River Rescues. 1. For the purpose of this policy, a “river rescue” is defined as any rescue of persons or property threatened, surrounded, or entrapped by stationary or moving water. River rescues, particularly those rescues that necessitate going in the water to affect the rescue, are extremely hazardous operations. To safely perform these rescues requires specialized training and equipment. For this reason, it is important that, where possible, all river rescues be performed by the Lifeguard Division River Rescue Team. The Lifeguards who comprise this team are expert swimmers and have received extensive training in making river rescues. In addition, there is a reserve of Lifeguards who are qualified to assist them. As a general policy, therefore, the Lifeguard Division River Rescue Team will be called to make these rescues. Other safety personnel will not make in-water rescues unless a citizen’s life is in immediate peril.
River Rescues. For the purpose of this policy a river rescue shall be defined as any rescue of persons or property threatened, surrounded or entrapped by stationary or moving water. River rescues, particularly those rescues that necessitate going in the water to effect the rescue, are extremely hazardous operations. To safely perform these rescues requires specialized training and equipment. For this reason, it is important that where possible all river rescues be performed by the Lifeguard Division River Rescue Team. The Lifeguards who comprise this team are expert swimmers and have received extensive training in making river rescues. In addition, there is a reserve of Lifeguards who are qualified to assist them. As a general policy, therefore, the Lifeguard Division River Rescue Team will be called to make these rescues. Other safety personnel will not make in-water rescues unless a citizen’s life is in immediate peril. Whenever an inland water emergency occurs, the request for emergency service should be referred by the Police Department to the Lifeguard Communications Center. Lifeguard Division will dispatch the appropriate unit(s). In those cases where it is not apparent from the request that a river rescue is involved but any responding Fire units realize upon arrival at a scene that a river rescue is necessary, the Lifeguard Division River Rescue Team will be summoned. Once again, other safety personnel will not attempt river rescues unless a citizen’s life is in imminent peril. This policy applies at any time of the day and during periods when there is no flood alert or during a Stage 1 or Stage 2 flood alert as defined in the Disaster Preparedness Plan. The Lifeguard Division River Rescue Team is available on a call back basis at all times through the Lifeguard Communications Center. It is also necessary to address the issue of emergency scene management at river rescue incidents. The senior officer of the Fire-Rescue Department at the scene will have overall responsibility for the river rescue. When the Lifeguard Division River Rescue Team is called to the scene, the senior ranking member of that Team will have responsibility for overseeing the in-water rescue and how that should be accomplished. The senior officers of all safety services at the scene should ensure that there is a high degree of coordination and cooperation among all personnel present at the scene.
