
Rescue from water
Applying National Operational Guidance to incident types. Identify the knowledge, control measures and actions needed to combat the hazards you face.
Applying National Operational Guidance to incident types. Identify the knowledge, control measures and actions needed to combat the hazards you face.
Identify the safest access route, rendezvous points (RVPs) and marshalling areas, and communicate to all responders and the fire control room
Establish casualty details (name, age, sex, size, clothing, state of mind, swimmer, floating, sub-surface)
Assess hydrology and status of water or other liquids - depth, temperature, type of liquid, speed of flow
Use local knowledge to aid navigation to an incident
Ensure that tracks and pathways are suitable for fire service vehicles
Consider the least damaging routes to incidents and where possible, stay on marked paths and tracks
Consider Step 1-2-3 Plus: Safety Triggers for Emergency Personnel
Access past, present and future weather information from sources such as the Met Office
Establish the availability of pre-arranged evacuation strategies and policies
Consider pollution prevention information contained within site specific risk plans
Seek advice from landowners and other bodies on susceptible areas of the environment
Review situational awareness following an emergency evacuation or tactical withdrawal
Investigate the possibility of rising waters and increased flow from tides, flooding, sluice gates
Consider the use of water temperature charts where available
Use local knowledge to aid navigation to an incident
Ensure that tracks and pathways are suitable for fire service vehicles
Consider the least damaging routes to incidents and where possible, stay on marked paths and tracks
Consider Step 1-2-3 Plus: Safety Triggers for Emergency Personnel
Access past, present and future weather information from sources such as the Met Office
Establish the availability of pre-arranged evacuation strategies and policies
Consider pollution prevention information contained within site specific risk plans
Seek advice from landowners and other bodies on susceptible areas of the environment
Review situational awareness following an emergency evacuation or tactical withdrawal
Access past, present and future weather information from sources such as the Met Office
Request adequate resources to enable effective search given the scope and environment of the incident
Use appropriately trained responders at incidents involving water
Confirm that required agencies have been requested or notified (e.g. Police, Ambulance, environmental agencies)
Use approved specialist volunteers, individuals or teams
Request medical support at rescue incidents as soon as a need is identified
Request sufficient and appropriate additional resources
Consider requesting appropriate specialist advice
Consider requesting specialist resources from own or neighbouring fire and rescue services, or partner agencies
Inform and/or seek advice from environment agencies and/or sewage undertakers where necessary
Consider whether operational resources can be released from the incident
Regularly update the fire control room on the availability status of operational resources
Consider requesting specialist underwater search and recovery dive teams
Consider the use of specialist camera equipment to help locate underwater casualties. Urban Search and Rescue teams use 'snake eye' cameras which are suited for such purposes
Identify the safest access route, rendezvous points (RVPs) and marshalling areas, and communicate to all responders and the fire control room
Consider requesting appropriate facilities for the welfare of personnel
Consider the availability of pollution control equipment and/or pollution containment facilities on site
Make use of specialist fire and rescue service or on-site environmental protection equipment
Consider the appointment of a HMA (or equivalent) to oversee environmental protection activities
Consider the effects of geography on equipment logistics, casualties and the welfare of personnel
Manage hazards in the working environment that could lead to slips, trips and falls
Establish, identify and communicate safe traffic routes, establish clear zones and equipment points
Provide lighting to illuminate hazards to personnel in poorly lit environments
Consider the possibility of bankside erosion (undercutting) from flowing water
Identify and communicate any electrical or mechanical hazards that present a risk to personnel
Identify and communicate the presence of water or other liquids to all responders
Ensure that personnel operate on the safe side of suitable existing or improvised guarding or barriers near water or other liquids
Appoint a safety officer to monitor the hazard presented by water or other liquids
Ensure personnel working around unstable ground are secured using work restraint or fall arrest systems
Implement an effective plan to control boat traffic and water users
Ensure that personnel wear suitable PPE and personal flotation devices when working near water or other liquids
Avoid entering submerged or partially submerged vehicles
Consider the stability of unsecured vehicles
Consider securing or anchoring vehicles in water
Regularly assess and review the effectiveness of the stabilisation techniques employed
Implement measures to maintain access and egress during the incident
Consider the impact of past, present and future weather conditions on the ground conditions
Ensure personnel working around unstable ground are secured using work restraint or fall arrest systems
Consider the use of specialist equipment for rescues from mud, ice and unstable surfaces
Maintain rescuer safety whilst attempting shout, reach and throw methods
Consider using specialist equipment to assist in the removal of casualties from water
Request additional or specialist resources to assist with manual handling tasks
Consider the task, individual capabilities, load and environment (TILE) when carrying out risk assessments for manual handling
Restrict the access of persons to premises or a place if they reasonably believe an emergency to have occurred
Restrict the access of persons to premises or a place if they reasonably believe an emergency to have occurred
Why? | Expectations? | Benefit vs Risk? |
Maintain the safety of all personnel, other responders and the public
Save life and reduce harm
Maintain the safety of all personnel, other responders and the public
Save life and reduce harm
Minimise the impact of the incident and fire service actions on any identified environmental risk
Consider the JESIP principles at all incidents involving multi-agency operations
Consider taking action to prevent a serious escalation of the incident
Minimise the impact of the incident and fire service actions on any identified environmental risk
Jointly agree search and rescue or recovery response with other agencies based on survivability model
Consider deploying appropriate safety officers at incidents involving water and unstable surfaces
Implement a co-ordinated search plan, define parameters and sub-divide the area where necessary
Develop a plan based on Locate, Access, Stabilise, Transport (LAST) principles
Carry out a dynamic risk assessment, identify hazards, evaluate risk and implement safe systems of work
Declare the tactical mode and communicate to personnel at the incident ground and in the fire control room
Carry out and formally record analytical risk assessments at suitable intervals
Establish emergency arrangements appropriate to the type, size and complexity of the incident
