Swiftwater Rescue (also called "whitewater rescue") is a subset of technical rescue that involves the use of specially trained personnel, ropes, and mechanical advantage systems often much more robust than those used in rope rescue because of the added pressure of moving water.

The main goal is to use or deflect the water?s power to assist in the rescue of the endangered person(s), as in most situations there is no easy way to overcome the power of the water.

Rescue Operations

As a Swift Water Rescue Scene evolves, the Incident Command System (ICS) will emerge. ICS is a national protocal used for managing emergencies. Initially created for use by the United States Forest Service and United States Bureau of Land Management to manage wild fires, ICS has become the benchmark by which all disasters are managed in the United States. "ICS is based upon a flexible, scalable response organization providing a common framework within which people can work together effectively. These people may be drawn from multiple agencies that do not routinely work together, and ICS is designed to give standard response and operation procedures to reduce the problems and potential for miscommunication on such incidents."^[1] All rescue operations demand vigilance with regards to safety. ICS provides that a Safety Officer be present to monitor and address all safety issues. One of these issues pertains to the incident scene. The immediate area of operations at the incident, is divided into three zones of operation, "Cold", "Warm", and "Hot". Certain requirements regarding training and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) exist for personnel operating within these three zones. The Cold Zone is considered to be anything greater than 15 feet from the water's edge. Awareness Level personnel shall approach no closer than this zone. The Warm Zone begins 15 feet from the water's edge, and ends at the water's edge. Personnel operating in the Warm Zone shall be trained to the Operations Level, and must wear a properly fitted and secured Personal Flotation Device (PFD). The Hot Zone refers to any and all activities taking place in the water. These activities shall be performed by personnel trained to the Technician Level, provided they are wearing a properly fitted and secured technician level PFD. In order to provide for the safety of both the rescuer and victim, an algorithm has evolved for the implementation of various rescue methods in Swift Water Rescue. Under times of stress, the implementation of this algorithm helps to prevent a rescuer from endangering himself and the victim, thus providing a sound, step by step approach when effecting a rescue. As the algorithm progresses, the danger and threat to rescuer and victim increases. The algorithm is, "Talk", "Reach", "Wade", "Throw", "Helo", "Row", "Go", "Tow". While it is safest to talk a victim into performing a self-rescue, there exists a substantial increase in danger once a rescuer enters the water. "Talk", refers to the dialogue that takes place between the rescuer and victim, and includes the rescuer directing the victim in methods of self-rescue. If unsuccessful, the rescuer will attempt to "Reach" an object, such as a tree branch, paddle, or pole, to the victim, so that the victim can be pulled to safety. Due to the lamanar flow of a moving body of water, the center channel of water usually experiences the most current. As this current of water cuts its path, it experiences friction caused by resistance along the shallows and banks, and travels at a slower speed than the center. Therefore, a rescuer often has the opportunity to "wade" along the banks of a moving body of water to more easily "talk" to, or "reach" the victim. 80% of moving water rescues are effected using rope bags and other throw devices. ^[2] A rescuer can "throw" a rope bag or other throw device from a boat, stable platform, or dry land, or may elect to wade into the shallows and then initiate a throw. When a victim is not accessible from any of the previous rescue methods, resources permitting, a helicopter rescue should be attempted. A helicopter, or "helo", is a stable rescue platform from which a variety of rescue methods can be initiated. While the helicopter must be equipped for rescue work, the crew must be equipped, trained, and well practiced in the art of swift water rescue. "Row" includes, but is not limited to, all forms of boat based operations. When all other means of rescue have been exhausted, we must "Go", in, after the victim! Unlike all previous methods of rescue, the rescuer now enters the water in a swimming capacity. This method of rescue is also referred to as a "live bait rescue", because the rescuer swims to the aid of the victim while tethered to a team member at an anchor point, very much like bait, on a hook, at the end of a fishing pole.

NFPA Standards

In the USA and Canada, rope rescue is covered under National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1670 Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Rescue, which defines 3 increasing levels of capability: Awareness, Operational, Technician. Of these, the Swiftwater Rescue Technician (SRT) is divided into 3 sections: Swiftwater Rescue Technician I; SRT II; and SRT III. It is up to the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) to decide what level is required to operate within a technical rescue environment.

SRT levels of training

Generally, SRT1 is a qualification to perform shore-based support operations in swift water rescue. SRT2 is qualified to perform shore-based and contact rescue, and SRT3 is additionally qualified in the areas of technical rigging and to act as a Rescue Sector Officer.

In Canada, the standard for professional rescue is the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 1021). This standard is used by the fire service and other professional public service rescue agencies. Access-Rescue Canada delivers NFPA compliant Instructor-Training programs to these public service agencies.

Specialised Ratings

Additionally there are more specialised ratings such as:

• Whitewater Rescue Technician for the River Professional (WRT1 and WRT2) for swiftwater/whitewater professionals, for whom rescue scenarios may be encountered on a daily basis
• Technical Animal Rescue (TAR), which includes specialised techniques related to animal rescue including such knowledge as 'animal behavior during rescues' and basic first aid for animals.
• Technician Level Ice Training meets the requirements for the Technician level of NFPA 1670 standard for ice incidents, teaches the properties, formation, types and hazards of ice and specialised techniques for rescues in icy and ice-covered water.

this website does not show you all the rescue techniques

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External links

• Marine rescue instructor with training dummy strapped to emergency stretcher

de:Strömungsretter

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