Land Rescue

RESCUE RECOVERY METHODS

The decisions relating to what method of rescue should be used for any particular rescue involve being able to prioritise the need for urgency weighed against the risk required to be taken by the rescuer.

You need to consider whether the victim’s head is up or down, the body sub- merged or not. These two considerations will dictate the urgency due to the ability for the victim to breathe or the rate that hypothermia will take effect.

The process that should be used is an easy to hard or dry to wet option.

The adage that is used is:

• Reach: from shore with pole, paddle, stick or hand

• Throw: a line or throw bag or some other flotation

• Row: the use of boats to gain access to victim

• Go: to the victim in the water by swimming, wading or a rope system

• Tow: the victim by tethered swimmer or rope systems with rescuer

• Helo: the use of helicopters

Some of these options are risky, as statistics show a third of those that have drowned on rivers have done so in trying to rescue someone else. This is why it is very important that rescuers clearly know their limitations, which of course can only be gained through effective professional training and experience.

One of the most important pieces of rescue equipment is the throw rope. The throw rope is very suitable for shore base rescue, particularly for swimmers in rapids. It also can be used to get a line across the river or to a victim trapped mid-stream. Most throw bags are between 12 and 20 meters in length. The technique for a throw rope rescue can be found below