In the last article, I covered drills for the public, focused on the use of a life jacket. Other types of rescue equipment are accessible in a public setting: the ring buoy, the shepherd’s crook rescue pole and the reaching pole.
While the ring buoy is used for throwing assists, both the shepherd’s crook and reaching pole are used for reaching assists.
As with life jackets, the public should be trained on this equipment. This column describes each type of equipment, how to use it, and provides drills.
RING BUOY
The ring buoy can be seen hanging on the wall or fence near a pool or other body of water, or from the side of a lifeguard tower. It is white or orange and has a throw line attached.
To use: Grasp the ring buoy with your dominant hand, and step on the end of the throw line with your non-dominant foot. Locate the victim. Aim to place the ring buoy just beyond the victim, with the throw line near their shoulder. Swing the buoy backwards and forward to gain momentum and use an underhand toss.
As you toss the ring buoy, maintain your footing on the end of the throw line. Tell the victim to lock their arms through the ring. After the victim has firmly grasped the ring buoy, pull the victim back slowly and carefully. Your body position should be low, leaning back slightly, to avoid being pulled in.
When training with a ring buoy, focus on several aspects of using it: throwing it; throwing it and having it reach the victim; having the ring buoy deploy without the throw line tangling; and pulling in the victim without falling in.
Throwing a Ring Buoy Drill: Have each participant holding a ring buoy near the side of the pool.
Objective: Correctly throw the ring buoy. (NOTE: There should be no victim in the water. Provide multiple ring buoys to allow more time for throwing.)
Timing goal: 30 seconds.
Once the participants have demonstrated proficiency, move through these variations: • Throwing the ring buoy to multiple distances (30 seconds for each throw)
• Throwing the ring buoy at a victim (30 seconds)
• Throw-reset-throw again (90 seconds)
• Pulling a victim in from a standing position (30 seconds)
• Pulling a victim in from a prone position (30 seconds)
• Coiling the throw line (60 seconds, 30 seconds, 20 seconds)
• Throwing the ring buoy without having a coiled throw line (60 seconds)
• Full simulation: Pull the ring buoy from its location, and then rescue the victim (30 seconds)
SHEPHERD’S CROOK
The shepherd’s crook measures between 12 and 16 feet. It is a reaching pole with a curved hook attached to one end, made from aluminum tubing to keep it light and sturdy. It can be found hanging on the wall at a public pool or body of water.
To use: Grasping the shepherd’s crook, extend it to the victim. Rotate the crook so it wraps around the victim. Make contact the victim, then slowly and carefully pull them to the side. Keep your body position low, and lean back slightly to avoid being pulled into the water.
Shepherd’s Crook Drill: Have the participant hold the shepherd’s crook. There will be a victim in the water at the surface facing the participant.
Objective: Use the crook to secure the victim, then bring victim to the side of the pool.
Timing goal: 30 seconds.
Once the participants have demonstrated proficiency, move through the variations:• Rescue the victim; victim is at the surface and facing away (30 seconds)
• Rescue the victim; victim is submerged, facing the rescuer (30 seconds)
• Rescue the victim; victim is submerged facing away from the rescuer (30 seconds)
• Rescue the victim and use another participant to pull the victim in (30 seconds)
• Rescue the victim, walk backwards holding onto the shepherd’s crook in one place to bring the victim to the side of the pool (30 seconds)
• Full simulation: Pull the shepherd’s crook from its location, and rescue the victim (30 seconds)
REACHING POLE
The reaching pole is a 12-to-16-foot-long pole with no curved hook on the end. It also hangs on the wall at a public pool.
To use: Grasping the reaching pole, extend it to the victim. Make contact with the victim, then slowly and carefully pull the victim to the side.
Keep body position low, and lean back slightly to avoid being pulled into the water.
Reaching Pole Drill: Have the participant hold the reaching pole. There will be a victim in the water at the surface facing the participant.
Objective: Use the crook to secure the victim, then bring the victim to the side of the pool.
Timing goal: 30 seconds.
Once participants have demonstrated proficiency, move through the variations below:• Rescue the victim; victim is at the surface and facing away (30 seconds)
• Rescue the victim; victim is submerged, facing the rescuer (30 seconds)
• Rescue the victim; victim is submerged, facing away from the rescuer (30 seconds)
• Rescue the victim with another participant’s assistance (30 seconds)
• Rescue the victim, walk backwards, holding onto the reaching pole in one place to bring the victim to the side of the pool (30 seconds)
• Full simulation: Pull the reaching pool from its location, and rescue the victim (30 seconds)
Good luck and keep training!
