Passive victims are challenging because you must maintain their airways in an open position above the surface of the water both during the rescue and the extrication, and immediate care must be provided – all while their bodies are limp.
When a passive victim is submerged, it adds other challenges, including difficulties in reaching the submerged victim and managing rescue equipment while underwater when retrieving the victim. The urgency to get the victim’s airway to the surface, and the proficiency needed to make the rescue as a solo rescuer or as a member of a multi-rescuer response team also raise the level of difficulty.
So it is strongly encouraged to train in both a solo and a multi-rescuer response during in-service. Even though the victim is passive, underwater, and not breathing, they could still have a pulse if you respond quickly. In other words, the victim could start to breathe if you get their head above the surface or if you open their airway, or when you start to give in-water ventilations.
Let’s look at the drills that focus on entries, surface dives, and securing the victim.
NOTE: If either the rescuer or victim is struggling with equalizing pressure in their ears while underwater, avoid these submerged drills.
FEET-FIRST SURFACE DIVE DRILL: Rescuers should be at the surface treading water, with no rescue equipment, at a depth of 9-12 feet.
Objective: Rescuers must demonstrate 10 consecutive feet-first surface dives in perfect form where they reach the bottom, push off the floor and come back to the surface.
Timing Goal: 1-2 minutes to complete the objective.
Once proficient, incorporate the variations, quickly and safely.
Feet-First Surface Dive Variations:
• Complete 10 feet-first surface dives with a rescue tube strap around the head and shoulder starting from in the water.
• Add an entry to your feet-first surface dive (a pencil dive into the water) next to the side of the deck, reach the bottom, push off, and come back to the surface. Complete 6 times.
• Pencil dive with a rescue tube, reach the bottom, push off, and come back to the surface. Complete 6 times.
• Launch from the side of deck to at least 10 feet away from the side, pencil dive into the water, both with and without the rescue tube. Complete 6 of each.
HEAD-FIRST SURFACE DIVE DRILL: Rescuers should start from the side with no rescue equipment, at a depth of 9-12 feet.
Objective: Rescuers must demonstrate six consecutive head-first surface dives in perfect form where they are 10 feet from the side of the deck, reach the bottom, push off the floor and return to the surface.
Timing Goal: 1-2 minutes to complete the objective.
Once proficient, incorporate the variations, quickly and safely.
Head-First Surface Dive Drill Variations:
• Head-first surface dives with a rescue tube under the armpits starting from the side. Rescuer will move off the rescue tube and perform the surface dive. Complete 6 dives.
• Head-first surface dives with a rescue tube under the armpits starting from the side. Rescuer will swim over the rescue tube and perform the surface dive. Complete 6 dives.
• Head-first surface dives with a rescue tube trailing behind. Complete 6 dives.
• If trained to do so, rescuer will do a long shallow dive, swim out 10 feet and perform a head-first surface dive without a rescue tube, reach the bottom, push off, and come back to the surface. Complete 6 times.
• If trained to do so, rescuer will do a long shallow dive with a rescue tube. The rescuer will throw the rescue tube to the side as he/she enters the water. The rescuer will swim out 10-15 feet with the rescue tube trailing and perform a head-first surface dive, reach the bottom, push off, and come back to the surface. Complete 6 times.
PUSH OFF WITH THE VICTIM DRILLS: Victim is submerged in 9-12 feet deep water. Victim is in the vertical position with feet touching the bottom, legs bent. The rescuer is at the surface with no rescue tube.
Objective: Surface dive (feet-first or head-first), grab the victim, push off the bottom with both feet and come to the surface with the victim as quickly as possible. Complete 6 times.
Timing Goal: Each drill should be done within 10-15 seconds.
Once proficient, incorporate the variations, quickly and safely.
Push Off with the Victim Variations:
• Feet-first surface dives with securing the victim and a push off, switch the rescuer and the victim at the surface with each drill. Complete 5 as the rescuer, 5 as the victim.
• Pencil dive from the side of deck, secure the victim, push off, and come back to the surface. Complete 6 times.
• Pencil dive from the side of deck with a rescue tube, secure the victim, push off, and come back to the surface. Complete 6 times.
• Launch from the side of deck to at least 10 feet away from the side, pencil dive, secure the victim, push off, and come back to the surface. Complete 6 of each.
• Head-first surface dive, secure the victim, push off, and come back to the surface. Complete 6 times with and without a rescue tube.
Remember: A submerged victim who is not moving is in crisis, and your rescue team should respond quickly and provide the appropriate care.
Good luck and keep training!