Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

SISCAQU307A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Perform advanced water rescues

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency SISCAQU307A - Perform advanced water rescues
Description This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to identify and evaluate a major aquatic emergency and perform an advanced water rescue. These situations will usually involve a team response.
Employability Skills This unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit applies to pool lifeguards in swimming pools and confined natural shallow water venues. It may also apply to those conducting water familiarisation, learn-to-swim and water safety classes in venues where a pool lifeguard is not available.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites HLTFA301B Apply first aidSISCAQU202A Perform basic water rescues
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities
Slides
PPT
Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Identify and evaluate major aquatic emergencies.
  • Recognise factors which contribute to major aquatic emergencies.
  • Recognise the signs and signals of the aquatic emergency.
  • Communicate initial assessment to appropriate personnel according to accepted best practice principles of aquatic rescues, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
  • Identify an appropriate emergency response for the situation and the people involved Promote compliance with safety rules of aquatic facility to clients.
       
Element: Respond to the emergency.
  • Activate emergency systems according to organisational policies and procedures.
  • Implement strategies forgroup control according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
  • Assess the factors impacting on the advanced water rescue and formulate a rescue plan.
  • Determine involvement of others according to the nature of the emergency, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
  • Determine the type of rescue required and rescue equipment needed.
  • Identify hazards and appropriate action taken to prevent further injury to the casualty.
  • Perform an advanced water rescue in accordance with accepted best practice principles of aquatic rescues.
       
Element: Assess the casualty.
  • Observe and assess the condition of the casualty.
  • Assess vital signs and symptoms of shock according to accepted first aid procedures.
  • Provide appropriate treatment according to accepted first aid techniques and standards.
       
Element: Organise further emergency care as required.
  • Make contact with emergency services as soon as possible.
  • Provide accurate information to emergency services to obtain the required assistance.
  • Monitor casualty or arrange further treatment until emergency response team assumes responsibility.
       
Element: Record and report the incident.
  • Complete required documentation according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
  • Notify other personnel and statutory authorities of the incident as required.
       


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 signs and signals of a person experiencing difficulties in the water and determines possible contributing factors to enable prompt assessment and formulation of a suitable rescue plan

determines appropriate rescue types and participates as part of a team in rescues in the water that involve more than one casualty

demonstrates the use of spine-boards, spinal immobilisation collars, oxygen supplemented resuscitation and oxygen therapy on sufficient occasions to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance

monitors, accurately assesses and treats casualties and communicates effectively with emergency services

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

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must 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, to enable rescues to be demonstrated in the water

access to suitable participants to enable demonstration of advanced water rescue techniques

access to rescue and resuscitation equipment.

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:

demonstration of the performance of safe and effective advanced water rescues of multiple casualties as part of a team

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of accepted best practice principles of aquatic rescues and how they apply to safe and effective conduct of rescues

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

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, assignment, 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

communication skills to:

assert group control

reassure casualties and bystanders

provide clear and accurate information to emergency authorities

literacy skills to accurately complete incident documentation

problem-solving skills to promptly assess aquatic emergencies and formulate appropriate rescue plans

teamwork skills to:

organise staff and bystanders

delegate tasks to enable effective rescues

ability to retrieve an object from the deepest water within the aquatic environment, no greater than 3 metres; if depth is greater than 3 metres assistance may be used, e.g. fins

ability to complete a 25 metre swim and 25 metre tow with assisted landing in less than 1minute and 45 seconds

fitness and strength level to swim 200 metres in less than 6 minutes.

Required knowledge

legislation and organisational policies and procedures that enable the safe and appropriate conduct of all activities

factors contributing to aquatic emergencies to enable prompt and accurate assessment of emergency situations

accepted best practice principles of aquatic rescues to enable prompt and appropriate responses to major aquatic emergencies

signs and signals of people in difficulty to enable prompt recognition of emergency situations

first aid techniques and standards to enable provision of safe and effective response and treatment of casualties

types and characteristics of water rescue equipment used in advanced water rescue to enable its safe and effective use

roles of lifeguards and other personnel during major aquatic emergencies to enable effective emergency responses.

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.

Factors which contribute to major aquatic emergencies may include:

swimming ability

deep water

shallow water

river currents

surf

strong wind

risk-taking behaviour.

Signs and signals may include:

calling for help

vertical body position

diagonal body position

minimal or non-supportive leg action

vigorous arm movements

head tilted up and back, face turned to safety or help

submerged.

Aquatic emergency may include:

envenomation by aquatic animals

sudden unconsciousness

spinal injury

drowning

heart attack

severe bleeding

epileptic seizures

severe asthma attacks.

Appropriate personnel may include:

other rescuers

staff.

Accepted best practice principles of aquatic rescues may include:

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

The Royal Life Saving Society Australia guidelines and code of conduct policies

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

duty of care

working with children.

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.

Emergency response may include:

rescue equipment required

personnel involved

group control

risk management for self and others.

Strategies for group control may include:

removing facility users from danger

giving clear direction to other staff

dealing effectively with caregivers or friends of person in difficulty.

Factors may include:

number of casualties

rescue equipment

number and location of other staff.

Advanced water rescue may include:

spine-board

spinal immobilisation collar

oxygen supplemented resuscitation

oxygen therapy.

Rescue plan may include:

self-preservation

awareness of personal capabilities

available assistance

selection of rescue aids

nature of the area

priorities of rescue.

Involvement of others may include:

bystanders

trained or untrained staff.

Rescue equipment may include:

reaching aids

ropes

floatation aids

flippers

rescue tube

spine-board

spinal immobilisation collar

rescue board

oxygen resuscitation equipment.

First aid techniques and standards may include:

danger, response, airway, breathing, circulation routine

Australian Resuscitation Council 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 factors which contribute to major aquatic emergencies. 
Recognise the signs and signals of the aquatic emergency. 
Communicate initial assessment to appropriate personnel according to accepted best practice principles of aquatic rescues, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 
Identify an appropriate emergency response for the situation and the people involved Promote compliance with safety rules of aquatic facility to clients. 
Activate emergency systems according to organisational policies and procedures. 
Implement strategies forgroup control according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 
Assess the factors impacting on the advanced water rescue and formulate a rescue plan. 
Determine involvement of others according to the nature of the emergency, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 
Determine the type of rescue required and rescue equipment needed. 
Identify hazards and appropriate action taken to prevent further injury to the casualty. 
Perform an advanced water rescue in accordance with accepted best practice principles of aquatic rescues. 
Observe and assess the condition of the casualty. 
Assess vital signs and symptoms of shock according to accepted first aid procedures. 
Provide appropriate treatment according to accepted first aid techniques and standards. 
Make contact with emergency services as soon as possible. 
Provide accurate information to emergency services to obtain the required assistance. 
Monitor casualty or arrange further treatment until emergency response team assumes responsibility. 
Complete required documentation according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 
Notify other personnel and statutory authorities of the incident as required. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

SISCAQU307A - Perform advanced 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

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Assessor name:

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Assessment Record Sheet

SISCAQU307A - Perform advanced 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: