Page breadcrumbs:

Flood Rescue

Scope

This Operational Protocol must be followed for incidents involving the rescue of people from flood water and the provision of flood assistance activities.

Fundamental Protocols underpin the actions of all NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) members and must be adhered to at all times. They outline the Principles of being an RFS member and provide guidance on conduct to support the safety and wellbeing of members.

Guiding Principles

The RFS recognises that flood rescue is a high-risk activity and it’s impossible to have specific procedures for all rescue situations. In all circumstances the decisions to commit or to abort the mission is ultimately made by Incident Controller (IC) in Control and those on scene using situational awareness. These decisions must always be made using the principles of Crew Resource Management (CRM).
The first priority when undertaking flood rescue operations is the safety of RFS personnel.
Flood rescue operations must involve a minimum of two suitably trained members at all times.
If a person is reported as requiring rescue but the person is not visible, NSW Police Force (NSWPF) are responsible for the search; RFS personnel should not initiate searches for missing people, or body recovery. RFS may assist NSWPF if requested.

Initial Response/Approach

If an accredited rescue agency is on scene, liaise with them to determine the RFS role in the rescue.
RFS personnel should not take (or commit to) any rescue action until they have considered the situation, conducted a dynamic risk assessment (DRA), evaluated the skills, qualifications, and capabilities of those performing the rescue, and determined whether a rescue is required, practical, and/or safe to conduct at all.
Suitably trained personnel should then determine the most appropriate rescue technique considering the lowest to highest risk options. RFS members must understand the risks associated with each rescue technique. Refer to the flood rescue hierarchy:

Flood Rescue Risk - Low to High

If the RFS is first on scene:

Initial Size Up

Initial situational reports (Sitreps) should be provided using ITASC. Refer to RFS OPG - Approach and Size-up:
- Incident - a brief description of the incident confirming the size, type, and location;
  - Determine the location, number, and condition of people requiring rescue. If people cannot be located, it is a search. In both instances, NSWPF are responsible, and a request should be sent to FireCom to notify the NSWPF.
- Threats - any implication for the safety/condition of people involved;
  - Consider the water conditions, i.e., water speed, water temperature, river conditions including water hydraulics and strainers, surface debris, any other observable hazards.
  - Consider the weather conditions.
  - Consider time of day. Prepare for night if relevant (e.g., torches, lighting).
- Action - what action is being taken, or proposed;
  - Assess the risks associated with the rescue given members’ level of training, fitness, and equipment. Determine the Incident Action Plan (IAP).
- Support - any assistance required.
  - Call for further resources if required.
- Command/Control/Communications – Identify the relevant Radio Channels for tactical and command networks.

Manage the Site and Establish Zones

Establish Hot, Warm and Cold Zones. Refer to the below:
- Hot Zone – on and in the water. Anyone working in the Hot Zone must be an On Water/In Water Operator and wear appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment (PPC/PPE), including an approved personal flotation device (PFD), for the task.
- Warm Zone – from the water’s edge back at least 3 metres, or where there is no chance of anyone slipping or falling into the water. Anyone working in the Warm Zone must wear an approved PFD.
- Cold Zone – extends from the Warm Zone back from the water, where there is no chance of anyone slipping or falling into the water. This zone is a safe place for anyone without a PFD.
  - Avoid wearing structural firefighting PPC or bushfire jackets if in the Hot or Warm Zones.

Initiate Rescue

No Rescue - At any stage, RFS personnel may recognise the risk is too significant to assist and determine rescue is not possible. In all circumstances the option to abort the mission is made by those performing the rescue, using situational awareness.
- Where appropriate, a self-rescue may be initiated:
  - Where a rescue is required, and in the absence of other rescue resources or trained personnel on scene, RFS members should consider assisting victims in self-rescue in the first instance, if safe to do so. This reduces the need for higher risk rescues potentially endangering themselves and/or their crew.
  - Assess the risks associated with a rescue given members’ level of training, fitness, equipment, and swimming ability. Determine the IAP. Call for further resources if required.
    - Importantly in some situations, the risk of taking a rescue action may be higher than leaving a victim in place until circumstances change or until sufficient resources arrive.
Use the Talk /Yell rescue technique.
- Make contact with the person requiring rescue. Maintain contact. Reassure the person.
- Keep bystanders out of the Hot and Warm Zones. Move all non-essential emergency service workers into the Cold Zone.
- If needed, continue using the Talk /Yell technique until further resources arrive,
Use the Throw (released) rescue technique.
Where appropriate, RFS personnel can deliver, throw, or provide appropriate safety equipment or buoyancy device/s (e.g., PFD, rescue tube etc) from dryland to the person requiring rescue, until sufficient resources arrive.

