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Chapter 9 Water Search and Rescue

9.1 General Requirements.

Organizations operating at water incidents shall meet the requirements specified in Chapter 4.

9.2 Awareness Level.

9.2.1 Organizations operating at the awareness level at water search and rescue incidents shall meet the requirements specified in Section 9.2.

9.2.2 Each member of an organization operating at the awareness level shall be a competent person as defined in 3.3.18.

9.2.3 Organizations operating at the awareness level at water search and rescue incidents shall implement procedures for the following:

(1) Recognizing the need for water search and rescue

(2)* Implementing the assessment phase

(3)* Identifying the resources necessary to conduct safe and effective water operations

(4)* Implementing the emergency response system for water incidents

(5)* Implementing site control and scene management

(6)* Recognizing general hazards associated with water incidents and the procedures necessary to mitigate these hazards within the general search and rescue area

(7) Determining rescue versus body recovery

9.3 Operations Level.

9.3.1 Organizations operating at the operations level at water search and rescue incidents shall meet the requirements specified in Section 9.2 and in 9.3.1 through 9.3.5.

9.3.2 For the purposes of this standard, there shall be four separate water-related disciplines for the operations level: dive, ice, surf, and swift water.

9.3.3* Organizations operating at the operations level of one or more specific disciplines shall meet the requirements defined in 9.3.6, 9.3.7, 9.3.8, or 9.3.9 for that discipline.

9.3.4* For personnel operating in the hazard zone, the minimum PPE provided shall include the following:

(1) Personal flotation device (PFD)

(2) Thermal protection

(3)* Helmet appropriate for water rescue

(4) Cutting device

(5) Whistle

(6) Contamination protection (as needed)

9.3.5 Organizations operating at the operations level at water search and rescue incidents shall develop and implement procedures for the following:

(1)* Sizing up existing and potential conditions at incidents where water search and rescue will be performed

(2)* Ensuring personal safety at water operations

(3)* Assessing water conditions in terms of hazards to the victim and rescuer

(4) Separating, isolating, securing, and interviewing witnesses

(5)* Determining the method of victim entrapment

(6)* Evaluating the progress of the planned response to ensure the objectives are being met safely, effectively, and efficiently

(7)* Conducting shore-based rescue operations

(8)* Using throw bags

(9)* Supplying assistance with rigging and mechanical advantage systems to technician-level personnel

(10) Deploying, operating, and recovering any watercraft used by the organization

(11)* Survival swimming and self-rescue

(12)* Identifying and managing heat and cold stress to the rescuer while utilizing PPE

(13) Using victim packaging devices that could be employed by the organization for water rescue

(14)* Transferring victim information including location, surroundings, condition when found, present condition, and other pertinent information to emergency medical services personnel

(15)* Boat-assisted and boat-based operations if boats are used by the organization

(16) Planning to meet operational objectives

(17)* Rapid extrication of accessible victims

(18) Surface water-based search operations

9.3.6 Dive. Organizations operating at the operations level at dive incidents shall develop and implement procedures for the following:

(1)* Recognizing the unique hazards associated with dive operations

(2)* Serving as surface support personnel

(3) Identifying water characteristics

(4)* Operating surface support equipment used in water operations

(5) Procuring the necessary equipment to perform dive operations

(6) Safe entry and recovery of divers from the water

(7)* Participating in safe dive operations in any climate the organization can encounter

9.3.7 Ice. Organizations operating at the operations level at ice rescue incidents shall develop and implement procedures for the following:

(1)* Recognizing the unique hazards associated with ice rescue operations

(2)* Identifying water and ice characteristics

(3)* Operating surface support equipment used in water or ice rescue operations

(4) Procuring the necessary equipment to perform ice rescue operations

(5)* Recognizing and dealing with a victim's hypothermia

(6) Safe entry of divers into the water through an ice hole, if ice diving is performed by the organization

9.3.8 Surf. Organizations operating at the operations level at surf search and rescue incidents shall develop and implement procedures for the following:

(1)* Recognizing the unique hazards associated with surf rescue operations

(2) Operating surface support equipment used in surf rescue operations

(3) Procuring the necessary equipment to perform surf rescue operations

(4)* Self-rescue and survival swimming in surf

9.3.9 Swift Water.

9.3.9.1 Organizations operating at the operations level at swift water search and rescue incidents shall meet the requirements specified in Section 6.3 (operations level for rope rescue).

