When you come on scene to a rescue, whether you are on a tactical response team, or a boating party (commercial or otherwise), there are certain steps to take that will help facilitate a successful rescue / recovery. The ultimate goal in any rescue is to save the victim(s), and manage the scene without subjecting rescuers or bystanders to unnecessary risk. Below are a few acronyms commonly seen in swiftwater manuals that help rescuers make good safe decisions before acting on impulse.
S.T.O.P
S– Stop. Don’t just go jumping in guns blazing. Take a minute, or 10 before taking action. Avoid acting on impulse and adrenaline.
T– Think. This is your “Size up.” Asses the situation. What resources are at hand, on the way?
O– Observe. Evaluate the conditions. Is the water rising? Is the victim stable? Heads up or heads down?
P– Plan. Come up with a strategy, and have multiple backup plans. Water is dynamic, and the situation is likely to change.
Remember your safety comes first, then the safety of your team / bystanders, and the victim is last on the list. He or she is already in trouble. Don’t make the situation worse. On the rescue scene, someone has to determine if the rescue is a ‘Go’ rescue, and if so, how to implement it. For agency responders this breakdown is very spelled out in the incident command chain. For commercial guides and private boaters, this is often where a breakdown in communication and planning can hinder a rescue. Prior Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance.
A.S.S.E.S.S.
A– Assess. Gather information. Again, this is your scene survey: heads up / heads down, scene safety, resources.
S– Send upstream spotter. Ideally someone with visual contact to the scene or incident commander. Radios or whistles can be effective here.
S– Safety downstream. These people help with containment of the scence downstream, and serve to assist rescuers should they need support. Livebait, throwbags, and boats, are all useful resources for downstream safety.
E- Egress. Getting to the victim is only half the battle, have a plan of action to get back to shore.
S– Safety. Our number one concern in a rescue.
S– Success. What needs to be done to make a successful rescue or recovery?
In our swiftwater classes I draw up this acrynonm on a white board and have students fill in the last three letters (E. S. S.) with apliciable words. This usually gets some good thoughts and discussion going. Then I tell the class that if you remember anything, remember to first cover your A. S. S.
L.A.S.T
When dealing with the implementation of a rescue, the ‘L.A.S.T’ acronym can help responders focus on the steps involved in carrying out a rescue.
L– Locate. This is usually the first step. You have to find the victim before anything else. ‘Locate’ can take 1 minute, one month, or one day. It all depends on the search area, available resources, and conditions.
A– Access. This step is when most of our swiftwtater training comes into play. Wading, steam crossing, boat handling, swimming, and rope techniques, can all be utilized for accessing a victim. Keep it Simple.
S– Stabilize. Stabilization first and foremost refers to a victim’s airway. If they are heads-up keep them heads up. If they are heads-down, get them heads up.
T- Transport. Getting the victim back to shore can be quick and easy or long and involved. Realize that if further medical attention is needed, efficient transport is vital.
Bear in mind that these acronyms are not intended to solve every problem you encounter in swiftwater rescue. For some, they help to reinforce the steps involved in executing a rescue. For others, they serve as reminder to stop think before jumping in the water. Good luck out there. Train hard and stay safe.
-ZB 2.27.12