Land Based Flood Rescue

A land based flood rescue will involve members trained and qualified to the “Land Based Flood Rescue” level and will have met and maintained the swim test requirements for the role.
Land based methods include the Reach, Wade, and Throw (held) rescue techniques and appropriate equipment. These should form part of the IAP:
- Reach the person requiring rescue from the shore using a pole, ladder etc.
- Wade out to the person requiring rescue (knee-depth only) if conditions are deemed safe (current velocity).
  - Land based rescue using raft requires suitably qualified personnel.
- Throw and hold a rope, floatation device, rescue tube or rescue throw bag to the person requiring rescue, to keep their head above water whilst guiding or pulling the person/s to safety.
Avoid steep terrain and slippery surfaces. Don’t run. Don’t get distracted.
Maintain communication with radio and hand signals. Repeat messages received to ensure that messages are correctly communicated and understood.
Indicate the strategy and mud map on the IAP. Indicate the water direction on the mud map and the left and right banks – label the right and left sides as if facing in the direction that the water is flowing.
Use an up-stream spotter or spotters to warn of hazards.
Use a down-stream safety person or ideally a safety team to ensure that if rescuers or victims are swept downstream back up rescue options exist.

On Water Flood Rescue

A powered vessel based flood rescue will involve members trained and qualified to the “On Water Flood Rescue” level and will have met and maintained the swim test requirements for the role.
Assess the risks associated with an On water rescue , given members’ level of training, fitness, equipment, and swimming ability. Determine the IAP. Call for further resources if required.
If deemed suitable, use the Power rescue technique as determined by the IAP, with the appropriate equipment.
- Use a powered vessel to reach the person requiring rescue where there is a low likelihood of the operator entering the water.

In Water Flood Rescue

An In Water flood rescue will involve members trained and qualified to the “In Water Flood Rescue” level and will have met and maintained the swim test requirements for the role.
In water - Go into the water to reach the person requiring rescue by swimming or using a raft/or unpowered craft, where there is a high likelihood of the operator entering the water.
Use an up-stream spotter or spotters to warn of hazards.
Use a down-stream safety person or ideally a safety team to ensure that if rescuers or victims are swept downstream back up rescue options exist.

Exceptional Circumstances

Under exceptional circumstances where there is imminent risk to life and no rescue agency or personnel arriving within a reasonable timeframe, RFS personnel may use vehicle-based throw bags and PPE if trained to do so.

Over Water Rescue

Where appropriate, an over water rescue may be undertaken:

The Helo rescue technique can be performed by appropriately trained Aviation Rescue Crew (ARC).
- The RFS has a recognised helicopter rescue capability involving a number of personnel trained and equipped to conduct helicopter rescue operations, including incidents involving floodwater search and rescue (SAR).
The use of aviation resources will be dependent on relevant factors including weather conditions, availability of qualified personnel, availability of landing areas, etc.

Special Considerations

NSW State Emergency Service (SES) is the combat agency for flood, storm and tsunami.
NSWPF are responsible for the overall coordination of Land Search, and Rescue operations in NSW.
- Where the SES has established a Flood Rescue Area of Operations (FRAO), they will coordinate and manage the flood rescue response.
If RFS arrives before the SES, the RFS Officer in Charge (OIC) is the Incident Controller (IC). Once the SES arrives, the IC must hand over control to the SES.
In all instances, the combat agency, or the most suitably qualified agency in attendance should take control of the incident and initiate the rescue.

Hazards

Entering flood water is an extremely high risk activity. All flood rescue activities are subject to a dynamic risk assessment (DRA).

