Flow saver
A current rescuer (SR) is a specially trained water rescuer who is used for white water rescue . At the water rescue service , it is also called flowing water rescuer , at the Austrian water rescue whitewater rescuer (WW-R), at the Swiss lifesaving society open water rescuer (FWR I).
It is always used when a rescue operation becomes too dangerous for a normally trained lifeguard with the lifeguard badge in silver or if his training is no longer sufficient for the incident. This is mostly the case in emergencies in fast flowing waters, white water and floods . In contrast to lifeguards, current rescuers are always deployed in a team. For their own protection, they have special equipment that is supposed to protect them from the cold and injuries. The flow rescue training is a prerequisite for the air rescuer .
history
The current saver ( Swiftwater & Flood Rescue ) originally comes from the USA . There, in 1979 the " Swiftwater Rescue Technician " (SRT) (German: " Rescue technician for fast water") was introduced, who has been trained since then mainly by the professional fire services responsible for disaster relief . The National Fire Protection Association has published the "NFPA 1670" in the USA, a kind of accident prevention regulation . This guideline is similar to the SRT guidelines, which regulate training and deployment. Lifeguards with a lifeguard badge in silver or gold do not have the necessary training and experience to work in fast-flowing waters and would expose themselves to too high a risk. For this reason, Rescue 3 has been training rescuers in the USA since 1979 and Rescue 3 International since 1997 as "Swiftwater Rescue Technicians" in Germany and Austria. Your SRT courses have been translated into German since 2001. After the Elbe flood in 2002 , SRT courses appeared necessary in Germany, so that since September 2005 the German Life Rescue Society (DLRG) and the water rescue service based on the American "Swiftwater Rescue Technician" and the "NFPA 1670" in Germany are flow rescuers trains. A suitable concept was drawn up for this in 2004. In 2008, training to become an air rescuer was introduced.
equipment
The equipment of a flow rescuer is very extensive. Apart from the PPE, the items of equipment differ depending on the job. The PPE must be worn for all training and operations.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
The minimum equipment of a current rescuer consists of a neoprene suit , which should protect him from hypothermia and injuries, gloves for guiding the rope, and suitable footwear, usually special neoprene boots or trekking shoes with neoprene socks, a special current rescue helmet with slots, swimming goggles if required, a signal whistle , a Whitewater vest with panic lock, a knife or leash capper so that he can cut himself off the safety rope in an emergency, a throwbag and a personal first aid kit for rescuing yourself and companions as well as for immediate measures at the scene of the accident. Signal flashers and glow sticks are also used for night operations.
First aid kit
In order to be able to take care of the injured quickly on site, a rescue team usually has a spineboard and / or a rescue sheet and a waterproof medical kit with them. The German Life Saving Society has issued a recommendation for each individual flow rescuer, flow rescue team and groups regarding the scope of first aid equipment. Additional material can be used if necessary.
Rescue equipment
The most important rescue devices are ropes in combination with winches , pulleys , rope clamps and snap hooks for securing. Often these are used with descenders or pulley systems. Basket stretchers are also used here to safely transport patients on a rope.
Also raft boats are used for personnel and equipment to transport.
For the rescued person, a life jacket and a helmet are also required for safety. During night operations it is important to illuminate the scene of the accident well. In these cases, an emergency generator and a lighting system are required.
education
Germany
The Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft (DLRG) has been training flow rescuers in three stages since September 2005 . The training is an additional training to the specialized training water rescue service . Training prerequisites are passed training as a water rescuer and physical fitness, which z. B. can be proven with the Cooper test or a swimming test . Basic experience in climbing, especially abseiling techniques, is also advantageous . All courses contain a theoretical and a practical part.
The course "Flow Rescue Level 1" (SR1) is the basic course in the field of flow rescue. It includes the imparting of basic knowledge and skills for rescuing yourself and others , in particular:
- Hazards in fast flowing waters
- Fluid dynamics / white water
- Equipment for the flow rescuer
- Basics of current swimming (theory & practice)
- Rescue techniques in fast flowing waters
- Flood rescue situation
- Rescue from floodplain areas / weirs and rollers with technical equipment (briefing on technical rescue)
- Rescue exercise (practice) with steel cable and grab pull
- Instruction in rope techniques and abseiling into the gorge
- Practice current swimming
- Security aspects
- hazards
- Handling of personal equipment
- Handling the throwbag
The training for SR1 is carried out in the subdivisions (definition of ReFa 2010).
The "flow rescuer level 2" (SR2) builds on the SR1 course and mainly includes training for squad leadership and in-depth technical content. The training takes place exclusively at the level of the regional associations. The completed SR2 training is a prerequisite for air-assisted water rescue .
The “flow rescuer level 3” (SR3) for its part builds on the SR2 course and trains its participants to be able to teach so that they can conduct SR1 and SR2 courses. He is trained by the federal level of the DLRG.
