Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutUOG 204.11A NEW 5-2001-Dive Team DIVE/RECOVERY TEAMBeaumont Fire/Rescue Services RESPONSE AND OPERATIONSUniform Operating Guidelines U.O.G. 204.11A 05/01 - NPage 1 of 3 DIVE TEAM RESPONSES C Level 1 Responses: Possibility of saving a life. Submersion is reported to be less than 1 hour. An Engine Company, EMS unit, and District Chief should be dispatched to the scene immediately. The Fire Alarm Office will notify the Deputy Chief and the shift team leader. They will make arrangements to get Dive Team personnel and needed equipment en route to the scene as rapidly as possible. The shift team leader will respond to the scene after conferring with and as directed by the Deputy Chief. The team administrative coordinator will be notified by Fire Alarm, on-duty, and off-duty if available, to be dispatched to the scene to provide logistical support and may act as the scene Safety Officer at the discretion of the Incident Commander. C Level 2 Responses: No impending threat to human life. Body recovery, evidence search, boaters in distress, public service, etc. The Deputy Chief and shift team leader will evaluate the available information and activate Dive Team members and equipment accordingly. The team administrative coordinator will be notified by Fire Alarm, on- duty, and off-duty if available, to be dispatched to the scene to provide logistical support and may act as the scene Safety Officer at the discretion of the Incident Commander. DIVE OPERATIONS C The first priority in any operation is safety. The risk vs. benefit factors should be considered before any operation is initiated. C Actual operations should be conducted by active divers whenever possible and by contingent divers, if necessary. Candidates shall act as support personnel only. C All divers will be briefed on the operational plan prior to the operation being DIVE/RECOVERY TEAMBeaumont Fire/Rescue Services RESPONSE AND OPERATIONSUniform Operating Guidelines U.O.G. 204.11A 05/01 - NPage 2 of 3 initiated. C An optimal operational unit should consist of a team leader, primary diver, a safety diver, 2 line tenders, and the Safety Officer. There should be a minimum of 3 divers and the Safety Officer on scene for any underwater team operation. C Dive operations will be directed by a dive officer. The dive officer should be a shift team leader or senior diver first on scene. The dive officer will advise, inform, and coordinate with the Incident Commander any actions planned as deemed appropriate. The team coordinator will be on scene at all dive operations and will act as Safety Officer. C The dive officer will determine dive mode and initiate the search. The dive officer will determine a dive or no dive situation. C The dive officer will assign a primary diver, safety diver, and line tenders. C No diver should enter the water until both the primary and safety divers are suited out and all equipment is checked and line tenders are ready. C Divers will not be required to dive if they feel the situation is unsafe or their physical condition is not conducive to diving. C All team personnel (when not suited out to dive) will wear approved flotation devices on or near the water during an operation. C Any diver in the water will be line tended so as to have direct communications with the tender using common line signals. C Line signals are as follows: C One pull - tender to diver - “Are you OK?” diver to tender - “I’m OK.” C Two pulls - tender to diver - “Change direction.” diver to tender - “Give me more line.” DIVE/RECOVERY TEAMBeaumont Fire/Rescue Services RESPONSE AND OPERATIONSUniform Operating Guidelines U.O.G. 204.11A 05/01 - NPage 3 of 3 C Three pulls - tender to diver - “Surface.” diver to tender - “Object located.” C Four pulls - tender to diver - “Stop and hold position.” diver to tender - “Emergency, send help.” C Any time the line goes slack, an emergency is declared and acted upon. C Upon surfacing, all divers will give the “diver ok” hand signal. C Lie tenders or an assigned records keeper will advise the dive officer of dive times, divers PSI and air consumption rate, dive depths, and other information important to the operation.