, first aid and activity-specific equipment and resources.

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:

observation of selecting rescue and recovery equipment according to the routine situation

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of rescue and recovery techniques and potential white water hazards and risks

observation of performing rescues and recoveries of others using mechanical advantage systems and various rescue techniques

observation of dealing with contingencies such as changing currents or weather conditions

third-party reports from a supervisor detailing performance.

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

activity-specific units from activities performed on graded water such as rafting, canoeing and kayaking.

Guidance information for assessment

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:

determine rescue and recovery methods to use according to the routine situation

anticipate and mitigate hazards and risks

communication skills to:

inform progress

interact with other members of the rescue team

teamwork skills to support others in the rescue operation

planning and organising skills to select equipment and resources

river reading skills including direction and speed of flow, currents, eddies and other hydrological features to enable safe conduct of rescue and recovery activities

throwing skills to throw rope and throwbags to reach a swimmer in white water

swimming skills in moving water to locate access, rescue and tow a victim

first aid and emergency response skills appropriate to the location to enable initial response to emergencies

craft handling skills to control a craft on white water up to grade 3 to locate, access and rescue victim

effective knot typing skills to enable the construction of anchors and mechanical advantage systems.

Required knowledge

understanding of the use of a 2 and 4 point tether system and its application

identifies low to high risk rescue options

rescue team roles and the incident command system

legislation and organisational policies and procedures to enable safe conduct of all white water rescue and recovery activities

rescue and recovery equipment and resource types, characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, and its care and maintenance to enable appropriate selection and use

hydrology and river grading systems to understand how rivers work and conduct safe rescues and recoveries on white water

hazards and risks associated with rescues and recoveries on white water up to Grade 3 standard, and how to safely negotiate or avoid these

aggressive and defensive swimming techniques to escape hazards

rescue and recovery techniques suitable to the routine conditions and experience of the participant

principles of mechanical advantage systems and contexts in which they are used

communication systems used on rivers to make intentions clear

first aid appropriate to location and level of responsibility

understanding of the use of a highline tyrolean system (telfer lower) and its application.

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.

Assess may include:

scouting

identifying the degree of urgency

availability of physical and human resources

personnel and equipment

location.

Situation may include:

entrapment

craft flip

lost equipment

search swimmers

craft wrap, pin or broach.

Hazards may include:

temperature extremes

stoppers or holes

waves

waterfalls

strainers

man made objects

rocks

sieves

other river uses

high water

Risks may include:

drowning

water immersion or submersion

injury

entrapment

exposure.

Rescue and recovery methods must include:

talk

reach

throw

wade

row

go

tow.

Contextual issues may include:

resources

level of consciousness of victim

rescue situation

type of craft

season and weather

river height.

Relevant legislation may include:

occupational health and safety

permits or permission for access

environmental regulations

marine regulations.

Organisational policies and procedures may include:

occupational health and safety

use, maintenance and storage of equipment

manufacturer's design specifications and recommendations for equipment use

communication protocols

access to medical personnel

removal of casualties

code of ethics.

Equipment and resources may include:

rescue and recovery equipment

mechanical advantage systems

personal protective equipment

activity-specific equipment.

Throw resources may include:

throw bags

rope coils.

Tether a craft may include:

two and or four point boat tether system

high line tyrolean with a craft (telfer lower).

Entrapment may include:

limb

body

recirculation

rope entanglements.

Situations may include:

rescue of paddler

recovery of craft

trapped paddler

recovery of other equipment

tension line across river.

Mechanical advantage systems may include:

z drags

pig-rigs vector pulls

3:1 ratio

4:1 ratio.

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
Assess the situation and identify potential hazards and risks to self and others. 
Identify a rescue and recovery method suitable to the situation according to contextual issues, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 
Select equipmentandresources required to perform identified rescues and recoveries in white water. 
Communicate rescue and recovery plan to those assisting. 
Perform a rescue using a reach technique. 
Use throw resources to reach a swimmer in moving water. 
Demonstrate towing techniques in moving water. 
Use safe contact methods to rescue and transport a swimmer. 
Tether a craft to perform a rescue or recovery, where appropriate. 
Identify and use a range of methods to release an entrapment victim, according to the situation, type of entrapment and organisational policies and procedures. 
Communicate directions to other members of the rescue team. 
Hazards are avoided and managed whilst conducting a rescue or recovery according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 
Identify situations requiring the use of mechanical advantage systems. 
Determine the type of system required according to contextual issues and organisational policies and procedures. 
Establish suitable mechanical advantage systems to perform rescues and recoveries in a range of predictable situations. 
Use system equipment in a safe manner according to manufacturer's recommendations and organisational policies and procedures, to ensure that design limits are not exceeded. 
Modify the system to increase efficiency where necessary, and clearly communicate system changes. 
Check and store equipment according to organisational policies and procedures and manufacturer's guidelines. 
Evaluate activity and identify improvements for future white water rescues and recoveries. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

SISOWWR302A - Demonstrate white water rescues and recoveries
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

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

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

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Assessor name:

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Assessment Record Sheet

SISOWWR302A - Demonstrate white water rescues and recoveries

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

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