The water rescue service offers the course "Rescue on flowing waters". Graduates are then called "flowing water rescuers" or "flow rescuers". Requirements for the course are a minimum age of 17 years, a lifeguard badge in silver and a first aid course . The training consists of a theoretical and a practical part. As with the DLRG, it is a prerequisite for air-assisted water rescue .
Austria
The Austrian Water Rescue (ÖWR) offers training to become a white water rescuer (WW-R). It builds on the training to become a flowing water rescuer (FW-R), in which a lot is already taught about movement on and in flowing water and about knots and how to deal with the panic lock. The training is very extensive and can only be completed by adult members of the Austrian water rescue service. It is divided into preparatory courses, basic training courses, and advanced training and specialization courses. In contrast to the training of running water rescuers, the contents of the exams are advanced water and material science, operational organization and operational exercises as well as extended swimming and jumping techniques, repetition of signs and signals, safety, rescue and recovery techniques. “Abseiling in extreme terrain”, “rafting training” and “rope techniques” are offered as specialization courses. In addition, basic techniques are repeated and deepened. The white water rescuer is mainly used in Austria in canyoning , rafting , canoeing or kayaking accidents .
Switzerland
In Switzerland, the Swiss Lifesaving Society (SLRG) offers the open water rescuer (FWR I). The prerequisite for this is a valid Brevet I , the young freediver and a completed cardio-pulmonary resuscitation course (CPR) from the SLRG. The training lasts at least 12 hours and takes place on a lake , river or in white water . The main focus of the training is: The graduate can move safely in open water after completing his training and knows his or her own physical capabilities and limits. He can judge waters for their danger, knows the safety rules for rescue in open water, masters rescue techniques for open water and can use all rescue equipment that is available to him. In addition, he can provide emergency aid on site and is always prepared for security services and bathing guards in the open water. The qualification is valid for three years and must then be extended through further training.
Europe
Rescue 3 International has been offering "Swiftwater Rescue courses" in Europe since 1997. The courses contain a theoretical and practical part. Different courses are offered in Europe:
- Swiftwater Rescue Technician Unit 1 (SRT U1) is a general training course to become a flow rescuer according to NFPA 1670 - Technician level.
- Whitewater Rescue Technician (WRT) is a training course specifically for white water rafting (rafting, kayaking or canoeing).
- Swiftwater Rescue Technician Advanced (SRT-A) is a follow-up course to the SRT or WRT course and specifically teaches technical rescue and vertical rope techniques in the vicinity of water, as well as people searching around rivers by day and night, according to NFPA 1670 - Technician level .
- Awareness - course for flow safety is a training in which mainly the problems of water and rope rescue, the dangers that arise with flowing water are dealt with. It only consists of a theoretical part and is specially intended for emergency services according to NFPA 1670 - awareness level.
- Swiftwater First Responder (SFR) serves as a basic course for current rescue and is specially tailored to emergency services according to NFPA 1670 - Operations level.
All courses are held in the UK, Norway, the Benelux countries, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
tasks
The first task of a current rescuer is to rescue people in distress from fast-flowing waters ( streams and rivers ) or white water . In flood areas and during floods , the rescue of animals and the recovery of objects can also become his area of responsibility. Furthermore, they are also responsible for the first medical care of the rescued person at the scene of the accident and for the removal from the danger area. Current rescuers can also be used passively to protect other emergency services (for example, for dike or dam protection measures) or at events on and on rivers (for example, in kayak races) for protection. Evacuating from inaccessible floodplains and searching for missing people are also part of their tasks. Another main task is the rescue and recovery of poorly accessible gorges and ravines , especially from mountain rivers. The air ambulance is also a task range of flow rescuers, but they need this additional qualification air rescuers .
Action
Swift water rescue are always in squads used. There are the following options:
- 1: 2 ( squad leader (reserve man) : Springer + line guide )
- 1: 3 (squad leader : jumper + line leader + radio operator (reserve man))
Current rescuers are deployed in the context of rapid deployment groups (SEG) or in water rescue trains in disaster control . Depending on the type of operation, the resources available and the on-site situation, there are various ways of saving victims. They can be roughly divided into "techniques with swimming use" and "techniques without swimming use".
Techniques with swimming use
- When jumping directly into the water , a current rescuer jumps into the water below or at the level of the person passing by. He is connected by a line to a belayer on the bank who can pull the current rescuer ashore with the rescued person.
