There are four key factors that may influence your course of action in a rescue situation.
1. Victims
The number and condition of victims defines the number of lifesavers and the equipment required for an effective rescue. Selection of equipment should get you to the victim(s) in the fastest time.
When selecting your equipment, you need to consider the following questions:
- what are your personal safety limitations?
- what is the size of the victim(s)?
- what is the condition of the victim, e.g., conscious or unconscious?
- what equipment can support multiple victims?
2. Distances
- Consideration should be given to the following questions:
- how far away is the victim(s) from the lifesaving service?
- how far away is the victim(s) from the shoreline?
- what is the closest access point?
- where is the best place to return to shore safely?
3. Conditions
Use the surf conditions to your advantage. Try to time your entry into the water to swim through the surf zone during a lull and use favourable rips and currents to reach victim(s). As surf conditions become more hazardous, so do the risk factors associated with each piece of equipment. If the conditions are too dangerous for the equipment available, support operations with helicopters and rescue water craft (RWC) may be the best choice.
4. Resources
Consideration should be given to the following questions:
- what are your abilities and the skills of fellow lifesavers?
- what equipment is available?
- what is your level of physical fitness?
- what is your size in comparison to victim(s)?
- what number of lifesavers are available?
Always try to match equipment with your and fellow lifesavers’ skills.
The scenario risk matrix in the Scenario Risk Matrix table below provides a guide to the resources needed for rescue operations; however, its application will vary with local surf conditions, the victim’s condition, and the availability of local resources. For example, if the victim is close to shore in a rip, it may be faster to use a board than a tube and rescue them before they are swept out beyond the surf zone. Always review your situation and choose the type and number of resources accordingly. It is recommended that this scenario matrix be discussed by members of every lifesaving service.
Scenario risk matrix table