Inherent hazards/risks to be considered include:

Serious injury or death (e.g., drowning) to RFS personnel, other supporting emergency service organisation personnel, or community members as a result of:
- Being swept away in fast moving water;
- Collisions with or being struck by boats or submerged objects;
- Being trapped or pinned under water; and
- Coming into contact with electrical hazards including: power lines, live solar power system, lithium-ion batteries, power sources (e.g., car battery); and submerged or water-damaged electric vehicles (EVs).
Exposure to:
- Infectious diseases, bodily fluid and chemicals (including contaminated materials, sewage, waste products and dead animals), increasing the risk of infection and trench foot (condition resulting from prolonged exposure to water).
- An increase in the transmission of communicable diseases:
  - Water-borne diseases, such as Hepatitis A, gastroenteritis, leptospirosis and melioidosis.
  - Vector-borne diseases, especially mosquito-borne diseases such as Barmah Forest Virus, Ross River virus and Dengue fever.
- Live animals (for example snakes, spiders, and other vermin).
- Hypothermia and hyperthermia.
Human behavioural factors, error, panic, and fatigue.
Operating equipment and/or machinery in water.
Environmental hazards, including:
- fast moving water;
- landslips and landslides;
- lightning and thunderstorms; and
- trees falling.

Precautions

RFS personnel must:
- Work within their level of training, fitness, equipment, and swimming ability, and only use the rescue techniques for which they are trained. In some cases, a rescue may not be possible at that time.
- Always wear appropriate PPC/PPE, as determined by a dynamic risk assessment.
- If a PFD is being worn or if there is a risk of inadvertently entering floodwater, a firefighting jacket of any kind should be removed.
- Avoid driving through or entering flood water in a vehicle. If a vehicle does get caught or stuck in flood water, personnel should stay with the vehicle and call for assistance/rescue via radio or phone.
  - If unable to avoid driving through floodwaters, proceed with caution and consider that the road surface and whole sections of roadway can be washed away. Try to drive in the middle of the road (highest point) and stop or take extreme care if you cannot see the lane markings. This may indicate deep water or changes in road surface, such as scouring.
- Avoid standing in moving water, or entering fast flowing water, unless trained to do so.
- Ensure members do not attach a rope around their waist or to any part of their body during a rescue.
- Ensure that any wounds are cleaned and treated with antiseptic and covered immediately. Seek medical attention for deep/puncture wounds, or if wounds develop redness /swelling.
- Maintain good personal hygiene, before handling or eating food, by washing hands with soap and clean water.
- Use bottled water in flood-affected areas.
- RFS personnel in contact with potentially contaminated floodwater, should ensure clothing and equipment undergoes a thorough decontamination process, as instructed in the relevant equipment care and maintenance instructions.
- Report all health and safety related injuries, or near misses to your Crew Leader/Supervisor, or the RFS Health & Safety Team.

Related Information

Appendix One

Flood Rescue Risk Framework

A low to high-risk framework has been developed for each of the various rescue methods in flood rescue, ensuring the safety of both rescuer and victim (NSW State Rescue Policy).

Flood Rescue Risk Framework

Appendix Two

RFS Training & Qualifications

RFS personnel must always work within their capacity and not beyond their training. RFS training includes:

Flood Rescue Kit Instruction Card and Instructional Video – Guidelines provided with RFS Flood Rescue Kits, instructing members on the appropriate use and maintenance of equipment.
Flood Awareness – Online training available to all members to provide an understanding of operating around flood water.
Land Based Rescue – A training package that enables members to undertake land base rescue operations as defined by the State Rescue Policy.
Small Boat Operators (On Water Rescue) – A training package that enables members to operate small, powered vessels and meets the requirements of the State Rescue Policy On Water Rescue requirements.
In Water Rescue – A training package that enables members to undertake rescues in swift and moving water and includes the use of rafts and technical roping systems.
Over Water Rescue – The RFS does not provide this training outside of the Certificate III Aviation Rescue.
RFS Members and staff should be aware there are ‘fit for task’ pre-requisites that must be met by participants of some of the above training programs.