Tiered Training Approach to Swift-Water Rescue
The Los Angeles flood-control system— one of the largest in the United States— encompasses three major waterways: the Los Angeles, Rio Hondo, and San Gabriel rivers. The system consists of more than 450 miles of flood control channels and more than 2,000 miles of storm drains. It evacuates more water during a large storm than the Mississippi River [the Mississippi flows 100,(MX) cubic feet of water per second (cfs) during peak flood incidents; the Los Angeles River flows 140,000 cfs] and therefore poses a greater flood threat.
Children and adults have been swept away in flood-control channels, and rescuers have drowned trying to save them. To increase the safety of people involved in a river rescue, swift-water incident/safety training programs must be developed— not for the rescuer alone but for children and adult civilians as well.
Tier /. The first level of training in the Los Angeles system is that of safety education. In this program, children of all ages are taught the dangers associated with rivers and flood-control channels. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, along with the Los Angeles County Public Works Department, has established such a program. Included are a videotape, which contains information from rescue professionals across the county who reinforce the dangers of rivers and flood channels; teacher notes explaining the flood-contro system, dangers of moving water and wha you should do if someone falls in; preven tion messages; and lesson extensions. Tht program, which enlists the help of parent? is for students in kindergarten through high school.
Tier 2. The second level of training is an awareness course for public employees who could find themselves at the scene of a river-rescue incident. This course covers topics such as river/flood channel dynamics, hazards in the water, safety considers ations, reporting the incident, providing victim flotation, and how not to become an additional victim. The course is approx^, imately two hours long.
Tier J. The third level of training is for rescue personnel who handle river and . flood-control incidents. It is an eight-hour, two-module, first-responder program fc*4 fire and police departments. The first module is a classroom session dealing with river/flood control dynamics; hydro]^ tion; safety considerations; and tactics/ methods.
The second module gives first responders a chance to perform and practice the methods taught in the classroom session. The practical module is four hours long and covers the low-risk, land-based rescue methods, which include talking the victim into self-rescue; providing flotation for the victim; reaching the victim with throw bags, pike poles, ladders, and inflated hoselines; setting up a tension diagonal line; and utilizing a rescue net.
Tier 4. The fourth level of training is for personnel selected to be on swift-water rescue response teams. These personnel receive training in swift-water rescue technician 1 and technician II courses developed by a private rescue corporation located in the city.
Technician I is an intense, three-day course in the classroom and in the water. The emphasis is on how rescuers can ensure their own safety. Objectives include understanding swift-water dynamics and hydrology; handling hazards and obstacles; conducting a variety of rescue options; utilizing technical rope systems; and controlling in-water contact rescues.
Technician II deals with advanced rescue hazards. This two-day course covers^ advanced rescue hazards and how to mitigate them; technical rope systems; and a mock river incident at night.
Training programs to handle these’ kinds of rescue incidents require a wide focus. The programs explained here have proven their value in actual emergencies.’ Swift-water incidents are a reality across the nation, and a cooperative effort is needed to prevent the death of would-be t rescuers, both civilian and uniformed.
