ASTM F1824-97(2021)

Standard Guide for Performance of a Water Rescuer-Level II

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This guide is to be used to expand the performance of water rescuers and improve the emergency response and patient care delivered to victims in the water and cold water environment at lakes, ponds, quarries, and similar bodies of water.  
4.2 All persons who are identified as water rescuers shall meet the requirements of this guide.  
4.3 This guide is not intended to be used in isolation, but as a component guide, acknowledging various types/conditions at water emergencies and many duties of response at these incidents. It also establishes a minimum scope of performance and encourages the addition of optional knowledge, skills, and attitudinal objectives.  
4.4 This guide is not for ice, coastal, or river/swiftwater rescues. There will be additional standards to cover the specifics for those water characteristics.  
4.5 This guide does not establish water rescue protocols for the pool, beach, or other area lifeguards.  
4.6 This guide does not establish medical protocols, nor does it authorize invasive procedures without specific authorization and medical control.  
4.7 This guide is intended to assist government agencies; state, local, or regional organizations; fire departments; marine patrols; rescue teams; and others who are responsible for establishing a minimum performance for personnel who respond to water emergencies.  
4.8 A water rescuer shall be wearing a PFD, plus cold water protection when applicable.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers minimum requirements for performance of a water rescuer who performs water rescues from the surface at lakes, ponds, quarries, and other similar bodies of water; assists with support for rescue divers; and provides initial patient care at a water emergency.  
1.2 This guide is one of a series which, together with Guide F1739, describe the minimum performance requirements of a water rescuer.  
1.3 Individuals who will operate in the water setting need to be aware of the equipment and physical requirements necessary to be able to perform all identified objectives and necessary skills in the setting.  
1.4 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.  
1.5 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: 14-Nov-2021
• ICS: 13.200 - Accident and disaster control
• Technical Committee: F32 - Search and Rescue
• Drafting Committee: F32.03 - Personnel, Training and Education

Relations

• Refers: ASTM F1739-96(2024) - Standard Guide for Performance of a Water Rescuer-Level I
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2024
• Refers: ASTM F1739-96(2018) - Standard Guide for Performance of a Water Rescuer-Level I
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2018
• Refers: ASTM F1739-96(2012) - Standard Guide for Performance of a Water Rescuer—Level I
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Refers: ASTM F1739-96(2007) - Standard Guide for Performance of a Water Rescuer-Level I
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2007
• Refers: ASTM F1739-96(2002) - Standard Guide for Performance of a Water Rescuer--Level 1
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-1996
• Refers: ASTM F1739-96 - Standard Guide for Performance of a Water Rescuer--Level 1
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-1996

Overview

ASTM F1824-97(2021): Standard Guide for Performance of a Water Rescuer-Level II provides comprehensive guidance for minimum performance requirements and best practices for water rescuers operating at lakes, ponds, quarries, and similar bodies of water. Developed by ASTM International, this standard is designed to support government agencies, fire departments, marine patrols, rescue teams, and other organizations responsible for emergency response and patient care in surface water environments. The guide focuses specifically on rescues away from ice, swiftwater, pool, and coastal settings, ensuring that responders are equipped to handle incidents in these specified freshwater environments.

Key Topics

• Minimum Performance Requirements: Specifies essential skills and knowledge for water rescuers, focusing on victim rescue, support for rescue divers, and initial patient care.
• Scope of Use: Applies to personnel operating in and around lakes, ponds, and quarries, not intended for pool, beach, ice, river, or coastal rescues.
• Required Equipment: Emphasizes the use of approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) and appropriate cold water protective gear (e.g., immersion suits and drysuits), conforming to national regulatory standards.
• Skill Objectives: Outlines critical competencies, including:
  • Swimming and entry techniques
  • Victim approach and rescue maneuvers
  • Scene and hazard assessment
  • Use of basic and advanced rescue devices (throw bags, ropes)
  • Performing various victim extrications and carries
  • Initial patient care and safe victim movement
• Safety Considerations: Promotes establishing local practices for safety, health, and environmental regulations. The guide does not set medical protocols or authorize invasive procedures.
• Component Standard: Should be used in conjunction with other guides (e.g., ASTM F1739 for Level I) to develop a complete water rescue program.

