Elements and Performance Criteria

Rescue operations may include participation in
Aquatic search and rescue
Bar rescue
Boating rescue
Cliff rescue
Open water sea rescue
River, lake or dam rescue
Surf rescue

Rescue equipment may include
Boards
Flotation equipment
Hand tools
Life rafts
Lighting equipment
Rescue vessels
Ropes
Tubes
Winch

Personal protective equipment may include
Appropriate protective clothing
Ear protection
Helmet
Infection protection
Personal floating devices
Reflective vests
Respiratory protection
Safety glasses
Safety gloves
Sun protection
Wetsuits

Hazards may include
Adverse weather
Cliffs and rocks
Hazardous creatures
Hazardous materials
Insufficient light
Other craft and users
Pollution
Piers
Sandbanks, bars and rips
Sea conditions
Surf type

Environmental conditions may include
Effects of weather
Sea, surf and ocean conditions
Shallow water, bars and rips
Tides

Communication techniques may include
Non-verbal
Signs and signals
Touch
Verbal
Written

Operational documentation may include
Incident reports
Legislation
Organisation's policies and procedures

Hygiene precautions may include
Avoiding contact with body fluids
Washing hands
Wearing appropriate protective clothing

Critical aspects of evidence
Assessment must confirm the ability to apply safe work practices in rescue operations; to use equipment in accordance with organisational procedures; to respond and react to instructions in a safe, correct and timely manner; to correctly select and wear personal protective equipment in accordance with organisational requirements.

Interdependent assessment of units
Pre-requisite units: PUAEME001A - Provide emergency care
Co-requisite units: PUATEA001A - Work in a team

Underpinning knowledge
Capabilities and limitations of rescue equipment
Casualty handling techniques
Composition of team, and roles and responsibilities of team members
Environmental hazards
Manual handling techniques
Nationally agreed hazard marking systems
Personal hygiene
Procedures for reporting injuries and accidents
Relevant legislative and regulatory requirements
Ropes, lines and knots
Safety precautions
Surface search and surface clearance of casualties
Techniques and aids
Verbal and non-verbal communication techniques including hand signals and language style

Underpinning skills
Participate as a team member
Use rescue equipment
Work on a constantly moving platform

Resource implications
Access to:
rescue and personal protective equipment listed in the Range statement
a suitable environment necessary to conduct a range of rescue operations listed in the Range statement

Consistency in performance
Competency should be demonstrated across a range of rescue operations over time to ensure identified situational variables are consistently achieved.

Context of assessment
Competency should be assessed in a range of rescue operations while on the job or in a simulated environment and under a variety of weather conditions.