
Dive/Rescue Series: Gear Up for In-Water Rescue
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One big problem with dive/rescue teams is that they often are not trained to gear up efficiently. As a result, valuable time is often lost, making rescues difficult and sometimes impossible.
In this second article in the dive/rescue series, I will discuss the importance of training for dive/rescue teams and the most efficient ways to gear up for both wet suit and dry suit dive/rescues.
ON-SHORE AND IN-WATER RESCUE PROCEDURES
First, let’s take a look at the normal routine of an on-shore rescue team. If you were called to respond to a vehicle accident you wouldn’t think twice about what procedures to follow. Each man knows his job and what is expected of him. He knows what equipment is necessary and how it operates. He has performed and practiced these skills many times.
The hydraulic rescue tool operator, for example, knows exactly where the equipment is located in the apparatus. He knows how to perform the necessary checks to ensure that the equipment is in proper working order prior to commitment, and because he is highly skilled through training, he is able to use it to its maximum performance in minimum time.
Photo by Bridget Thomson
When your team arrives at an incident site, you all respond in the rescue mode; everyone is geared to save a life. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs), firefighters, and rescue personnel are all working quickly and methodically to gain access to that possible breathing victim. Back-up personnel are standing by for the slightest indication that their skills are needed.
It is because of this team effort and performance that lives are saved every day throughout the country.
Now, let’s look at what occurs when a standard rescue team arrives at a water site. Most of us automatically react to a water rescue as if it was a recovery (see “Rescue vs. Recovery,” FIRE ENGINEERING, April 1986). It is difficult for us to think in the rescue mode because most likely we will not have visual contact with our victim. The mind has a difficult time comprehending something that it cannot see. In most other types of rescues we can see the needs of the victim and the terrain, so we have a logical plan to follow.
In-water rescue presents a different problem. When we arrive at the scene, all we see is water, and we usually have no idea what we will find at the bottom. This makes it difficult to get started. We no longer have a standard procedure to follow. Leadership becomes extremely important.
Part of the reason we often feel so overwhelmed at an in-water rescue is insufficient training. We must constantly practice using our diving equipment, just as we do with our other rescue tools. The only level of training completed by most dive/rescue teams is a sport diving program. This does not prepare them for the job at hand. Although they may have been well trained in their diving course, they are prepared only for sport diving, not for in-water rescue operations.
Many rescue divers who have participated in a sport rescue course feel that they are now qualified to perform any type of in-water rescue. However, in-water rescues are much more difficult to perform than we might think. They may involve underwater extrication, black water diving, operating in strong currents, or extremely hazardous conditions where all maneuvers must be executed by touch and feel.
TRAIN TO GEAR UP
One area where dive/rescue teams especially lack training is gearing up. They often forget that being properly prepared to enter the water is just as important as the rescue itself.
In fact, when it comes to in-water rescue, every skill leading up to entering the water is extremely important. The rescue diver should be able to gear up within minutes without even being noticed. His number one job is to be ready to go underwater.
In the first article of this series (see “Rescue vs. Recovery,” FIRE ENGINEERING, April 1986), I stated that a dive/rescue team must be able to be properly equipped to enter the water within five minutes after arriving on the scene. You may wonder if I am serious about this and, if so, what is the secret. One of the most important factors in being able to dress quickly and correctly is knowing how to dress, and that takes practice.
Donning equipment is a skill that should be honed while in quarters. The diver should not talk to anyone except the rescue or site coordinator. Each man should dress at a fast pace, but not race. The key is for the diver to be in continuous motion and fluid with his gear. Remember, the diver’s first job is to dress and be ready to enter the water.
You have two options when performing a dive/rescue: diving wet or dry. Because of the many contaminated waterways throughout the country, wet suit diving is not the optimum method. A fully sealed dry suit that is married to a dry mask is the preferred system. However, as a realist I understand that 75% of all in-water rescue teams are diving wet and will continue to do so for the forseeable future because it is a much less expensive method than diving dry.
The following sections describe the most efficient methods of gearing up for both wet and dry suit diving.
Gearing up with wet suits
When preparing for diving wet, begin with one piece of gear, such as the trousers of the wet suit. Put them on and take them off several times. Be gentle; do not pull or tug. Work all wrinkles upward for a good fit. Obviously, the suit should be the correct size for the individual wearing it.
