Perform land based swiftwater and floodwater rescue and recovery

Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 7:02 PM AWST

Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.

Unit of competency

National Code
PUASAR033

State Code
WE597

TGA Status
Replaced

DTWD Status
Replaced

Current Release Number
2.00

Current Release Date
02/05/2013

View on TGA

State Implementation and Classification

Approved Date

07/11/2014

Field of Education

091105 - Police Studies

Original Release Date

07/11/2014

Nominal Hours

Description

This unit covers the competency required to perform land-based swiftwater and floodwater rescues and recoveries as a member of a specialist team. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Notes

Elements and Performance Criteria

1 Prepare and respond to the rescue

1.1 Operation and task information is obtained from communication centre or supervisor.
1.2 Rescue equipment/resources are identified and selected based on incident information as directed by supervisor.
1.3 Personal protective equipment is selected based on nature of the rescue operation.
1.4 Any further details of the nature of the rescue are received en route.
1.5 Anticipated situational and environmental hazards are discussed with rescue team members while on approach.

2 Participate in assessing the rescue scene

2.1 Information is collected from relevant persons at scene and observations are made of the scene to determine location, number, entrapment and condition of casualties.
2.2 Potential situational and environmental hazards to self and others are identified and reported to supervisor.
2.3 Control procedures are implemented as directed by supervisor.
2.4 Based on assessment of rescue scene, personal capabilities and limitations are recognised and referred to supervisor.
2.5 Need for additional personnel and/or specialist equipment is reported through the recognised chain of command.
2.6 Communication with other team members is maintained using situation-appropriate techniques and terminology.

3 Participate in developing primary and secondary rescue plans

3.1 Rescue and recovery techniques suitable to the casualty condition, entrapment, location and swiftwater and floodwater conditions are identified.
3.2 Primary and secondary rescue plans are formulated in consultation with other team members and other agencies on site, and communicated.
3.3 Equipment and resources required to perform identified land based rescues and recoveries in swiftwater and floodwater as identified by the rescue plan are selected.
3.4 In conjunction with the primary plan, deployment of the secondary rescue plan downstream is implemented and acted upon.

4 Gain access and perform rescue on casualty

4.1 Isolation techniques are used to stabilise positioning of casualty to assist in extrication and management of conscious casualty/s.
4.2 Land based rescue techniques and equipment are deployed to gain access to the casualty as identified in the rescue plan.
4.3 Rescue plan is implemented and casualty is extricated from entrapment or secured by using rescue techniques and equipment.

5 Remove casualty from swiftwater and floodwater

5.1 Casualties are retrieved from swiftwater and floodwater using recognised techniques for removal and in accordance with organisational policies and procedures.
5.2 Casualties are packaged and handled in accordance with organisational emergency care procedures, or as directed by first aid or medical personnel.

6 Conclude swiftwater and floodwater rescue

6.1 Prior to leaving the scene, equipment is recovered, cleaned and maintained in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines and organisational procedures.
6.2 During cleaning of rescue equipment and personal protective equipment, hygiene procedures are followed in accordance with organisational procedures.
6.3 Where identified, signs and symptoms of operational stress in self and others are recognised and reported to appropriate personnel.
6.4 Operational debrief is participated in and documentation is completed to organisational standards and job role.

The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.
Rescue equipment/resources must include:

And may also include:

personal floatation devices
portable radios
safety and first aid equipment
throw bags
vehicle

carabiners
cyalume sticks
descenders
electrical detection devices
float ropes
harnesses
helicopters
hose inflators and encaps
life rescue ropes
line throwing device
loud hailer
pulleys
sledge hammer
steel pickets for anchoring
stretchers
strobe lighting
Personal protective equipment must include:

And may also include:

appropriate footwear
helmet appropriate for swiftwater and floodwater
personal floatation devices
whistles

eye protection
gloves
headlamps
knives
overalls
torches
wet weather gear
Situational and environmental hazards may include:
adverse water conditions
availability of assistance
below surface debris hazards
biological contaminants
boat wraps
confluence
cushions and/or stacked water cushions
culverts
diseases and infections
downstream and upstream v’s
eddies
entrapment hazards
haystacks and standing waves
holes, stoppers and keepers
inundation
lightning
low visibility
manholes
overhead hazards
rocks
snakes and other dangerous animals
strainers
surface debris hazards
undercuts
utilities - electrical
water contaminants
water borne hazards
water depth
water hydraulics
waterfalls
weirs
Relevant persons may include:
bystanders
other agencies
other casualties
Entrapment may include:
body
Person in/on vehicle in water
Person static on object (eg tree)
Person with limb pinned
recirculation
rope entanglements
Communication may include:
hand signals
radio
verbal
whistle signals
written documents
Rescue and recovery techniques must include:
reach rescue techniques (e.g. inflatable fire hose technique)
throwing bag rescue technique
yelling to give safety or rescue directions
Other agencies may include:
ambulance service
fire services
interagency departments
police
state emergency service
Isolation techniques may include:
hand signals
yelling
Recognised techniques for removal may include:
manual carry
spine board
stretcher
Organisational policies and procedures may include:
access to medical personnel
code of ethics
communication protocols
emergency care
manufacturer's design specifications and recommendations for equipment use
occupational health and safety
removal of casualties
use, maintenance and storage of equipment
Packaging and handling casualties may include:
extrication device
stiff neck collar
First aid or medical personnel may include:
doctors
first aider
nurses
paramedics
Operational debrief may include:
areas where improvements can be made
organisational strengths that can be built on
validation of the participation of teams and individuals
Documentation may include:
accident/injury report
incident report forms
risk assessment forms
Organisational standards may include:
documentation to meet another agency’s operational requirements

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
assess rescue situation to identify potential hazards and risks, and determine efficient rescue and recovery techniques
select and use rescue equipment and resources, in a variety of swiftwater and floodwater rescue and recovery situations
communicate with other members of the rescue team and adapt to problems or issues that may arise during swiftwater and floodwater rescues and recoveries to ensure safety of self and group
evaluate and reflect on own rescue and recovery performance to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas that need improvement
Consistency in performance
Competency should be demonstrated over time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Context of assessment
Competency should be assessed in swiftwater and floodwater relevant to the job role.
Specific resources for assessment
Access is required to:
simulated swiftwater and floodwater location
personnel for team based rescues
rescue, recovery, safety, first aid and activity-specific equipment and resources
Method of assessment
Assessment should be conducted by direct observation in either the workplace (through recorded subject matter supervision and/or mentoring) or the training environment.
Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an industry-approved simulated work environment. Forms of assessment that are typically used include:
direct observation
interviewing the candidate
journals and workplace documentation
third party reports from supervisors
written or oral questions

Replaced By

State Code	National Code	Title	Type
OAX84	PUASAR001	Perform land based swiftwater and floodwater rescue and recovery	Unit of competency

State Code	National Code	Title	Type
J522	PUA20613	Certificate II in Public Safety (Firefighting and Emergency Operations)	Qualification
J523	PUA20713	Certificate II in Public Safety (Firefighting Operations)	Qualification