Water Rescue Incident Checklist

SIZE-UP & INITIAL ACTIONS

Establish Command and name the incident PROBLEMS STRATEGIES TACTICS UNITS
Ensure accountability system is utilized
Secure witness or competent person, obtain all pertinent information
Secure control of the site and manage civilian personnel
Determine the time and location where victim(s) were last seen
Determine type of rescue: still water, swift water, low head dam, surf, dive
shallow or deep?
Determine if boats or personal water craft will be required for rescue
All rescuers are to wear PFDs within 10 feet of the water
Avoid the use of bunker gear and firefighting helmets near water rescue
operations
Avoid tying ropes around rescuers involved in swift water operations
Reach the victim from the shore with a pole or stick without entering
the water

l y
Throw a line, flotation device, rescue board, or other floating device to victim

n
Organize shoreline, perimeter searches

O e
Determine rescue or body recovery (give benefit of doubt in coldwater)

REQUEST ADDITIONAL RESOURCES / SUPPORT

p l e d u c
m o
Determine and announce Base and Staging locations

S a r
Special Operations / Technical Rescue Team

e p
Dive Team(s)

R
Rescue Boat(s)

t
Coast Guard

o
NOTES
Helicopter(s)
Water / Rope Rescue Equipment
Communications Equipment
Medical Aid
Rehab
Do N
DAN: Divers Alert Network-Emergency Hotline 1-919-684-8111
Incident Dispatch Team

PRE-ENTRY OPERATIONS
Assign necessary functions from Organizational Chart on reverse
Don identification vests
Perform an ongoing Risk versus Benefit analysis of rescue efforts
Identify any additional or potential hazards
Establish equipment cache area
Determine mode of communications: marine radios, whistle blasts,
hand signals
Ensure Back-Up / R.I.T. teams are in place
RESCUE OPERATIONS
Identify and establish strategic goals and objectives
Develop Incident Action Plan and Back-Up Plan
Illustrate systems to be utilized
Brief crew, communicate plans
Only trained and properly equipped personnel shall enter the water
Only trained and qualified personnel are to operate boats and PWCs
Secure and don personal protective equipment including PFD, wet/dry suit,
helmet, gloves, hood, thermal protection, booties, eye protection, whistle,
lighting, knife Water Rescue Communications
Ensure that once victim is contacted, never lose him
Deploy upstream spotters on both sides of rivers to watch for hazards Hand Signals Whistle Blasts*
Deploy mutiple downstream backups in swift water operations I need
Select appropriate anchor points HELP!
Determine required mechanical advantage
Assemble rope systems
Ensure proper angles are utilized
Perform safety checks and pre-tension systems
Perform Safety briefing 1 Blast = Stop or Attention
One hand in the air = I need help
Operate systems and establish contact with patient 2 Blasts = Attention upstream
Provide patient(s) with PFDs, helmets, and eye protection I’m or pull boat upstream
Perform patient packaging, treat life threatening emergencies OKAY!
including hypothermia 3 Blasts = Attend down stream
or pull boat downstream
Extricate patient
Always transport near-drowning patients to hospital, 3 Blasts = Emergency or Rescue!
consider Decompression Chamber long and
repetitive
One hand on top of head = I’m OK (*or locally adopted system)
TERMINATION
Perform roll call to account for all involved personnel
Decontaminate equipment as needed River orientation established
Secure tools and equipment while rescuer facing downstream
Clean, dry, and inspect ropes and equipment
Complete rope logs DOWN stream
Call OSHA or other regulatory agencies River right
Conduct Incident debriefing Cu
r r ent
Waiver: “This board is a tool designed to assist the Incident Commander or other members in managing small or large scale incidents
River left
or training evolutions. Those in management roles should comply with NFPA 1006, 1021, 1561, 1670 and any other relevant codes and
standards. IMS Alliance is not responsible for the training, application, or use of this tool.” UP stream
(NOTE: use wet erase pen or grease pencil only)
1.31.2008 Part #: IMS-100-018 Copyright © 2000