Application
This unit applies to personnel who perform a narrow range of land based rescues from a swiftwater and floodwater environment while applying fundamental operational knowledge and working under direct supervision.
Prerequisites
HLTFA311A Apply first aid
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1 Prepare and respond to the rescue | 1.1 Operation and task information is obtained from communication centre or supervisor. 1.2 Rescue equipment/resources are identified and selected based on incident information as directed by supervisor. 1.3 Personal protective equipment is selected based on nature of the rescue operation. 1.4 Any further details of the nature of the rescue are received en route. 1.5 Anticipated situational and environmental hazards are discussed with rescue team members while on approach. |
2 Participate in assessing the rescue scene | 2.1 Information is collected from relevant persons at scene and observations are made of the scene to determine location, number, entrapment and condition of casualties. 2.2 Potential situational and environmental hazards to self and others are identified and reported to supervisor. 2.3 Control procedures are implemented as directed by supervisor. 2.4 Based on assessment of rescue scene, personal capabilities and limitations are recognised and referred to supervisor. 2.5 Need for additional personnel and/or specialist equipment is reported through the recognised chain of command. 2.6 Communication with other team members is maintained using situation-appropriate techniques and terminology. |
3 Participate in developing primary and secondary rescue plans | 3.1 Rescue and recovery techniques suitable to the casualty condition, entrapment, location and swiftwater and floodwater conditions are identified. 3.2 Primary and secondary rescue plans are formulated in consultation with other team members and other agencies on site, and communicated. 3.3 Equipment and resources required to perform identified land based rescues and recoveries in swiftwater and floodwater as identified by the rescue plan are selected. 3.4 In conjunction with the primary plan, deployment of the secondary rescue plan downstream is implemented and acted upon. |
4 Gain access and perform rescue on casualty | 4.1 Isolation techniques are used to stabilise positioning of casualty to assist in extrication and management of conscious casualty/s. 4.2 Land based rescue techniques and equipment are deployed to gain access to the casualty as identified in the rescue plan. 4.3 Rescue plan is implemented and casualty is extricated from entrapment or secured by using rescue techniques and equipment. |
5 Remove casualty from swiftwater and floodwater | 5.1 Casualties are retrieved from swiftwater and floodwater using recognised techniques for removal and in accordance with organisational policies and procedures. 5.2 Casualties are packaged and handled in accordance with organisational emergency care procedures, or as directed by first aid or medical personnel. |
6 Conclude swiftwater and floodwater rescue | 6.1 Prior to leaving the scene, equipment is recovered, cleaned and maintained in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines and organisational procedures. 6.2 During cleaning of rescue equipment and personal protective equipment, hygiene procedures are followed in accordance with organisational procedures. 6.3 Where identified, signs and symptoms of operational stress in self and others are recognised and reported to appropriate personnel. 6.4 Operational debrief is participated in and documentation is completed to organisational standards and job role. |
Required Skills
This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit. |
Required Skills |
anticipate and mitigate hazards and risks determine rescue and recovery methods using yell/talk, reach and throw strategies identify changes in casualty condition and position identify changes in water flow, currents, eddies and other hydrological features identify hazards and risks inform appropriate people of progress based on organisational procedures interact with other members of the rescue team, casualty and others provide first aid select equipment and resources swim defensively throw equipment to reach a swimmer in swiftwater and floodwater use equipment to reach a swimmer in swiftwater and floodwater work as part of a team and support others in the rescue operation |
Required Knowledge |
aggressive and defensive swimming techniques to escape hazards basic knots and anchors basics of swiftwater and floodwater hydrology and meteorology, and the impact this will have on the water flow behaviour of vehicles trapped in swiftwater and floodwater composition of team, and roles and responsibilities of team members hazards and risks associated with land organisational communication techniques used during rescue operation patient handling and packaging including the treatment of spinal injuries in the context of a swiftwater and floodwater incident potential contaminants in water and their potential impact on the rescuer and casualty principles of dynamic risk assessment principles of entrapment psychological considerations of swiftwater and floodwater rescue for the rescuer, casualty (normal survivor behaviour, panic, counter-panic casualty, instinctive drowning response), onlookers and the potential need for support resources relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures to enable safe conduct of all swiftwater and floodwater rescues and recovery activities (e.g. rescue rating system relating to land rescue and recovery equipment, characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, and its care and maintenance to enable appropriate selection and use search techniques |
