SFD.082 - Boat & Waterborne Operations PDF

# Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 - Boat & Waterborne Operations ## SFD.082 - Standard Operating Line ### Revision No. 1 - Issue Date: 8 Aug. 2024 - Review Date: 1 July. 2025 - Effective Date: 8 Aug. 2024 - Approved by: Scott C. Seifert - Operation: S - Reviewed by: ## Boat & Waterborne...

# Fire Department / Harris County ESD No. 7 - Boat & Waterborne Operations ## SFD.082 - Standard Operating Line ### Revision No. 1 - Issue Date: 8 Aug. 2024 - Review Date: 1 July. 2025 - Effective Date: 8 Aug. 2024 - Approved by: Scott C. Seifert - Operation: S - Reviewed by: ## Boat & Waterborne Operations ### 1. Executive Summary - **Boat Use:** Trained on-duty crews are authorized to use the boats for victim evacuation or rescue, with the Fire Chief's approval for special events or law enforcement assistance. - **Safety:** Members must wear personal flotation devices and avoid wearing firefighting PPE while operating boats, with additional safety measures like carrying throw bags and handheld lights. - **Operations:** Boat operations are to be conducted with caution, considering water speed, weather conditions, and water quality, with a focus on minimizing risk to personnel and victims. - **Emergency Operations:** Detailed procedures for responding to incidents, including size-up, information gathering, hazard assessment, and command structure, are provided to ensure effective and safe operations. - **Boat Captain and Attendant Qualifications:** Specific training and annual refreshers are required for boat captains and attendants, ensuring they are equipped with the necessary skills for waterborne operations. - **Boat Maintenance:** Routine maintenance and inspection protocols are established for boats, including weekly checks and post-operation procedures to maintain operational readiness. ### 2. Purpose - The Spring Fire Department operates flat bottom/connector style and inflatable boats to be used for the evacuation of stranded victims during flood, high water, or related water events. - This procedure is to establish guidelines for response of Spring Fire Department personnel and equipment to incidents requiring the utilization of boats. This procedure will identify qualifications, maintenance, operations and use. ### 3. Scope - This guideline applies to all members. ### 4. Definitions - See Glossary. ### 5. Procedures and Responsibilities - **BOAT USE** - On duty crews who have been trained to operate SFD owned equipment will use the boats for the purpose of victim evacuation or rescue. Under the authorization of the Fire Chief or designee, the boats may be used for special events or to assist law enforcement on a case-by-case basis. - **SAFETY** - All members will wear personal flotation devices while operating the boats or while operating along waterways. Members will wear department purchased live bait, Type V, personal flotation device. Each member should also carry one throw bag of floating rope. - No member will work alone. - Members will not wear bunker gear, boots or related department issued firefighting PPE while working in the boats or around waterways. A department issued firefighting helmet or rescue helmet is necessary. - Members operating within SFD boats will have one handheld light per crew member when operating in low light or within 2 hours of dawn/dusk. - No untrained operators or attendants will be permitted within any boat during any rescue, recovery, or special operational event. - Prior to launching or maneuvering boats into moving water, the water speed should be determined. - Water speed can be calculated by placing something that floats in the water and determining the amount of time the object takes to move 100 ft. If the floating object moves more than 100 ft. in 30 seconds water currents are moving at or above 2 knots. - Operations in water moving over 2 knots should be limited to actions for imminent rescue or at the discretion of the incident commander and safety officer. - Water speed in excess of 1.15 mph (1 knot) is to be considered swift water. - If possible, boats should be launched downstream of victim locations and motored upstream to reduce the risk of impacting the victim(s) with the vessels. - Boat crews will operate in sight of shore support or remain within radio contact with shore support/Incident Command at all times. - Waterborne activation should not be conducted during lightning storms or in sustained winds over 30 mph. The Incident Commander or Boat Captain has the authority to suspend or terminate waterborne activities if the weather conditions impacting the rescue area pose an immediate danger to rescue personnel. - Special consideration should be given to water conditions/quality and temperature. Adequate warming capabilities may be needed if victims or evacuees are subjected to cool or cold water combined with low air temperature. If water quality is suspected of being poor or there is a possibility of contamination, gross decontamination should be established. - The capacity of each boat will not exceed the listed capacity limitations noted on the USCG placard on the hull or stern of each boat. - All victims or non-fire department passengers will wear an SFD personal flotation device (red or blue) contained within each boat from their point of entry until arrival on dry ground. - Care should be given to operations in flooded areas where impact with submerged objects is possible (flooded parking lots or streets). Boat approach and departure speed should be as minimal as possible to maintain the desired direction of the boat, to reduce the risk of damage, and to avoid the ejection of occupants should the boat strike a submerged object. - SFD members will not enter swift water or similar hazardous waterborne conditions for body recoveries. - **EMERGENCY OPERATIONS** - When dispatched or otherwise necessary, SFD members will hitch the boat trailer to a department vehicle with towing capabilities and respond to the scene. Due to the size, weight, and height of trailered boats, responding personnel should respond cautiously. Units should respond emergency traffic, unless otherwise indicated by incident information or the on scene incident commander. - The first arriving officer will perform a size-up of the situation. - Gather Information, including number of patients, location of patients, etc. - Assess immediate and potential hazards to rescue personnel. - Assess the need for additional resources. - Determine if the situation is a rescue or recovery. - Keep nonessential personnel out of the hazard zone. - Keep civilians out of the