Apply the firefighter safety maxim and safe person principles at incidents
Identify and communicate the hazard area and establish a safe working area as soon as is practicable
Use situational awareness to anticipate the likely development of the incident and evaluate the potential consequences of a range of actions
Develop and communicate an incident plan to relevant personnel, including the fire control room
Regularly review and update incident plan in response to active monitoring of the situation against expected outcomes
Review the tactical mode following active monitoring and briefings with sector commanders
Periodically review the analytical risk assessment using situational awareness from active monitoring
Apply the joint decision model process to ensure effective joint decision-making at multi-agency incident
Identify the need to evacuate and develop a strategy in liaison with partner agencies
Establish an appropriate muster point and communicate its location to all personnel, and other responders if present
Secure the scene to ensure evidence is preserved for internal and external investigations
Carry out an environmental risk assessment and monitor the impact of tactics on the identified risk
Consider appointing a search co-ordinator to ensure all areas have been systematically searched
Consider mobilising appropriate resources to close off the search area
Establish and maintain contact with the casualty
Implement a co-ordinated search plan, define parameters and subdivide the area where necessary
Adopt a shout – reach – throw – row – go - helicopter hierarchy approach to rescue plan
Gain access to premises causing minimal damage considering the urgency of the situation
Establish and resource a casualty care point
Determine whether people should be advised to evacuate, shelter in place or 'stay put'
When evacuation is necessary, identify the number of people affected and develop a plan
Consider the use of specialist equipment for rescues from mud, ice and unstable surfaces
Take care when digging around casualties partially submerged in unstable ground
Instigate and communicate hygiene arrangements, facilities and consider decontamination
Implement an appropriate protection plan when an identified nature conservation site is at risk
Remove casualties from water in a horizontal position and elevate legs where possible
Use the most effective methods for communicating with people who are either directly or indirectly involved in the incident
Communicate using appropriate hand and whistle safety signals for water rescue to all personnel
Establish and maintain an incident ground communication plan considering other agencies and remote resources
Ensure that all personnel are briefed on the current hazards, risks, control measures and tactical mode
Communicate the incident situation to other responders via fire control using the M\ETHANE message protocol
Provide a structured brief when handing over and taking over command
Communicate findings of analytical risk assessment to all personnel and other agencies
Identify the safest access route, rendezvous points (RVPs) and marshalling areas, and communicate to all responders and the fire control room
Communicate any change in the tactical mode of a sector of the incident to personnel at the incident ground and in the fire control room
Communicate objectives, priorities and tactics to be adopted in resolving the incident
Deliver clear, concise and timely briefings to crews, command support functions and other agencies
Regularly pass information to fire control regarding incident progress
Establish an appropriate muster point and communicate its location to all personnel, and other responders if present
Ensure that all appropriate environmental agencies are informed of the incident when required
Use the most effective methods for communicating with people who are either directly or indirectly involved in the incident
Appoint a safety officer to monitor the hazard presented by water or other liquids
Consider establishing control zones at incidents involving water and communicate to all responders
Use an appropriate system of identification for water safety, search and rescue teams
Form their command structure in accordance with the priorities and demands of an incident
Ensure that appropriate inner and outer cordons are established and communicated following an assessment of risk to all people present
Control access to the inner cordon using methods proportionate to the type, size and complexity of the incident
Appoint competent safety officers to monitor specific hazards or activities
Instigate a tactical withdrawal of personnel when the mode changes from offensive to defensive
Establish and maintain an exclusion zone around any body of water or unstable surface where no existing guarding exist
Be prepared to adopt a leadership role at multi-agency incidents
Establish a scene access control point to log all people operating within the inner cordon when appropriate
Consider the use of command support systems and equipment where required
Monitor the performance of personnel and where necessary modify plans to available competences
Record the details of the transfer of command; this should be done at the incident ground and in the fire control room
Instigate a safety sector at large or complex incidents under the control of a safety sector commander
Implement exclusion zones if intolerable risks to safety are identified
Request police assistance to establish a traffic cordon or air exclusion zone if necessary
Request an air exclusion zone through the appropriate authority if required
Maintain effective command and control in an emergency situation
Carry out a roll call of personnel at the scene following an emergency evacuation of responders
Appoint a safety officer to monitor the hazard presented by water or other liquids
Follow service protocols for reporting concerns about the mental or physical well-being of themselves or other individuals
Consider decontamination of personnel, PPE and equipment prior to redeployment
Ensure that effective supervision of operational activity is maintained until the conclusion of the incident
Instigate and co-operate with post incident investigations where necessary
Ensure that hazards, potential hazards and control measures are identified when handing over responsibility for health and safety to the responsible person
Consider taking appropriate steps to secure premises or vehicles after access or entry has been gained by force
Consider whether operational resources can be released from the incident
Conduct an inventory check and record any defects or deficiencies
Consider decontamination of personnel, PPE and equipment prior to redeployment
Consider the condition and serviceability of PPE when assessing operational readiness for redeployment
Secure the scene to ensure evidence is preserved for internal and external investigations
Gather relevant information for the incident recording system
When appropriate instigate a review of existing guidance following the use of operational discretion
Ensure differences in information are resolved and systems updated following the closure of an incident
Compile and secure all incident command paperwork (e.g. analytical risk assessment and decision logs)
Ensure that waste products created by the fire and rescue service are disposed of legally and responsibly
Follow service protocols for reporting concerns about the mental or physical well-being of themselves or other individuals
Instigate and co-operate with post incident investigations where necessary
Suvivabiliity model
Team identification system