9.3.9.2 Organizations operating at the operations level at swift water search and rescue incidents shall develop and implement procedures for the following:

(1)* Assessing moving water conditions, characteristics, and features in terms of hazards to the victim and rescuer

(2) Determining the method of victim entrapment

(3)* Using tag lines and tension diagonals (zip lines)

(4)* Self-rescue and survival swimming in swift water

9.4 Technician Level.

9.4.1 Organizations operating at the technician level at water search and rescue incidents shall meet the requirements specified in 9.3.1 through 9.3.5 and 9.4.1 through 9.4.6.

9.4.2 All members of the organization shall meet the requirements specified in Chapter 4 of NFPA 472, Standard for Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents.

9.4.3 For the purposes of this standard, there shall be four separate water-related disciplines for the technician level: dive, ice, surf, and swift water.

9.4.3.1 Organizations operating at the technician level at dive search and rescue incidents shall meet the requirements specified in 9.3.6 and 9.4.6.

9.4.3.2 Organizations operating at the technician level at ice search and rescue incidents shall meet the requirements specified in 9.3.7 and 9.4.7.

9.4.3.3 Organizations operating at the technician level at surf search and rescue incidents shall meet the requirements specified in 9.3.8 and 9.4.8.

9.4.3.4 Organizations operating at the technician level at swift water search and rescue incidents shall meet the requirements specified in 9.3.9 and 9.4.9.

9.4.4 Personnel operating within an organization at the technician level shall possess a level of watermanship skill and comfort applicable to the required task.

9.4.5 Organizations operating at the technician level at water search and rescue incidents shall develop and implement procedures for the following:

(1) Evaluating existing and potential conditions at incidents where water search and rescue will be performed

(2) Planning a response within the capabilities of available resources

(3) Implementing a planned response consistent with the organization's capabilities

(4)* Conducting both boat-assisted and boat-based rescues

(5)* Conducting a “go” rescue

9.4.6 Dive.

9.4.6.1* Certification.

9.4.6.1.1* For all diving members of a technician level organization, the AHJ shall ensure provision of certification by a nationally recognized agency.

9.4.6.1.2 The curriculum for such certification shall be oriented toward the needs and operational requirements of public safety diving as defined herein.

9.4.6.2* For all diving members of a technician level organization, an annual fitness test, Watermanship/Skills Test, and Basic Scuba Skills Evaluation supplied by International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists (IADRS) shall be conducted to maintain public safety diver capability.

9.4.6.3 Organizations operating at the technician level at dive incidents shall develop and implement procedures for the following:

(1)* Skin and SCUBA diving, including the use of any associated equipment

(2) Applying an understanding of physics and physiology as it relates to the underwater environment

(3)* Using dive tables

(4) Dealing with the various underwater environments with which the rescue diver could come into contact

(5) Avoiding and dealing with underwater plants and animals

(6) Conducting and supervising dive operations

(7) Using accepted search techniques

(8)* Identification and management of dive-related maladies including psychological and physiological stress, air embolism, and decompression sickness

(9) Recognizing and managing the impact of near-drowning in cold water

(10)* Utilizing electronic communications within full-face mask equipment during operations

(11)* Utilizing redundant and alternate air sources during low- or out-of-air emergencies

(12)* Utilizing full-body encapsulation equipment, including dry suits, dry hoods, and dry gloves with full-face mask in contaminated water

(13)* Rescuing an entangled diver

(14)* Medical monitoring of divers

(15)* Recovering evidence including locating, securing, and packaging evidence, documenting and maintaining the chain of custody, and documenting the scene

9.4.7 Ice. Organizations operating at the technician level at ice rescue incidents shall develop and implement procedures for the following:

(1)* Self-rescue unique to ice rescue

(2) The reach, throw, row, and go rescue technique unique to ice rescue

(3) The use of watercraft, specialty craft, and specialty equipment unique to ice rescue

9.4.8 Surf. Organizations operating at the technician level at surf rescue incidents shall develop and implement procedures for the following:

(1) The reach, throw, row, and go rescue technique unique to surf rescue

(2) Using watercraft, specialty craft, and specialty equipment unique to surf rescue

9.4.9 Swift Water.

9.4.9.1 Organizations operating at the technician level at swift water rescue incidents shall meet the requirements specified in Section 6.4 (technician level for rope rescue).

9.4.9.2 Organizations operating at the technician level at swift water rescue incidents shall develop and implement procedures for applying rope rescue techniques in the swift water environment.