Swift/Moving Water Rescue Swift/Moving Water Rescue IncidentsIncidents

Awareness LevelAwareness Level

Developed by Developed by

The Plymouth Fire DepartmentThe Plymouth Fire Department

Swift/Moving Water Rescue Swift/Moving Water Rescue Awareness Level Technical AssistanceAwareness Level Technical Assistance

The Hennepin County (MN) Sheriff’s OfficeThe Hennepin County (MN) Sheriff’s Office Minnesota DNRMinnesota DNR Pennsylvania Fish & Boat CommissionPennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission

Swift/Moving WaterSwift/Moving Water

Current Velocitymph)

Legs(lbf)

Body Swamped Boat

3 16.8 33.6 168

6 67.2 134 672

9 151 302 1512

12 269 538 2688

Current Velocitymph

Legslbf

Bodylbf

Swamped Boatlbf

3 16.8 33.6 168

6 67.2 134 672

9 151 302 1512

12 269 538 2688

Swift Water HazardsSwift Water Hazards

Top debrisTop debris Suspended debrisSuspended debris Bottom debrisBottom debris RocksRocks Bridge abutmentsBridge abutments

StrainersStrainers Low head damsLow head dams Cold waterCold water Speed/force of the Speed/force of the

waterwater

…

Awareness Level Rescue Awareness Level Rescue OptionsOptions

Reach Reach (pike pole, etc)(pike pole, etc)

Throw Throw (throw bag, (throw bag, downstream diagonal lines)downstream diagonal lines)

Swift Water ManagementSwift Water Management

Request technicalRequest technicalrescue assistancerescue assistance

Request shared communication Request shared communication talk grouptalk group

Maintain responder accountabilityMaintain responder accountability Communicate rescue and Communicate rescue and

safety plan safety plan

Awareness Level RescueAwareness Level RescueFirst Arriving First Arriving

Point last seenPoint last seen– Number of victimsNumber of victims– AgeAge– Time since last seenTime since last seen– Type/color of clothing, Type/color of clothing,

PFD?PFD?– Swimming ability, with Swimming ability, with

boat, etcboat, etc– Search immediate areaSearch immediate area– Relay informationRelay information

PFD, Helmet and Throw Bag PFD, Helmet and Throw Bag If Within 10 Feet of WaterIf Within 10 Feet of Water

NO TURNOUTSNO TURNOUTS

NO FIRE HELMETSNO FIRE HELMETS

Awareness Level RescueAwareness Level RescueResponder ActionsResponder Actions

First Arriving: Downstream ContainmentFirst Arriving: Downstream Containment• Personnel both sidesPersonnel both sides• PFD, technical rescue helmet, throw bagsPFD, technical rescue helmet, throw bags• SearchSearch

Second Arriving: Upstream ObserversSecond Arriving: Upstream Observers• Watch for items traveling downstream that could injure swimmers in Watch for items traveling downstream that could injure swimmers in

the waterthe water• Water surgeWater surge

Awareness Level RescueAwareness Level RescueResponder SafetyResponder Safety

PFD and throw bag if within 10PFD and throw bag if within 10’’ of water of water Deploy upstream spotters (surge, debris)Deploy upstream spotters (surge, debris) Deploy multiple downstream recovery Deploy multiple downstream recovery

pointspoints Do not wear structural turnout gearDo not wear structural turnout gear Do not wear structural fire helmetDo not wear structural fire helmet

Awareness Level RescueAwareness Level RescueResponder SafetyResponder Safety

Never tie a rope to yourselfNever tie a rope to yourself Do not enter moving waterDo not enter moving water Always be ready for self-rescueAlways be ready for self-rescue Do not drive through moving water that is Do not drive through moving water that is

deeper than ½ height of the tiredeeper than ½ height of the tire

Awareness Level RescueAwareness Level RescueSelf RescueSelf Rescue

PFD/Throw bag if within 10PFD/Throw bag if within 10’’ of edge of edge Keep feet up, pointed downstreamKeep feet up, pointed downstream Do not drag feetDo not drag feet Move your body at a 45 degree angle to the current Move your body at a 45 degree angle to the current

• Ferry angleFerry angle

Watch out for strainersWatch out for strainers

Awareness Level RescueAwareness Level RescueVictim RescueVictim Rescue

Reach or Throw Only!Reach or Throw Only! Do not attach a rope toDo not attach a rope to

yourselfyourself Use throw bagUse throw bag

• DonDon’’t forget about the speed of the watert forget about the speed of the water• Deploy downstream diagonal lines Deploy downstream diagonal lines • Pendulum victim to shorePendulum victim to shore• Treat for hypothermiaTreat for hypothermia

Possible InjuriesPossible Injuries

Head injuriesHead injuries HypothermiaHypothermia

• Minnesota waters should be considered cold Minnesota waters should be considered cold water drowning, any time of the yearwater drowning, any time of the year

Other ???Other ???