ASTM F1729-96

Standard Practice for Single Person Cold Water Survival/Rescue Technique: HELP Position

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.  
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: 31-Dec-2000
• Technical Committee: F32 - Search and Rescue
• Drafting Committee: F32.02 - Management and Operations

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM F1729-96(2001) - Standard Practice for Single Person Cold Water Survival/Rescue Technique: HELP Position
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2001

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: F 1729 – 96
Standard Practice for
Single Person Cold Water Survival/Rescue Technique: Help
Position
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1729; 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 (e) 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; rescue
1.1 This practice covers the recommended water rescue
teams and others who are responsible for establishing a
procedure for performing the heat escape lessening posture
minimum performance for personnel who respond to water
(HELP) position.
emergencies.
1.2 This practice is one in a set of self rescue techniques for
3.4 A rescuer needs to be wearing a personal flotation
the water rescuer.
device to perform this technique. These devices should con-
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
form to standards set by the appropriate national regulatory
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
authority, that is, the U.S. Coast Guard in the United States,
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
and be in good and serviceable condition.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.5 A water rescuer sometimes may be immersed in cold
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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
is available to get into or on top of, and no flotsam is available.
2.1 HELP position, n—heat escape lessening posture
The water rescuer needs to assume a defensive posture to
(HELP) is a single person water rescue technique for heat
conserve heat and increase survival time.
conservation when immersed in cold water. This technique
conserves heat by using personal flotation devices, clothing,
4. Procedure
and body posture to limit exposure of the body’s major heat
4.1 Upon initial immersion in cold water, the rescuer should
loss areas to the cold water.
cover the mouth and nose to prevent the aspiration of water.
2.2 personal flotation device (PFD), n—a buoyant device
4.2 Float in a s
...