Extend the leg into the suit until it stops, and then bring the suit over the foot and ankle. Work up all wrinkles above the knee before inserting the second leg. Again, wrinkles can occur and cause problems anytime, but they always seem more prevalent when you are in a rush. If the suit fits correctly at the ankle and knee, there is a much better chance that you will have a close to perfect fit in the body section.
Next comes the jacket. Again, insert the arm until it stops, and then work the cuff around the wrist. In order to achieve the best fit, insert one arm until it finds resistance, then extend the second arm into the suit, and stretch forward with both arms. As I said before, you must work all wrinkles up to the shoulder area without major pulling or tugging.
Don your booties as you would socks. Side zipper type booties are preferred for rapid donning. Wear your booties under the cuff of your pants so that they won’t fill with water.
Make sure your gloves or mitts are not too snug. A tight glove will restrict circulation and cause hands to become cold quickly. If you have difficulty donning the glove, try blowing into it. Wet or dry, it will usually make donning easier.
Tanks and back-packs should be donned and doffed the same way for every in-water incident. There is not enough time to try out four different methods of donning and doffing your gear. You must follow one uniform system to ensure that it will work correctly the first time. You can affix a back-up knife and light to the buoyancy compensator, as well as night glow sticks and an in-water flare. This will ensure that the diver never enters the water without the necessary safety equipment.
Gearing up with dry suits
It is imperative that you perform proper maintenance and take special care of your dry suit in order to prevent leakage and ensure easy donning. Wax the zipper with Paraffin before and after every dive in order to keep it working smoothly and prevent rotting.
Exercise all seals on the dry suit before gearing up. Stretch them slightly to make the rubber more pliable. Make sure seals are set correctly to prevent leakage upon entering the water. Connect and check all valves. I suggest that you wear buoyancy compensators with all dry suits. If the suit should flood while you are in the water, it is vital that you have another source of buoyancy.
Donning a dry suit is a simple task. Do not tug or pull. As with the wet suit, work up the wrinkles slowly. The suit should go on smoothly. Be extremely careful to avoid puncturing the neck and wrist seals with your fingernails.
The zipper is the key component in maintaining a dry system. Avoid twists, bends, and snags. When zipping the suit, make sure it is smooth and free from any foreign obstructions (i.e., long underwear, shirt, hair).
New dry suit wearers should receive additional training with the in-water use of the variable buoyancy dry suit. In-water practice also is important for the part-time dry suit diver so that he is familiar with this piece of equipment and can operate it effectively.
Gearing up in the field
Once your team has become efficient gearing up in quarters, it is time to take them into the field. If your dive /rescue vehicle is large enough for your divers to dress while en route to a rescue site, practice by taking your team for an eight-minute drive at approximately 40 miles per hour. Have two divers dress while in transit. At the end, pull into the nearest parking area. At the eight-minute mark, have your divers step out of the vehicle. Now is the time to check all their gear to see if they made any of the following common mistakes:
- Release buckles inaccessible;
- Weight belt with other than “right hand release”;
- Power inflator not hooked up;
- Carbon dioxide cartridge already spent;
- Air not turned on;
- Absence of a knife or placed incorrectly for rapid use (make sure the knife is always sharp);
- No back-up light (make sure batteries are charged);
- Rescue harness not on, or worn incorrectly;
- Pressure and depth gauges dangling rather than neatly secured close to the body;
- Buoyancy compensator incorrectly secured to the body;
- Weight belt under straps (diver could not ditch in an emergency);
- Fins and mask not ready for use (ripped or worn straps—extra straps should be easily accessible);
- Tending lines not secured in deployment bags (inaccessible for ease of deployment);
- Diver about to enter the water without mitts or gloves;
- Snap clips incorrectly attached. (Snap clips should be attached to the equipment being carried and then attached to the harness by use of D-rings. Open end of snap clips should face the body.)
If your response vehicle is not suitable for gearing up while en route, transport your team to a site where dressing is feasible and allow them to gear up for five minutes. Then stop and run a check.
SUMMARY
Our job is to deploy rescue personnel under the water’s surface to find and hopefully rescue a victim or victims. The diver must be ready for that job. Even a minor equipment mistake or slight loss of time while gearing up can make the difference between a rescue and a recovery.