hazard zone. - All boat operations will follow department identified command/operations positions: - Incident Commander - Boat Captain - Boat Attendant - Safety Officer - Operations will not begin until appropriate personnel are on location and an incident action plan is discussed with all onsite personnel. The minimum staffing for boat operations is at least one Boat Captain and one attendant. Boat operations will not commence until adequate staffing is present. The Boat Captain is to be the sole operator of the boat and whose primary role is boat operation/navigation. - Operations should be conducted with as little risk to the rescue personnel as possible, this may not always be the case, but should be considered. - Talk – if water is calm or slow-moving, attempt to talk the victim into self-rescue or rescue with assistance. - Reach - if possible, utilize an object to reach the victim - Throw – utilize a throw bag or other approved floatation device and haul the victim to the bank. - Row – this operation will be conducted when it is determined the need to put the boat into the water. - GO if it is not possible to reach the victim by boat, consideration should be given to putting a rescuer in the water. This operation is high-risk and conducted by trained personnel only. Before entering the water the following will be in place: - A rescue plan - A backup plan - Emergency procedures and all personnel should be aware of these. - Rescue personnel will never be attached to a lifeline without a quick-release mechanism approved for water rescue. - Boats should be launched in a safe area with standing or slow-moving water, ease of access to dry land, and free of obstructions/debris. If warranted, boats can be launched and walked by the operators until water depth permits the use of motors. - Evacuated victims will be removed in the safest manner possible. Once on dry land, evacuated persons will be medically evaluated and transported by EMS if necessary. Evacuee names, date of birth, and addresses should be obtained if possible. - If an event is extended, could be considered “High Profile,” or otherwise attract media attention, the Incident Commander will designate a specific media staging area. The Incident Commander or Public Information Officer should provide regular media updates if necessary. - **HAND SIGNALS AND WHISTLE COMMANDS** - Where the use of portable radios is not possible, the following hand and or whistle signals are to be used: - **Hand Signals** - One Hand extended above the head. - Distress, Need Assistance - One Hand on the Head - Okay - Point left/right. - Move or swim left or right. - Both arms crossed above the head - Stop - Both arms crossed in front of the chest - Need Medical Kit and Help - **Whistle Signals** - 1 Blast - Stop or Attention - 2 Blasts - Attention upstream - 3 Blasts - Attention downstream - 4 Blasts - Emergency or Rescue - Upon conclusion of operations, boats will be trailered and removed from the water. Prior to returning to service, the boats will be inspected, refueled, and inventoried as needed. - Upon returning to the fire station, the boat and all associated equipment will be cleaned with soap and water and visually inspected. Cleaned wet equipment should be hung in a dry location and permitted to dry before being repacked. The boat motors will be flushed with clean water via the appropriate hose-motor connection. Fuel tanks will be re-fueled and oil reservoirs checked to ensure fluid levels are within the proper operational range. A visual inspection of the interior and exterior areas of the boat will be completed to look for any obvious damage. SFD Support Services will be contacted if any equipment is damaged, lost, or otherwise non-operational. Fluid changes are to be completed by Support Services as needed by the manufacturer's recommendations. - **BOAT CAPTAIN QUALIFICATIONS** - Boat Captains will be limited to trained individuals who have completed the following minimum training with an annual refresher: - TX Parks and Wildlife Boat Operators Course - Annual swim evaluation (300 meters, any stroke, no stopping, with or without PFD) - Basic boat awareness course (Internal) - Boat operations course (External) meeting NFPA 1006 and 1670 Technician level. - **BOAT ATTENDANT QUALIFICATIONS** - Boat attendants, or members assisting the Boat Captain, at a minimum will complete the following training with an annual refresher: - Annual swim evaluation (300 meters, any stroke, no stopping, with or without PFD) - Basic boat awareness course (Internal). - Boat operations course (External) meeting NFPA 1006 and 1670 Awareness level. - **BOAT MAINTENANCE** - Personnel assigned to stations equipped with boats will be responsible for completing routine weekly maintenance for all boats. Documented weekly boat operations testing and inspections will be completed in conjunction with apparatus day functions. Inspection and operations testing will include the following minimum items: - Verification that trailer lights are operational. - Prime, start and run each motor at idle speed. Ensure water flow through the motor is established to prevent damage. - Ensure inflatable boats are inflated to the proper operational pressure. - Inspect the hull and gunwales of each connector boat. - Check fuel tanks to ensure tanks are filled to 3/4 fuel level or above. - Check the oil level and refill as needed. - Verify boat inventory lists. - Rinse or wipe dust/debris from boat hulls, sidewalls, and interior. ### 6. References & Related Policies - This section provides references to applicable laws, standards, or other related internal policies or guidelines. - NFPA - Applicable State or Federal Statutes - OSHA - Spring FD - TCFP - CPSE PI - ISO - TFCA ### 7. Contact Office - The appropriate contact office for questions or comments on this SOG is: - Company Officer - District Chief - Deputy Chief of Operations - Assistant Chief - Fire Chief ### 8. List of Changes - Revision No. 1 - First edition - Approved by: Davenpoort - Effective Date: 8/8/2024 - See something wrong? Click here or use this QR code to submit an error or inconsistency. ### 9. Errors ### 10. Disclaimer - This policy is for internal use only and does not enlarge a member's legal duty or civil liability in any way. This policy should not be construed as creating a duty to act or a higher duty of care, with respect to third-party civil claims against members or the department. A violation of this policy, if proven, can only form the basis of a complaint by this department for non-judicial administrative action in accordance with the laws governing member discipline.