Practical Rescue Management

AIM

To teach divers how to manage the resources at their disposal in order to make the most effective use of them in a rescue situation. The course also provides an opportunity for further instruction in personal rescue skills to complement those undertaken during diver training, but the emphasis will be on the development of rescue management skills.

INSTRUCTORS

Instructors must be BSAC NQIs (Open Water Instructor or above) who have previously attended the PRM Course.

Ratio - One instructor for every four students.

FACILITIES

Suitable classroom with teaching aids. Open water site, maximum water depth required = 6m; access to different types of shoreline, e.g. shelving beach, jetty.

At least one inflatable boat / RIB for exercises involving recover of casualty into boat. Selection of buoyant aids (as may be reasonably be expected to be available at a dive site), throwing ropes etc, in quantities to suit the number of student groups.

APPROVAL

Course Approval Procedure applies. A BSAC Practical Rescue Management Student Pack must be provided for each student.

QUALIFICATION

Course Certification will be issued. Instructors may also sign up Dive Leader Lessons DT9, 10, 11 and DO5 member's qualification record.

SYLLABUS

Instructor briefing
Assemble, Introductions, Administration - (15 mins)

1. Classroom Lesson - The Rescue Process - (45 mins)

• The nature of accidents
• Prevention, anticipation
• Discuss rescue scenarios
• Draw out priorities

2. Classroom Lesson - Rescue Management - Part 1 - (40 mins)

• Sound training, buddy checks, think first
• Safety, recovery, security
• Remove casualty to point of safety
• First aid priorities, continuing care, records
• Summoning emergency services, evacuating the casualty

Break and change for diving

3. Practical - Rescue Management Scenarios - (4 hours)
Open water scenarios will concentrate on management of a variety of different scenarios. Important aspects to cover will be:

• How the incident was assessed
• The actions that were taken
• How the tasks were delegated
• How delegation allowed multiple tasks to be carried out concurrently
• The actual rescue skills used

Break

4. When re-assembled Outline Review - (15 mins)
Review achievements / difficulties of practical scenarios

5. Classroom Lesson - Helicopter Operations - (15 mins)

• Direct lift
• High line transfer
• Alternative small boat technique

6. Classroom Lesson - Rescue Management - Part 2 - (30 mins)

• Personnel issues and the media
• Incident reporting and fatalities
• A Coroner's Inquest

7. Classroom - Putting it all into context - (15 mins)

• Course debriefing
• Issue Certification, Student Packs
• Disperse

Instructor debriefing

NOTES

1. Instructors should base their teaching on the Instructor Notes which will be provided, and on the information given in the BSAC Safety and Rescue for Divers Manual.

2. The course programme is designed to be carried out at confined sites such as inland dive sites, and to avoid the need for any decompression. The emphasis must be on class participation and student involvement is essential.