- The rescue in the group with several teams is usually at accident victims in inaccessible canyons and gorges applied (usually in the Alps) when a use of a lifeboat or rafts or air-assisted water rescue is not possible. Usually several teams are deployed in different places to rescue people. One squad is usually stationed downstream of the actual deployment site to protect the other squad. It represents what is known as downstream safety and is responsible for rescuing comrades who may be aborting by means of a throw bag or a jumper. If necessary, a rope is stretched at a 45 ° angle to the current so that aborting people can hold onto and due to the angle drift towards the bank. Furthermore, a troop or a single flow rescuer is deployed above the deployment site ( upstream spotter ) for safety purposes. He or she is usually connected to the other troops or the operations leader by radio and reports drifting debris or other incidents in an emergency.
All techniques involving swimming involve great dangers, which is why they should only be used if possible when a technique without swimming is not possible.
Techniques without swimming use
- When throwing a throwbag from the bank , a throwbag is thrown to the drifting person from the bank by means of a " shock throw ", " blow throw ", or sling throw , who has to take the line or the throwbag independently in order to be able to be pulled out of the water. A major disadvantage here is that people floating in the water often no longer have the strength to hold on to a line or throw bag. For the flow rescuer, however, this technology is associated with little danger.
- When rescuing from a lifeboat / raft , there are several things to consider: It only makes sense to use it on larger, unblocked rivers, with little debris and sufficient depth. Once the lifeboat / raft has reached the victim, there are several ways to save him. If you can take the lifeboat / raft right up to the casualty, you can pull him out of the water by the shoulders. A throw bag can be thrown from the lifeboat / raft near the victim. Another possibility would be to fix the lifeboat / raft with lines on both sides of the bank and pull it across the river as a “ ferry ”. Since such a rescue takes a lot of time and is very complex (you need rescuers on both sides of the river), it is very rarely used.
- In a rescue with a rope bridge , a line is stretched across the water. The victim has to hold on to the leash and is then pulled ashore by a rescuer. Again, there must be rescuers on both sides of the bank to hold the line. The water must not be too wide, as you have to move the line to the other side. The victim must also have enough strength to hold on to the leash. This technology is more suitable for safeguarding an operation downstream of the incident site, but it also offers a low risk for the flow rescuer, especially in the case of rollers and vortices .
- In the case of a rescue by cable car , a steel cable is stretched across the water, in which the flow rescuer is hung so that it can regulate its height with the help of an additional rope. The flow rescuer is pulled at the height of the casualty and lowers himself to the casualty in order to save him. This technique is time consuming, which means that it can only be used infrequently.
- In the case of a rescue with technical aids , an attempt is made to rescue the victim with technical aids ( winches and grab pulls ). This usually requires cooperation with the THW or the fire brigade .
- For air rescue see air-assisted water rescue .
In all operations, it is extremely important that there is no fixed line connection between the current saver and the mainland, as there is a high risk of undercutting. A safety line to the mainland must be quickly detached from the whitewater vest using a panic lock.
Regulations
The Austrian Water Rescue published safety regulations, but these have also been adopted by other rescue organizations for operations in strongly flowing waters. The regulations state, among other things, that operations in strongly flowing waters may only be carried out by trained rescuers with appropriate protective equipment. Rescuers must always have a knife with them and must never be connected to the bank via a fixed line connection, but should be connected to a person on the bank via a line at the panic lock of the whitewater vests. Only tested material is to be used. An emergency kit and a radio device must be stored near the emergency site. Equipment and rescue equipment must be checked for damage before and after each use. Before each use, a risk analysis must be carried out by the head of the operation, generally the most experienced flow rescuer, and any hazards removed or secured. If the situation so requires, additional observation and alarm posts must be set up to watch out for floating debris in the water and other dangers. Dry suits are only to be used in exceptional cases.
Special dangers
The dangers for whitewater rescuers in action are diverse:
- The most dangerous thing about an operation in strongly flowing waters is the flow speed of the water. During floods, for example, large rivers can have a flow speed of up to 4 meters per second, which corresponds to about 14 kilometers per hour. Even at a flow speed of 1.5 meters per second, you should not use an unsecured float. The average speed of rivers in Germany is around 1 to 2 meters per second (3 to 8 km / h).
- No less dangerous for whitewater rescuers are whirlpools , waterfalls , at the foot of which a life-threatening roller can form, as well as debris such as garbage and branches. Blockages that allow water to flow through unhindered, but are too dense for current rescuers to swim through, are just as dangerous and deadly. Also not to be neglected is the water temperature, as it is usually very low in fast-flowing waters, and underwashing of water under rocks, since a current saver can be pulled under water there.
- Artificial systems such as weirs that create water rollers, groynes that change the flow conditions extremely or blockages, such as wire ropes taut in the water or metal girders or stone blocks anchored in the river bed, represent an increased risk of injury.
- In the event of a flood, particular sources of danger are flooded objects such as traffic signs or cellar entrances, as these cannot be recognized. Electric shocks from flooded electrical equipment and water contaminated by bacteria or chemicals are of course also dangerous. Even minor injuries to the flow rescuer are to be avoided, especially in polluted waters, as there is an increased risk of infection and injury.
