804: Water Rescue

804.1 Water Rescue Introduction 

A water rescue occurs when a victim is trapped in a body of water, which includes rivers, canals, sea, lakes or oceans. For these types of operations either Swift Water rescue or Dive Rescue or in some cases both. 

804.2 Water Rescue Walkthrough

As mentioned in the section above you can either be assigned to the Swift Water rescue apparatus or Dive Rescue apparatus, depending on which apparatus is on scene and what you are assigned to, you will have different tasks on scene. If the rescue is happening above water, Swift Water rescue may be the only water related apparatus assigned to the rescue. In this case depending on the type of rescue Air Ops may also be assigned if the area of operations suits it. Swift water rescue vehicle is equipped with various water related tools, such as boats for example which are mainly the most used during these rescues. 

If the rescue is happening under water then the rescue time has to be very short due to the environment the victim is located in. For these type of rescues you may also have air ops and swift water rescue on scene. If you have Swift Water rescue and dive rescue on scene then Swift Water rescue may deploy their boat due to it being more efficient than the inflatable boat the Dive Rescue may have on it. For this kind of operation Dive rescue would get suited up with wet suits and underwater breathing equipment and with any extrication tools they may need to forcefully open up a vehicle or any type of object underwater. Swift water would drive the Dive Rescue operators out and would wait for them above water in the boat. Air ops may be deployed to medevac the patient if the area of operations suits it.