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HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: SPECIALIZED OPERATION - 001 January 1, 2022 NIMS COMPLIANT SOG Titl...

HOFFMAN ESTATES FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES SOG Category & Identification Number: EFFECTIVE DATE: SPECIALIZED OPERATION - 001 January 1, 2022 NIMS COMPLIANT SOG Title: Water and Ice Rescue Revision: 8 APPROVED BY: NUMBER OF PAGES: Re-evaluation Date: Alan Wax January 1, 2025 Fire Chief 5 PURPOSE To provide a safe understanding of the needs to complete a safe Underwater or Ice Emergency Response. POLICY It is the policy of this Department that all members will operate in a safe and efficient manner, as spelled out by these Standard Operating Guidelines. At NO time will participating in an unsafe action jeopardize safety of our members. PROCEDURE Shift Personnel and Non-divers Upon confirmation of a victim in the water or on the ice a MABAS Underwater Dive Box is to be requested. This should occur immediately once confirmation is received. Upon arriving on the scene of a dive rescue/recovery, the most important thing you can perform is to get a complete "history" of what happened and where it occurred. Ask specific questions (who, what, where, why, etc.) of the witness. If the rescue is that of a domestic animal/ family pet ALL attempts for rescue, post submersion – will cease as the risk will outweigh the benefit. Try to triangulate the area where victim was last seen. Enter the water wearing the Cold Water Survival Suit, and mark the last known location of the victim, using the dumbbell marker float. Mark the triangulation with fixed landmarks or objects on the shore. 1  Engine  Obtain information on the last seen location.  Triangulate the last seen location.  Prepare for the Cold Water Survival Suit Rescue.  Mark the last seen location with the float.  Secure the area for the arrival of the Dive Rescue Team. Ambulance/Squad  Assist with triangulation.  Search the shoreline for evidence of the victim.  Assist with the Cold Water Survival Suit Rescue.  Prepare for the victim. When entering the water, don the Cold Water Survival Suit, secure a rope to the Cold Water Survival Suit and a fixed object out of the water. Attempt the rescue following the steps learned in basic skills training. Make sure the person tending the rope is alert to all surroundings, remains exactly in the same location, and wearing a personal floatation device (PFD). Mark the line tenders’ location to assist with his/her starting point. Only use a pike pole or other devise to hook the victim if no other device is available. If the rescue is that of a domestic animal / family pet, the rescuer will be equipped with an animal retrieval snare pole attached to a shore secured rope located on Tower 22 and Dive 24. The rescuer shall follow appropriate steps as outlined in the Cold Water Survival Suit Operations basic skill. If you are hesitant as to what to do, get a good history, search the shoreline, and await the dive team. Do not stir up the area to be searched. All rescuers within ten feet of the waters edge are required to wear a PFD. Incident Command  Obtain information from the first arriving company officer  Establish a visible command post  Confirm Box alarm request  Establish staging and rehab  Prepare for incoming companies 2  Dive Divisions/Groups and Divers The first arriving diver shall assume the Dive Team Leader responsibilities known as Dive Operations. He/she will establish with command a plan of action. Transfer of this responsibility will occur face-to-face. He/she will brief and update any MABAS 1 incoming Dive Team Leader of all pertinent information regarding the situation. The MABAS 1 Dive Team Leader will assume the responsibilities of Dive Operations and will take control of all in-water dive operations. In the absence of the Dive Team Leader a MABAS 1 Dive Team Member may operate as Dive Operations. The rescue technique to be attempted will depend on the condition of the water, weather and any known in-water hazards. This information will be obtained from the command officer and any witnesses. MABAS guidelines for safety and operations shall be followed at all times. The Dive Division or Group will request additional resources through command. Divers will only enter the water to perform a rescue or recovery in accordance with their level of training. Each diver will be responsible for notifying Dive Operations of his/her ability. Dive operations will confer with command. All other HEFD divers will obtain equipment from Dive 24 and prepare for entry. Other personnel will launch the boat, and assist with assigned tasks. * No personnel will be allowed to ride in the back of Dive 24. When personnel are wearing any dive gear they will only be allowed to exit Dive 24 using the side box door. Support Companies Each diver should be assigned a support individual. Support personnel shall act as shore tenders, assist the divers into their dive gear, tend to the safety lines when needed, launch the boat and standby at the scene until the victim is recovered or they are needed to treat any injuries to any personnel at the scene. Safety All guidelines and rescue techniques used by the divers are to be as per the MABAS and Department guidelines and training. Dive Operations shall make all requests for any diving or non-diving equipment. Two (2) MICU ambulances will remain at the scene at all times while rescue personnel are working in or around the water. One ambulance is for the victim and the other for the on-scene rescuers. Should an ambulance leave to transport an injured rescuer another ambulance is to be called as its replacement. Fire Department personnel and any non-fire department personnel are not to enter a boat, water, work ten feet of the water, or go over the ice without the proper PFD or safety rope attached at any time. 3 Divers shall not enter the water 100 feet before any spillways or dams or within 125 feet on the dump side of a dam or spillway. Boat operators are not to operate any motors within 200 feet of the area where divers are known to be working. DEFINITIONS These positions may be used in a large-scale operation as defined. In our day-to-day operations, one or many functions may be the responsibility of one person. 1. Dive Team Leader (Operations): The person responsible for the overall, safe, efficient duties of the dive team. The dive team leader will direct all operations involved with SCUBA rescue and recovery. 2. Shore Branch: The person responsible for the dive safety and efficient actions while divers are in the water. The shore master directs all team leaders. 3. Boat Branch: The person responsible for the safe and efficient use of boats when used in rescue and recovery diving. The boat master directs all boat operations. 4. Group Supervisor: The person responsible for the safe, efficient operation for the group of divers assigned him/her. 5. Diver: The person responsible for the safe, efficient execution of designated search patterns leading to, and including, the rescue and/or recovery of the victim or object. 6. Line Tender: The person responsible for controlling designated search patterns through a system, utilizing ropes and predetermined rope signals. 7. Boat Operators: Person responsible for the safe, efficient operation of the boat assigned to him/her. 8. Spotter: The person responsible for the visual coordinates to aid divers in locating the victim or object. 9. Safety Diver: The person responsible for rendering aid to any team member as needed. 10. 90% Diver: A diver dressed to the point where becoming fully dressed and operational would take minimal time. The 90% Diver is a back up to the Safety Diver if they were to be deployed. 4 EXCEPTIONS Exceptions to these SOG’s must be notified to the HEFD Dive Team Leader for review and a report follow up to staff. Command Safety Operations FD Search Crews (Shore) (Dive Team Leader) Rehab/Staging Shore Branch Boat Branch Passports Blue-Divers Group Leaders Boat 1 (safety) White-Shore Support Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Boat 2 (shuttle) EMS Shore Support Boat 3 (shuttle) Victim Line Tenders Each shore master will manage a Boat 1 will at all times be Maximum of 3 dive teams not to available with a fully exceed a total of 12 divers equipped rescue diver. Shore Branch, Boat Branch, Rehab/Staging – should be filled by arriving MABAS Division I Dive Team Leaders EXCEPTIONS Where MABAS Illinois Policies and Procedures current online reference or MABAS 1 Operating Guidelines/Policy Statements are in conflict with HEFD Standard Operating Guidelines, HEFD Standard Operating Guidelines will take precedence. REFERENCES MABAS Illinois Policies and Procedures current online reference MABAS 1 Operating Guidelines/Policy Statements HEFD Basic Skill 55-12 – Cold Water Survival Suit Operations End of Document 5