Application
This unit applies to personnel who are skilled operators who apply the full range of rescues within a swiftwater and floodwater environment, using some discretion and judgement and relevant theoretical knowledge. They may provide technical advice and support to a team and may adopt a leadership role during the rescue.
A person operating at this level will not be performing under direct supervision.
Prerequisites
PUASAR033 Perform land based swiftwater and floodwater rescue and recovery
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENTS | 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 received. 1.3 Personal protective equipment is selected based on the 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 and are used as the basis for the development of a rescue plan. |
2. Assess 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 Risk assessment on situational and environmental hazards is conducted and control measures to ensure safety to self, other team members and casualty are developed. 2.3 Communication with other team members is maintained during assessment to gather further information from their observations. 2.4 Request for additional personnel and/or specialist equipment based on risk assessment is reported to supervisor in accordance with the recognised chain of command 2.5 Personal capabilities and limitations of self and other team members are recognised and referred to the supervisor, based on assessment of rescue scene. |
3. Develop 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 developed based on risk assessment, identification of appropriate rescue and recovery techniques and consultation from team members and other agencies. 3.3 Equipment and resources are selected to perform rescues and recoveries as identified by the rescue plan. 3.4 Job roles and equipment are allocated to other team members. 3.5 In conjunction with the primary plan, deployment of secondary rescue plan downstream is implemented and is acted upon. |
4. Use rope and mechanical advantage systems | 4.1 Situations requiring the use of rope system and mechanical advantage systems are identified. 4.2 Type of system required is based on the situation, and organisational policies and procedures. 4.3 Suitable rope and mechanical advantage systems are established to perform rescues and recoveries in a range of situations. 4.4 System equipment is used in accordance with manufacturer recommendations and organisational policies and procedures, to ensure that design limits are not exceeded. 4.5 System is modified to increase efficiency, where necessary, and communication is maintained throughout. |
5. Gain access and perform rescue on casualty | 5.1 Isolation techniques are used to stabilise positioning of casualty to assist in extrication and management of conscious casualty. 5.2 Craft is tethered to perform a rescue or recovery, where required by the rescue plan. 5.3 Rescue techniques and equipment are deployed to gain access to casualty as identified in the rescue plan. 5.4 Rescue plan is implemented and casualty is extricated from entrapment or secured by using rescue and recovery techniques and equipment. |
6. Remove casualty from swiftwater and floodwater | 6.1 Casualties are retrieved from swiftwater and floodwater using techniques for removal in accordance with organisational policies and procedures. 6.2 Casualty is packaged and handled in accordance with organisational emergency care procedures, or as directed by first aid or medical personnel. |
7. Conclude swiftwater and floodwater rescue | 7.1 Prior to leaving the scene, equipment is recovered, cleaned and maintained in accordance with manufacturer guidelines and organisational procedures. 7.2 During cleaning of rescue equipment and personal protective equipment, hygiene procedures are followed in accordance with organisational procedures. 7.3 Where identified, signs and symptoms of operational stress in self and others are recognised and reported to appropriate personnel. 7.4 Operational debrief is participated in or conducted, in accordance with role during rescue. 7.5 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, identify and mitigate hazards and risks apply aggressive, manoeuvring and defensive swimming techniques to escape hazards apply entrapment rescue techniques apply first aid apply search techniques and implement search management procedures apply wading techniques contact rescue determine rescue and recovery methods to use according to the routine situation handle and package patient handle non-powered boat/craft safely identify changes in casualty condition and position identify changes in water flow, currents, eddies and other hydrological features inform appropriate people of progress interact with other members of the rescue team, casualty and others manage spinal injuries in the context of swiftwater and floodwater incident operate in a range of conditions and climates select equipment and resources swim aggressively and defensively throw equipment to reach a swimmer in swiftwater and floodwater use rope and mechanical advantage systems use knots and anchors work as part of a team and support others in the rescue operation |
Required Knowledge |
behaviour of vehicles trapped in swiftwater and floodwater composition of team, and roles and responsibilities of team members environmental considerations based on whether operating in an urban or rural context first aid hazards and risks associated with rescues and recoveries for swiftwater and floodwater helicopter operations organisational communication techniques used during rescue operations potential contaminants in water and their potential impact on the rescuer and casualty principles of risk assessment including hierarchy of control and control methods 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 rescue and recovery activities rescue and recovery equipment, characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, and its care and maintenance to enable appropriate selection and use rescue rating system signs and symptoms of operational stress swiftwater and floodwater hydrology and basic meteorology and the impact this will have on water flow |
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: undertake risk assessment to determine and implement control measures develop and implement appropriate primary and secondary plans for rescue being undertaken use mechanical advantage system to conduct rescue or recovery apply organisational policies and procedures relating to swiftwater and floodwater rescue |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Context of assessment Competency should be assessed conducting rescues and recoveries in swiftwater and floodwater relevant to the job role and of sufficient breadth to demonstrate competency. Specific resources for assessment Access is required to: 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: | carabiners descender first aid equipment float ropes life rescue ropes non powered water craft paddles portable radios prussiks pulleys stretchers tapes/webbing throw bags vehicle ascdenders cyalume sticks flares harnesses helicopters hose inflators and encaps electrical detection devices line throwing device loud hailer sledge hammer steel pickets for anchoring |
Personal protective clothing and equipment must include: | appropriate footwear including bootees appropriate personal floatation devices eye protection gloves wetsuit and/or dry suit whistles |
And may include | fins headlamps helmet appropriate for swiftwater and floodwater hoods knives lycra suit mask torches wet shirt wet weather gear |
Situational and environmental hazards may include: | adverse water conditions availability of assistance below surface debris hazards biological contaminants boat wraps confluence culverts cushions and/or stacked water cushions diseases and infections downstream and upstream vs 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 borne hazards water contaminants water hydraulics waterfalls water depth weirs |
Relevant persons may include: | bystanders other agencies other casualties |
Entrapment may include: | body Person static on object (e.g. tree) Person in/on vehicle in water Person with limb pinned recirculation rope entanglements |
Communication may include: | hand signals radio verbal whistle signals written documents |
Rescue and recovery techniques must include: And may also include: | contact rescue defensive swimming position entrapment rescue techniques line crossing techniques mechanical advantage system offensive or aggressive swimming position reach rescue techniques throw bag rescue technique inflatable fire hoses techniques boat and rope rescue system paddle boat handling shallow water crossing technique vehicle rescue techniques |
Other agencies may include: | ambulance service fire service interagency departments police state emergency service |
Mechanical advantagesystems may include: | 4 to 1 mechanical advantage vector pulls Z rigs |
Organisational policies and procedures must include: | communication protocols emergency care rescue rating framework removal of casualties use, maintenance and storage of equipment access to workplace health and safety |
And may also include Isolation techniques may include: | access to medical personnel code of ethics manufacturer design specifications and recommendations for equipment use hand signals yelling |
Conscious casualty is: | a casualty who is able to follow commands and assist in stabilising their position |
Craft may include: | flood rescue boats inflatable rescue boat motorised inflatable work platforms rafts |
Tethering a craft may include: | high line with a craft on tether system two and/or four point boat tether system |
Extricating a casualty from entrapment may include: | alternate entries controlled release immediate release |
Techniques for removal may include: | manual carry stretcher |
Packaging and handling a casualty may include: | extrication device stiff neck collar spinal board |
First aid or medicalpersonnel may include: | doctors first aider nurses paramedics |
Operational debriefs 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.