Effective Rescue Team Operations: Procedures and Planning

Operational Plans for Rescue Teams

1. Introduction

Members of a rescue team have duties and responsibilities to attend to during their work. Furthermore, when assigned to a bathing area, shares to be given or that could occur in this area from the standpoint of safety and aquatic emergency should be taken into account.

These actions are detailed in the Operating Procedures (OPs) and in Emergency Planning (EP).

Although it may seem that the OPs or EPs require extensive coaching, this is not necessarily the case. The OPs and EPs refer to logical actions in the field of Prevention and Intervention.

2. Features of OPs and EPs

In the implementation of OPs and EPs, the following should be considered:

• Realistic and affordable for a quick start.
• Formal but flexible, without losing the underlying foundation of the procedure.
• Suited to the characteristics of the area and the available human and material resources.
• Susceptible to evaluation and change as necessary.

3. Development of OPs and EPs

The development should take place within the following sequence:

• Identification of risks.
• Risk assessment (grade and potential).
• Identification of preventive actions and intervention strategies.
• Evaluation of the possibilities of implementing preventive and intervention measures.
• Formalization of conclusions.

4. General Operating Procedures

Operating procedures should generally be followed by personnel in a rescue operation, such as in a bathing area. Key aspects include:

• Knowledge of the bathing area: access points, size, services, information points, checkpoints, first aid locations, etc.
• Monitoring the swimming area: review of risk factors (elements of the installation, configuration of the land, the state of the aquatic environment, weather conditions, etc.).
• Monitoring of Prevention Systems: salvage equipment, flags, barriers, signs, posters, etc.
• Monitoring Intervention Material: kit, stretchers, splints, floats, harnesses, etc.
• Lifeguard job system: areas to cover, rotations, application of First Aid, etc.
• Communication Systems: Internal (talkies, whistles, signs...) and external or other services (ambulance, police, fire, etc.).
• Knowledge of emergency plans.