PUASAR033
Perform land based swiftwater and floodwater rescue and recovery

This unit covers the competency required to perform land-based swiftwater and floodwater rescues and recoveries as a member of a specialist team. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

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.



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 landbased swiftwater and floodwater rescues and recoveries

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 landbased rescues for swiftwater and floodwater)

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.