Standard Guide for Swiftwater/Flood Search and Rescue Operations

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This guide establishes a framework within which swiftwater/flood SAR operations shall be conducted.  
4.2 Every person, agency, and organization that responds to, or participates in, swiftwater/flood SAR operations should operate within the framework established by this guide.  
4.3 This guide and the framework it establishes should be used in conjunction with established and authorized guidelines and procedures mandated by an AHJ.  
4.4 The AHJ shall determine which personnel, agencies, and/or organizations are qualified and authorized to participate in swiftwater/flood SAR operations.  
4.5 This guide is to be used by individuals and AHJ that wish to perform swiftwater/flood SAR operations as part of the NIMS/ICS.  
4.6 This guide does not stand alone and must be used with the referenced documents to safely and effectively perform swiftwater/flood SAR operations.  
4.7 The AHJ will determine the evaluation process to assess the extent to which the requirements of this standard are met.  
4.8 Because operations in the swiftwater/flood environment are inherently dangerous, and individuals involved are frequently required to perform rigorous activities in adverse conditions, regional and national safety standards should be included in agency policies and procedures.  
4.9 Swiftwater/flood personnel should only perform activities in the swiftwater environment after a thorough risk assessment and appropriate risk mitigation efforts (e.g. use of personal protective equipment (PPE), restricting efforts to shore-based techniques, delaying a recovery until more favorable water conditions exist, etc.) have been performed, or at the very least, should follow the appropriate federal, state, tribal, provincial, and local safety standards as they apply to activities in swiftwater environments.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide establishes a framework within which swiftwater/flood Search and Rescue (SAR) operations shall be conducted as part of the National Incident Management System (NIMS)/ Incident Command System (ICS).  
1.2 The requirements of this guide shall apply to individuals, agencies, and organizations that respond to swiftwater/flood SAR operations, including those not regulated by government mandates.  
1.3 This document does not define the specific training required for personnel involved in swiftwater/flood SAR operations. Refer to local, state, federal, public, and private swiftwater rescue certification and operations courses that satisfy the existing authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) requirements.  
1.4 This guide includes references more common to the United States of America, but may be adapted for use elsewhere.  
1.5 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 or as defined within a (regional or geographical) response region or by the AHJ.

General Information

Status
Historical
Publication Date
30-Nov-2013
Technical Committee
Current Stage
Ref Project

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ASTM F3048-13e1 - Standard Guide for Swiftwater/Flood Search and Rescue Operations
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Standards Content (Sample)

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
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Designation: F3048 − 13
Standard Guide for
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Swiftwater/Flood Search and Rescue Operations
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3048; 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.
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ε NOTE—Figs.X1.1–X1.4 were repositioned editorially in February 2014.
1. Scope F2752 Guide for Training for Level I Rope Rescue (R1)
Rescuer Endorsement
1.1 This guide establishes a framework within which
2.2 Other Documents:
swiftwater/flood Search and Rescue (SAR) operations shall be
FEMA, National Incident Management System, December
conductedaspartoftheNationalIncidentManagementSystem
3
2008
(NIMS)/ Incident Command System (ICS).
FEMA, National Response Framework (NRF), January
1.2 The requirements of this guide shall apply to 4
2013
individuals, agencies, and organizations that respond to
swiftwater/floodSARoperations,includingthosenotregulated
3. Terminology
by government mandates.
3.1 Acronyms:
1.3 This document does not define the specific training
3.1.1 AHJ—Authority Having Jurisdiction
required for personnel involved in swiftwater/flood SAR op-
3.1.2 EMS—Emergency Medical Services
erations. Refer to local, state, federal, public, and private
3.1.3 IAP—Incident Action Plan
swiftwater rescue certification and operations courses that
3.1.4 IC—Incident Command or Incident Commander
satisfytheexistingauthorityhavingjurisdiction(AHJ)require-
ments.
3.1.5 ICS—Incident Command System
1.4 This guide includes references more common to the
3.1.6 NIMS—National Incident Management System
United States of America, but may be adapted for use else-
3.1.7 PFD—Personal Flotation Device
where.
3.1.8 PPE—Personal Protective Equipment
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1.9 PWC—Personal Water Craft (e.g., jet ski, water bike)
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.1.10 PTB—Position Task Book
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.1.11 SAR—Search and Rescue
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use or as defined within
3.1.12 SWFT—Swiftwater/Flood Technician
a (regional or geographical) response region or by the AHJ.
3.1.13 TFL—Task Force Leader
2. Referenced Documents 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
2 3.2.1 authority having jurisdiction—an organization, office,
2.1 ASTM Standards:
or individual responsible for enforcing the requirements of a
F1422 Guide for Using the Incident Command System
code or standard, or for approving equipment, materials,
Framework in Managing Search and Rescue Operations
installation, or a procedure.
F1768 GuideforUsingWhistleSignalsDuringRopeRescue
3.2.2 boat-assisted—swiftwater/flood SAR operations aided
Operations
by a boat, in which the boat is operated on a tether.
3.2.3 boat-based—swiftwater/flood SAR operations con-
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ducted from a boat only.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F32 on Search
andRescueandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeF32.02onManagement
3.2.4 flood—a great flowing or overflowing of water, espe-
and Operations.
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cially over land not usually submerged.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2013. Published January 2014. DOI: 10.1520/
F3048-13E01.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
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contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/nims/NIMS_core.pdf
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Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on http://www.fema.gov/national-response-framework
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the ASTM website. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/flood?s=t Accessed February 7, 2013
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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F3048 − 13
3.2.5 helicopter-based—swiftwater/flood SAR operations 4.2 Everyperson,agency,andorganizationthatrespondsto,
conducted by a helicopter crew, which intends to make direct or participates in, swiftwater/flood SAR operations should
contact with the subject(s) while remaining airborne. operate within the framework established by this guide.
3.2.6 in-water contact—swiftwater/flood SAR operations
4.3 This guide and the framework it establishes should be
conducted by rescuers in the water who make direct contact
used in conjunction with established and authorized guidelines
with the subject(s).
and procedures mandated by an AHJ.
3.2.7 near shore—the side of the watercourse where opera-
4.4 The AHJ shall determine which personnel, agencies,
tions or Incident
...

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