Live Bait Rescue: Tethered Rescue Swimmer
When was the last time you had a throw bag clipped to your rescue pfd? If you haven’t in a while, get out your rescue vest, a throw bag and a friend, and do some training with live bait. Live bait rescue is a useful tool that we as rescuers have available to us in the whitewater environment.
Live bait involves a tethered rescue swimmer and a shore based rescuer managing the line. Using a specialized rescue vest, a throw-bag and carabineer, one rescuer belays the line, while another rescuer prepares to swim out to a victim with a rope clipped to the back of his pfd. Attaching a rope to a rescuer is dangerous, and despite the quick-release feature of live bait rescue vests, you can run into complications with rope management in moving water.
Live bait can be deployed in a variety of environments for a variety of reasons. The benefit of live bait for a contact rescue (rescuer in the water) centers on the fact the rope does the work and the rescuer and victim will pendulum to shore.
Some uses for live bait:
Line crossing- 1. If the distance you are trying to cross a line is farther than a throw, you can swim a line on live bait. 2. Use live bait on the receiving end of a rope throw or crossing to shorten the channel distance, or to ensure the crossing is successful.
Access to stranded, marooned, or entrapped victims. Rescuers can gain access with a method of egress.
Some tips for the rescuer:
- Approach the victim from upstream; doing so gives you the upper hand. It is much easier to make up distance with the current at your back and swim down to the victim.
- Establish vocal contact with the victim.
- Attempt to assess the victim before putting hands on. A combative victim can make your rescue increasingly more difficult and dangerous. Once you make contact it is your responsibility to get the victim to shore.
Tips for the Belayer:
- Find a good point to belay from, with good footing and a clear view of the rescuer and the target.
- Have a backup belayer to mind slack in the rope and help hold against the force generated.
- Rope management is key. Have slack and be ready to give slack especially if the rescuer has distance to cover.
- If swimming a line across a channel, select an elevated belay point to help keep the rope out of the water thus minimizing rope drag
- Keep the rope out of the water. The drag on a rope in the water is surprisingly strong and can keep a swimmer from reaching his or her goal.
- Belay from a point downstream of the location where the rescuer leaves the shore to maximize the time where the force of drag is less.
Before practicing any live bait techniques, be sure to understand how your rescue pfd and release device work. Test the release mechanism before connecting to any line in the water. Most vests require significant force to release when properly threaded. Good luck and have fun with this rescue tool!
