SAFER Rescues

When an incident occurs the person who see first it shouts STOP. The group performs the following actions:

• Turn kayaks to face elements (Waves, Wind, Tide)
• Move to a safe location (if required)
• Check towlines can be deployed easily
• Perform own personal risk assessment looking at the incident
  •  STOP

Leader:

• Own Safety as per  STOP
• Group safe
• Casualty Pro active or in active (Casualty or Victim)

Individual members:

• Maintain position
• Assist if required
• Continue own personal risk assessment STOP
• Assess own rescue strategy if tasked to assist
• Maintain a dynamic space 

Casualty:

• Starts to work towards a rescue (Positive)

Victim:

• Inactive, injured, panicking, inability to perform skills effectively (Negative)

 Leader:

• Formulates rescue strategy
• Delegate members tasks
• Multi task to maximise speed
• Contact emergency services - An unconscious casualty is always a Mayday! Serious are Pan-Pan
• Consider all factors by using the SHEETS pneumonic
• Short term goal
• Long Term Goal
• Plan B?

Leader:

• The Leader is the incident manager and the group members are tools in the leaders toolbox.
• Execute plan
• Use the correct delegation
• Rescue services called at earliest opportunity
• Harness concurrent activities to speed up process
• The leader should only get involved in the actual practical rescue if group member's abilities do not match environment/rescue situation 
• If "hands on" then must ensure:
  • the group are in safe position
  • Nominate control of group
  • Continue line of sight if possible

Individual members:

• Look to leader and incident
• Use appropriate rescue technique if delegated to perform the rescue
• If unable to perform effectively communicate this to leader - re-delegate and/or re-assess 

During Incident:

• Continue with assessment in case better opportunities present themselves - What if?
• Carry out a Review process with group
  • Ascertain members feelings:
    • Physical
    • Mental - Affects of stress

After the Incident (in a safe environment):

• Review process with group 
  • Ascertain members feelings:
    • Physical
    • Mental - Affects of stress
• Leaders obligations continue after being off the water.
  • Affects of stress