GB2457042A - Water rescue equipment for use in fast flowing water - Google Patents

Abstract

A V-shaped piece of water rescue equipment 1 is provided which when placed within flowing water creates an area of still/circulating water directly behind it. This can be used either to transfer a rescuer into position to facilitate a rescue or, to allow a trapped person 4, or other to self rescue by minimising the pressure exerted by the flowing water or to use ancillary tools or equipment within the protected area. The equipment may be placed into position by control lines or cables 2 and may be kept at the optimum position within the water stream by internal floats and flow through stability ports 5. The equipment may also be provided with attachment points (7, Fig 2(a)) and equipment stowage connection to help facilitate the rescue.

Description

Specification

Water Rescue Equipment Fast Flowing Water The equipment is both lightweight, and easily transportable, it can be constructed from various materials including metals and plastics and can be positioned within fast or slow moving water in order to create a portable protective eddy of static / circulating water.

The equipment, once positioned within the flow, allows the water to be deflected either side of its V' shaped construction thus greatly reducing the water pressure directly behind it. The water contained within this protected area is practically still, which allows an area of respite or safe working position for rescue personnel, equipment and/or a casualty who may have become either stranded or entrapped within the water stream.

Please refer to figures 1, 1(a), 2 and 2(a) The equipment is V' shaped (1) and can be manoeuvred into position by either floating control lines from either side of the water (2) or by being towed behind a rescue powerboat (3) It has built in water buoyancy which allows the top section to float above the water surface and the bottom submerged section to deflect the water in order to ëëäteèãtëfrotëctiôiiic5r thôbhihd its positioning bST bottom snagging. It has the facility to either build in or attach strategically placed flow through water ports or flow through external water socks (5) if required, which deflect the flowing water both outwards and downwards in order to ensure its stability throughout its operation.

The inside area of the V' construction (6) has the facility for rescuer karabiner securing attachments (7), casualty / rescuer hold on toggles (8), casualty transportation seat (if required) (9), safe release knife (10), casualty emergency Oxygen mask and mini cylinder (11) casualty buoyancy aids which can be released on an extendable knotted floating rescue line (12). The upper section of the equipment has high visibility reflective tape and glow stick connection ports for use at night.

Slow/Static Water Please refer to figures 3 and 4 If a casualty (4) is trapped within slow or static flood water (13) (or access is needed for emergency maintenance within the water) then a larger version of the equipment can be used, this will allow a larger more controllable area of still eddy water to be created, in this situation the equipment has no buoyancy thus rests on the bottom surface.

Once placed in position and after being secured byres or cables to the external karabiner attachments (14) the safe still protected eddy water behind the V (15) can be set up as a rescue site for the casualty and trained Swift Water Rescue personnel (16).

This equipment has the following ancillary equipment to aid both safe working and facilitate rescue operations.

* All those described in the fast water equipment.

* Warm water pump inlet attachment (17) (To eliminate casualty Hypothermic conditions) * Plastic privacy cover, to cover rescue area (18).

* Portable lighting attachments (19).

* Specialist emergency equipment ports as required.

* Pulley system I attachable tripod (20).

* Rescue pit connection points (21).

* Rescue Pit (22)(See Rescue pit description and use) * Land communications facility. (23)(Radio / cell etc) (Rescue Pit) (See attached diagram) The rescue pit can be constructed in various sizes and various materials including metals and plastics, depending on the specific task requirements; however the generic rescue pit for emergency services is a cylindrical hardened plastic, open ended section large enough to facilitate the casualty and rescuer. This is placed over the casualty onto the river / road surface, directly behind the V' shaped eddy equipment into the still none flowing water.

It has external lifting I control handles and securing connections for securing to the V shaped equipment. The inside wall of the section has warm water outlet holes (24) which are operated by the warm water pump, this facility allows warm water to be pumped into the pit to control the casualty's temperature. The rescue pit has a mini ejector pump attachment ((25) to allow the contained still water within it to be pumped out if required to aid rescue and to allow the casualty to breath in tidal water, or to allow essential maintenance to be carried out.

The pit is large enough to allow a rescuer to enter, facilitate a rescue by removing the casualty or restriction/ entrapment material with the portable pulley attachment.

Claims (4)

1. A piece of water rescue equipment, compnsing of a "V shaped section which can be placed within either fast or slow moving water to provide a safe working position directly behind it in order to facilitate a rescue of a casualty or to allow work to be undertaken in the protected "eddy" created within the water by the equipment.

2 A piece of water rescue equipment according to claim 1, which can be placed into position by lines or cables which are, connected at various connection points within the equipment.

3. A piece of water rescue equipment according to claim 1, which is kept at the correct height within the water by positioned floats and kept stable within the water stream by flow through water ports, below the waterline either side of the equipment.

4. A piece of water rescue equipment according to claim 1, which has hold on "attachments" and equipment stowage connections to allow a rescuer to facilitate a rescue or use the ancillary equipment within the protected eddy of water created