Standard Practice for Multiple Persons Cold Water Survival/Rescue Technique: Huddle Position

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 This practice establishes a multiple person cold water survival/rescue procedure.  
3.2 All persons who are identified as water rescuers shall meet the requirements of this practice.  
3.3 This practice is intended to assist government agencies, state, local, or regional organizations; fire departments; and rescue teams and others who are responsible for establishing a minimum performance for personnel who respond to water emergencies.  
3.4 The majority of the rescuers performing this technique must be wearing personal flotation devices. These devices should conform to standards set by the appropriate national regulatory authority, that is, the U.S. Coast Guard in the United States, and be in good and serviceable condition.  
3.5 A water rescuer sometimes may be immersed in cold water for prolonged periods of time. They are unable to get to shore or shore is too far away, rescue is not imminent, no boat is available to get into or on top of, and no flotsam is available. The water rescuer needs to assume a defensive posture to conserve heat and increase survival time.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the recommended water rescue procedure for performing the huddle position.  
1.2 This practice is one in a set of self-rescue techniques for the water rescuer.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

Status
Historical
Publication Date
28-Feb-2014
Technical Committee
Current Stage
Ref Project

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ASTM F1728-96(2014) - Standard Practice for Multiple Persons Cold Water Survival/Rescue Technique: Huddle Position
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: F1728 − 96 (Reapproved 2014)
Standard Practice for
Multiple Persons Cold Water Survival/Rescue Technique:
Huddle Position
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1728; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.3 This practice is intended to assist government agencies,
state, local, or regional organizations; fire departments; and
1.1 This practice covers the recommended water rescue
rescue teams and others who are responsible for establishing a
procedure for performing the huddle position.
minimum performance for personnel who respond to water
1.2 This practice is one in a set of self-rescue techniques for
emergencies.
the water rescuer.
3.4 The majority of the rescuers performing this technique
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
must be wearing personal flotation devices. These devices
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
should conform to standards set by the appropriate national
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
regulatory authority, that is, the U.S. Coast Guard in the United
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
States, and be in good and serviceable condition.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.5 A water rescuer sometimes may be immersed in cold
water for prolonged periods of time. They are unable to get to
2. Terminology
shore or shore is too far away, rescue is not imminent, no boat
2.1 huddle position, n—a multiple person water rescue
is available to get into or on top of, and no flotsam is available.
technique for heat conservation when immersed in cold water
The water rescuer needs to assume a defensive posture to
and the majority of the rescuers are wearing personal flotation
conserve heat and increase survival time.
devices. This technique conserves heat by using personal
flotation devices and clothing, group body contact, and body
4. Procedure
posture to limit exposure of the body’s major heat loss areas to
4.1 Upon initial immersion in cold water, the rescuers
the cold water.
should cover the mouth and nose to prevent the aspiration of
2.2 personal flotation device (PFD), n—a buoyant device water.
suitable for use by one person in water emergencies. These
4.2 “Huddle” together, side by side, in a circle.
devices may be vests, ring buoys, life preser
...

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