Section 2 Flashcards
when doing an in water rescue, what tow would you do if the casualty is:
unconscious?
or conscious?
unconscious: extended arm tow
conscious/ responsive: support tows E.g. arm support tow, double shoulder support tow etc
what should you do if there is an unconscious casualty face down on the surface of the pool?
push one of their shoulders down and the other up to rotate their body to be face up.
support their back and chin as you move into a towing position
what should you do to recover a submerged casualty?
enter the water safely and swim to a point above the casualty
use either a feet first surface dive or a head first surface dive
head first:
flex at hips and reach hands towards pool floor
keep ur head between arms
lift your legs out of the water
use arms to pull through water in breastroke action
use both hands under casualties armpits then push off bottom of pool
An assisted walk out if used when a casualty is exhausted or distressed but can still walk with help.
how do you perform an assisted walk out?
After letting casualty rest in shallow water, put your head under their armpit, put your arm around their waist and shoulder with their arm across your shoulder and walk the casualty to a point of safety or poolside.
If they are too heavy, get a second lifeguard to assist on the other side.
How and when should you perform a:
stirrup lift
assisted lift
stirrup lift- used when the casualty needs help exiting the pool but can still assist themselves E.g. a tired swimmer, minor injury.
move behind casualty, reach down and cup one hand under casualty’s foot or knee, get firm grip of poolside with other hand, lift and instruct casualty to climb out and move away from edge.
assisted lift- used when the casualty is unconscious and needs to be removed from the water for CPR or further medical care. Or unable to exit the pool by themselves.
Requires 3 lifeguards.
One lifeguard supports the casualty in the water while the others lift from the poolside.
One of the pool side lifeguards will support the casualties head whilst they both lift using a grip on the casualty’s arm/ wrist.
How should you use a vice grip?
Enter water carefully, approach casualty from one side and try to minimise splashing etc,
make sure their arms are by their sides using your elbows,
place your forearm along their breastbone whilst supporting their face by either side of the jaw,
place your other forearm along their spine with fingers stretched onto back of head and clamping down
keep forearms gently but firmly pressed together
keep casualty close to body
If the casualty is face down, gently roll them by sliding under the water until they are face up on the surface of the water
ask the casualty ‘are you alright?’ - if they dont respond, remove them from water as quickly as possible as priority is to get them breathing
How should you use a head splint?
slide into water, approach casualty from side and stop when in a position next to their shoulders,
gently grasp casualty’s arms by placing hands midway between their elbows and shoulders,
gently move their arms in a smooth sweeping motion to a position next to the ears and squeeze their arms against their head
position thumbs on back of their head whilst maintaining pressure on the arms,
gently roll casualty towards you in one smooth motion until they are face up,
ask the casualty ‘are you alright?’ - if they dont respond, remove them from water as quickly as possible as priority is to get them breathing
How do you perform rescue breaths in the water?
If a casualty with a suspected spinal does not respond when you ask them ‘are you alright?’ what should you do?
Remove them from water swiftly using the unconscious method:
5 lifeguards,
one holds the head, three others support the casualty with straight arms (palms facing down), one other on poolside who takes over the responsibility of holding the head as the casualty is moved onto poolside.
once the casualty is lifted onto poolside, each person removes each arm from underneath the casualty (starting with the person under the legs)
wrap them carefully in warm, heat retaining material to prevent heat loss
If a casualty with a suspected spinal does respond when you ask them ‘are you alright?’ what should you do?
Use full PXB method slowly and controlled:
2 lifeguards,
one lifeguard enters the water applies head splint and asks if they are alright? then alerts team and informs them if casualty is conscious or not
the second lifeguard prepares the PXB on poolside. they then enter the pool and apply vice grip from other side of casualty. then communicate and release the head splint, bring casualty’s arms carefully to their sides then go to the PXB.
the lifeguard on poolside slowly moves the PXB into the pool, kneels onto anchor mat and removes head blocks, putting one either side.
then put hands into first strap holes and push down with straight arms to sink the PXB
the lifeguard with the vice grip trawls and aligns the casualty’s body centrally onto the PXB
the lifeguard on poolside releases pressure and raises the PXB, then the other lifeguard slowly removes their bottom hand on the vice grip and puts it under the PXB.
the poolside lifeguard takes control of the casualty’s head and the other releases their vice grip and starts to strap up.
Green, Blue, Head. Yellow, Black, Red
poolside lifeguard carefully stands whilst holding anchor mat
‘ready, steady, lift’
-lift only enough to clear poolside edge and then immediately lower and slide PXB onto poolside
*headblocks and chest strap may be loosened or moved to allow for effective CPR and use of AED
*be prepared for regurgitation by tipping PXB onto its side.
