ASTM F1730-96(2020)

Standard Guide for Throwing a Water Rescue Throwbag

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 This guide establishes a recommended procedure for a throwing rescue to ensure the safety of all water rescuers who may be involved in rescue techniques at a water rescue emergency.  
3.2 This water rescue technique can be utilized from land, boat, or any stable platform.  
3.3 All persons who are identified as water rescuers shall meet the requirements of this guide.  
3.4 This guide is intended to assist government agencies, state, local, and regional organizations; fire departments; rescue teams and others who are responsible for establishing a minimum performance for personnel who respond to water emergencies.  
3.5 The procedure outlined in the document may vary with the number and type of victims, and water conditions.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers the recommended procedures for throwing a water rescue throwbag.  
1.2 This guide is one in a series of water 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2020
• ICS: 47.080 - Small craft
• Technical Committee: F32 - Search and Rescue
• Drafting Committee: F32.02 - Management and Operations

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM F1730-96(2014) - Standard Guide for Throwing a Water Rescue Throwbag
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2020

Overview

ASTM F1730-96(2020), Standard Guide for Throwing a Water Rescue Throwbag, provides a set of recommended procedures for performing a water rescue throw using a throwbag. This guide is designed to ensure the safety and effectiveness of water rescuers during emergency situations. Applicable for use from land, boats, or any stable platform, this standard serves as a reference for organizations, agencies, and personnel involved in water rescue operations. The guide emphasizes both procedural consistency and safety when executing a throwbag rescue technique.

Key Topics

• Defined Procedures
  The standard outlines step-by-step procedures for preparing and throwing a water rescue throwbag, including making visual contact with the victim, readying the rope, and maintaining safety precautions.

• Safety Practices
  Emphasizes the importance of not placing hands or fingers through the rope loop and not attaching the rope to any fixed object or the rescuer to prevent injury.

• Rescuer Responsibilities
  All identified water rescuers must meet the minimum competency specified by this guide, supporting uniform skills across agencies.

• Adaptability
  Recognizes that exact procedures may vary based on the number and type of victims and the prevailing water conditions, allowing for situational flexibility.

• Recommended Throws and Recovery
  Details options for throwing techniques (underhand, overhand, side-arm), and describes recovering and reusing the rope bag for multiple throws efficiently.

Applications

The ASTM F1730-96(2020) standard is widely relevant in the following contexts:

• Government and Emergency Services
  Local, state, and regional agencies can use this guide to set training and operational guidelines for staff responding to water emergencies.

• Fire Departments and Rescue Teams
  Offers structured techniques for team members tasked with water rescue, ensuring minimum standards are upheld for safety and reliability.

• Training Programs
  Water rescue training organizations can implement these procedures as core components in courses designed to prepare responders for real-world scenarios.

• Community Safety Organizations
  Supports community-based rescue initiatives by providing an internationally recognized method for implementing throwbag rescues.

• Policy Development
  Assists policy makers in creating or revising water rescue protocols to align with internationally recognized best practices.

Related Standards

• ASTM Water Rescue Standards Series
  ASTM F1730-96(2020) is part of a suite of water rescue standards that collectively address different emergency techniques and equipment.

• Decision on Principles for Standardization (WTO TBT Committee)
  The standard is developed in accordance with globally recognized principles to ensure international consistency and facilitate cross-border cooperation.

• Local Safety and Health Regulations
  Users of this standard should integrate its guidance with applicable regional, state, or federal regulations related to water safety and rescue operations.

• Other Equipment Standards
  Relevant to those using personal flotation devices, rescue ropes, and safety harnesses- linking throwbag procedure to broader equipment and procedural safety frameworks.

---

Keywords: ASTM F1730, water rescue throwbag, water rescue standard, throwbag rescue procedure, emergency response, rescue training, safety guideline, aquatic rescue protocol.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F1730 − 96 (Reapproved 2020)
Standard Guide for
Throwing a Water Rescue Throwbag
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1730; 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 3.4 This guide is intended to assist government agencies,
state, local, and regional organizations; fire departments; res-
1.1 This guide covers the recommended procedures for
cue teams and others who are responsible for establishing a
throwing a water rescue throwbag.
minimum performance for personnel who respond to water
1.2 This guide is one in a series of water rescue techniques
emergencies.
for the water rescuer.
3.5 The procedure outlined in the document may vary with
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
the number and type of victims, and water conditions.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4. Procedure
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
4.1 The water rescuer shall make visual contact with the
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
victim. Upon making visual contact, the rescuer shall ready the
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
rope to throw and notify the victim by yelling, “rope.”
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
4.1.1 To make the rope ready from the bag, the rescuer can
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
remove a portion equal to two arms’ length from the bag and
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
firmly grasp the free end of the rope above the knot. Do not
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
place hand or fingers through the rope loop created by the knot
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
in the end of the rope. Do not attach the rope to anything
including the rescuer.
2. Terminology
4.2 Before releasing the bag of rope in the direction of the
2.1 waterrescuethrowbag,n—a rescue device comprised of
victim, the rescuer may swing the bag underhand, overhand, or
a storage bag having a flotation element and a length of line
in a side-arm fashion to establish clearance necessary for
attached.
throwing the rope.
2.1.1 Discussion—The line is randomly stuffed into the bag,
4.3 The rope bag should be thrown at or slightly beyond the
which will allow the line to feed out freely when the bag is
victim, thereby placing the rope within arm’s reach.
thrown. The line is held in one hand, while the bag is thrown
4.4 The rescuer shall maintain a firm grasp on one end of the
with the other.
rope,
...