ASTM F1729-96(2007)
(Practice)Standard Practice for Single Person Cold Water Survival/Rescue Technique: HELP Position
Standard Practice for Single Person Cold Water Survival/Rescue Technique: HELP Position
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This practice establishes a single person cold water survival/rescue procedure.
All persons who are identified as water rescuers shall meet the requirements of this practice.
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.
A rescuer needs to be wearing a personal flotation device to perform this technique. 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.
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 heat escape lessening posture (HELP) position.
1.2 This practice is one in a set of self-rescue techniques for the water rescuer.
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
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Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation: F1729 − 96(Reapproved 2007)
Standard Practice for
Single Person Cold Water Survival/Rescue Technique: HELP
Position
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1729; 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 3.2 All persons who are identified as water rescuers shall
meet the requirements of this practice.
1.1 This practice covers the recommended water rescue
3.3 This practice is intended to assist government agencies,
procedure for performing the heat escape lessening posture
state, local, or regional organizations; fire departments; and
(HELP) position.
rescue teams and others who are responsible for establishing a
1.2 This practice is one in a set of self-rescue techniques for
minimum performance for personnel who respond to water
the water rescuer.
emergencies.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.4 A rescuer needs to be wearing a personal flotation
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
device to perform this technique. These devices should con-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
form to standards set by the appropriate national regulatory
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
authority, that is, the U.S. Coast Guard in the United States,
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
and be in good and serviceable condition.
3.5 A water rescuer sometimes may be immersed in cold
2. Terminology
water for prolonged periods of time. They are unable to get to
2.1 HELP position, n—heat escape lessening posture
shore or shore is too far away, rescue is not imminent, no boat
(HELP) is a single person water rescue technique for heat
is available to get into or on top of, and no flotsam is available.
conservation when immersed in cold water. This technique
The water rescuer needs to assume a defensive posture to
conserves heat by using personal flotation devices, clothing,
conserve heat and increase survival time.
and body posture to limit exposure of the body’s major heat
loss areas to the cold water.
4. Procedure
2.2 personal flotation device (PFD), n—a buoyant device 4.1 Upon initial immersion in cold water, the rescuer should
suitable for use by one person in water emergencies. These
cover the mouth an
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