Swiftwater Review - Los Angeles County Firefighters Association
Swiftwater Review - Los Angeles County Firefighters Association Swiftwater Review - Los Angeles County Firefighters Association
Swiftwater Review
- Page 2 and 3: Swiftwater Review • There are ove
- Page 4 and 5: Swiftwater Review Forces of Water C
- Page 6 and 7: Swiftwater Review • The LOOK of t
- Page 8 and 9: Swiftwater Review Low Head Dams •
- Page 10 and 11: Swiftwater Review Objects that may
- Page 12 and 13: Swiftwater Review PPE •Helmet •
- Page 14 and 15: Throwing Float Bag • Float bag p
- Page 16 and 17: Throwing Float Bag County of Los An
- Page 18 and 19: Swiftwater Review Purpose for the B
- Page 20 and 21: Swiftwater Review • IF tying off
- Page 22 and 23: Swiftwater Review Anchors for SW Ap
- Page 24 and 25: Swiftwater Review Swiftwater Respon
- Page 26: Searching for missing person • Es
- Page 29 and 30: Swiftwater Review
- Page 31: Swiftwater Review • Potential pro
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong>
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
• There are over 470 miles<br />
of flood control channels<br />
in <strong>Los</strong> <strong>Angeles</strong> <strong>County</strong><br />
• Flood channels vary in<br />
shape and composition<br />
vertical sides<br />
sloped banks<br />
natural river
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
• Water flow travels between 5 and 45 mph.<br />
• The Flood Control System crosses many<br />
jurisdictional boundaries.<br />
• <strong>Swiftwater</strong> Rescue is dynamic. Training must be<br />
continuous to maintain safety (rescuer and<br />
victims).
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
Forces of Water<br />
Current Force on Force on Force on<br />
Velocity Legs (lbs) Body (lbs) Swamped Boat<br />
3 mph 16.8 33.6 168<br />
6 67.2 134 672<br />
12 269 538 2688<br />
Courtesy Ohio State Division of Natural Resources
Laminar / Helical Flow<br />
• Water along the shore and<br />
bottom are slowed by friction,<br />
the water moves faster<br />
towards the center of the<br />
waterway<br />
• Water along the shore is pulled<br />
to the middle and dives down<br />
in a corkscrew motion / Helical<br />
flow<br />
<strong>County</strong> of <strong>Los</strong> <strong>Angeles</strong> Fire Department
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
• The LOOK of the river<br />
Depth<br />
Bottom<br />
Objects below surface<br />
• Cushion or Pillow<br />
• Eddy
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong>
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
Low Head Dams<br />
• When water flows over, or passes a<br />
vertical drop or obstacles, a hydraulic<br />
effect is created.<br />
• Low-head dams are a type of hydraulic<br />
and are dangerous areas for rescue.<br />
• We operate no closer than 300 feet from<br />
low head dams
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong>
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
Objects that may impede the victims travel in the water
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
River Terminology<br />
•Upstream<br />
•Downstream<br />
•River Right<br />
•River Left<br />
•Avoid using:<br />
•East<br />
•West<br />
•North<br />
•South
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
PPE<br />
•Helmet<br />
•PFD / Whistle<br />
•HT Radio<br />
•Carabiner<br />
•Blue webbing<br />
•Blue Uniform or Brush<br />
•Tennis shoes
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
• The use of Turn-outs and<br />
Structural Helmets can be<br />
extremely hazardous in<br />
moving water.<br />
Figure 14 Rescuer should not be near moving water in<br />
turnouts
Throwing Float Bag<br />
• Float bag<br />
polypropylene rope<br />
foam core bag<br />
55-75 feet in length<br />
• Used as:<br />
rescue tool<br />
rescuer safety tie off<br />
Not an equipment drop<br />
bag<br />
Figure 12 Floating throw bag<br />
<strong>County</strong> of <strong>Los</strong> <strong>Angeles</strong> Fire Department
• Float Bag Rescue<br />
throw bag or coiled<br />
rope to victim<br />
pendulum victim to<br />
shore<br />
Shore Base Rescue<br />
Techniques<br />
<strong>County</strong> of <strong>Los</strong> <strong>Angeles</strong> Fire Department
Throwing Float Bag<br />
<strong>County</strong> of <strong>Los</strong> <strong>Angeles</strong> Fire Department
Hose Inflator Rescue Kit<br />
• Inflate 2 1/2” fire hose for the use as a<br />
rescue tool<br />
• Inflated fire hose can be used:<br />
bridge base<br />
low head dams<br />
multiple victim<br />
<strong>County</strong> of <strong>Los</strong> <strong>Angeles</strong> Fire Department
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
Purpose for the Blue Webbing is to Tie-off the<br />
rescuers to prevent them from becoming<br />
victims
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
Always tie-off if you are going near the waters edge
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
• IF tying off tools, a SEPARATE line should be used
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
Preplaced anchors for tie-offs
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
Anchors for SW Applications
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
If you fall in the water<br />
Self-rescue position<br />
Supine<br />
Feet pointing<br />
downstream
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> Response<br />
• 5 Engines<br />
• Truck<br />
• PM Squad<br />
• 2 Air Squads<br />
• USAR Task Force<br />
• <strong>Swiftwater</strong> Rescue Team (if staffed)<br />
• BC
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
Position Assignments<br />
• IC – Jurisdictional or “First-In” Company<br />
• Floatation Unit (One Company)<br />
• Rescue Group (3 – 5 Companies)<br />
Upstream Lookout<br />
Rescue Systems Unit<br />
Retrieval Unit<br />
Downstream Safety Unit<br />
• Air Units
Searching for missing person<br />
• Establish Point of<br />
Last Scene<br />
• Marking location<br />
• Initial search<br />
quick search<br />
expanded / detailed<br />
search<br />
• Marker bottle<br />
Figure 48 Placement of reference float<br />
<strong>County</strong> of <strong>Los</strong> <strong>Angeles</strong> Fire Department
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
Various Flotation devices to attempt immediate rescue<br />
Figure 11 Life Float attached to throw bag<br />
Figure 19 Flotation Device (CRB) with throw bag
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong>
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
• Rescue Points in Green<br />
• Hazards in Red<br />
• Tactical Information
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
• Potential problems when<br />
using air units for shorthaul<br />
rescue…<br />
Prop wash<br />
Noise<br />
High Profile, increased<br />
spectators
<strong>Swiftwater</strong> <strong>Review</strong><br />
Decontamination Procedures<br />
• Basic<br />
Wash hands with clean water and soap<br />
before entering vehicles and eating.<br />
Rinse equipment with clean water
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