Evidence Required
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package. | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Assessment must confirm the ability to: assess rescue situation to identify potential hazards and risks, and determine efficient rescue and recovery techniques select and use rescue equipment and resources, in a variety of swiftwater and floodwater rescue and recovery situations communicate with other members of the rescue team and adapt to problems or issues that may arise during swiftwater and floodwater rescues and recoveries to ensure safety of self and group evaluate and reflect on own rescue and recovery performance to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas that need improvement Consistency in performance Competency should be demonstrated over time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Context of assessment Competency should be assessed in swiftwater and floodwater relevant to the job role. Specific resources for assessment Access is required to: simulated swiftwater and floodwater location personnel for team based rescues rescue, recovery, safety, first aid and activity-specific equipment and resources |
Method of assessment | Assessment should be conducted by direct observation in either the workplace (through recorded subject matter supervision and/or mentoring) or the training environment. Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an industry-approved simulated work environment. Forms of assessment that are typically used include: direct observation interviewing the candidate journals and workplace documentation third party reports from supervisors written or oral questions |
Range Statement
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 in the Performance Criteria is detailed below. | |
Rescue equipment/resources must include: And may also include: | personal floatation devices portable radios safety and first aid equipment throw bags vehicle carabiners cyalume sticks descenders electrical detection devices float ropes harnesses helicopters hose inflators and encaps life rescue ropes line throwing device loud hailer pulleys sledge hammer steel pickets for anchoring stretchers strobe lighting |
Personal protective equipment must include: And may also include: | appropriate footwear helmet appropriate for swiftwater and floodwater personal floatation devices whistles eye protection gloves headlamps knives overalls torches wet weather gear |
Situational and environmental hazards may include: | adverse water conditions availability of assistance below surface debris hazards biological contaminants boat wraps confluence cushions and/or stacked water cushions culverts diseases and infections downstream and upstream v’s eddies entrapment hazards haystacks and standing waves holes, stoppers and keepers inundation lightning low visibility manholes overhead hazards rocks snakes and other dangerous animals strainers surface debris hazards undercuts utilities – electrical water contaminants water borne hazards water depth water hydraulics waterfalls weirs |
Relevant persons may include: | bystanders other agencies other casualties |
Entrapment may include: | body Person in/on vehicle in water Person static on object (eg tree) Person with limb pinned recirculation rope entanglements |
Communication may include: | hand signals radio verbal whistle signals written documents |
Rescue and recovery techniques must include: | reach rescue techniques (e.g. inflatable fire hose technique) throwing bag rescue technique yelling to give safety or rescue directions |
Other agencies may include: | ambulance service fire services interagency departments police state emergency service |
Isolation techniques may include: | hand signals yelling |
Recognised techniques for removal may include: | manual carry spine board stretcher |
Organisational policies and procedures may include: | access to medical personnel code of ethics communication protocols emergency care manufacturer's design specifications and recommendations for equipment use occupational health and safety removal of casualties use, maintenance and storage of equipment |
Packaging and handling casualties may include: | extrication device stiff neck collar |
First aid or medical personnel may include: | doctors first aider nurses paramedics |
Operational debrief may include: | areas where improvements can be made organisational strengths that can be built on validation of the participation of teams and individuals |
Documentation may include: | accident/injury report incident report forms risk assessment forms |
Organisational standards may include: | documentation to meet another agency’s operational requirements |
Sectors
Not applicable.
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Licensing Information
Not applicable.