Applications

ASTM F1824-97(2021) is highly valuable for organizations and teams involved in water rescue operations at inland water bodies:

• Emergency Response Teams: Ensures consistent training and minimum performance standards for personnel involved in water emergencies.
• Government Authorities: Assists local and regional agencies in developing water rescue policies, response plans, and training programs.
• Fire Departments & Marine Patrols: Provides a foundation for water rescue team development and ongoing competence evaluation.
• Rescue Training Providers: Guides the creation of courses that address all relevant skills, safety, and scene assessment techniques for water rescuers.
• Professional Credentialing: Acts as a reference for certifying individuals as Water Rescuer-Level II, ensuring all necessary equipment, abilities, and scene management procedures are understood.

Related Standards

• ASTM F1739 - Guide for Performance of a Water Rescuer-Level I: Outlines minimum requirements for entry-level water rescuers, which, in combination with F1824-97(2021), support a tiered approach to rescue capability.
• US Coast Guard equipment standards: Ensures rescuers use compliant PFDs and cold water protection.
• International Standards (WTO TBT Principles): Developed in alignment with globally recognized standardization practices.

Practical Value

Implementing ASTM F1824-97(2021) helps organizations build safer, more effective water rescue programs by setting clear expectations for personnel performance, supporting rescue diver operations, and improving patient care outcomes in freshwater emergencies. Adoption of this standard enhances responder safety, consistency, and operational readiness in challenging environments.

Keywords: ASTM F1824-97(2021), water rescuer, water rescue standard, emergency response, personal flotation device, cold water rescue, inland water rescue, rescue team training.

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: F1824 − 97 (Reapproved 2021)
Standard Guide for
Performance of a Water Rescuer—Level II
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1824; 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 3.1.2 immersion suit, n—designed to provide cold water
protection and buoyancy by one person in cold water emer-
1.1 This guide covers minimum requirements for perfor-
gencies.
mance of a water rescuer who performs water rescues from the
3.1.2.1 Discussion—These devices should conform to stan-
surface at lakes, ponds, quarries, and other similar bodies of
dards set by the appropriate national regulatory authority, that
water; assists with support for rescue divers; and provides
is, the U.S. Coast Guard in the United States.
initial patient care at a water emergency.
3.1.3 personal flotation device, PFD, n—a buoyant device
1.2 This guide is one of a series which, together with Guide
suitable for use by one person in water emergencies.
F1739, describe the minimum performance requirements of a
3.1.3.1 Discussion—These devices should conform to stan-
water rescuer.
dards set by the appropriate national regulatory authority, that
1.3 Individuals who will operate in the water setting need to
is, the U.S. Coast Guard in the United States.
be aware of the equipment and physical requirements neces-
sary to be able to perform all identified objectives and
4. Significance and Use
necessary skills in the setting.
4.1 This guide is to be used to expand the performance of
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
water rescuers and improve the emergency response and
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
patient care delivered to victims in the water and cold water
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
environment at lakes, ponds, quarries, and similar bodies of
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
water.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4.2 All persons who are identified as water rescuers shall
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
meet the requirements of this guide.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
4.3 This guide is not intended to be used in isolation, but as
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
a component guide, acknowledging various types/conditions at
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
water emergencies and many duties of response at these
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
incidents. It also establishes a minimum scope of performance
and encourages the addition of optional knowledge, skills, and
2. Referenced Documents
attitudinal objectives.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4.4 This guide is not for ice, coastal, or river/swiftwater
F1739 Guide for Performance of a Water Rescuer—Level I
rescues. There will be additional standards to cover the
specifics for those water characteristics.
3. Terminology
4.5 This guide does not establish water rescue protocols for
3.1 Definitions:
the pool, beach, or other area lifeguards.
3.1.1 drysuit, n—a protective suit that encompasses the
4.6 This guide does not establish medical protocols, nor
wearer, prohibiting water from entering.
does it authorize invasive procedures without specific authori-
zation and medical control.
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F32 on Search and
4.7 This guide is intended to assist government agencies;
Rescue and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F32.03 on Personnel,
Training and Education.
state, local, or regional organizations; fire departments; marine
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2021. Published November 2021. Originally
patrols; rescue teams; and others who are responsible for
approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as F1824 – 97 (2013).
establishing a minimum performance for personnel who re-
DOI: 10.1520/F1824-97R21.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or spond to water emergencies.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
4.8 Awater rescuer shall be wearing a PFD, plus cold water
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary pag
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