Another series of swiftwater rescue videos shot with the help of the City of San Diego Lifeguards and Raven Collective Media.
Gear and assist by Rescue Response Gear.

This first video is a dramatization where a victim or patient must be transported to the opposite side of the river. The team uses a 2 point anchor system (meaning two separate anchored ropes to the boat) and allows the river to “ferry” the boat to the other side and back again. A Rescue Max “line gun”, was used to get the 2nd main line to the opposite side of the river (river left). A 1:1 pulley system with a progress capture (extension from the anchor and change of direction pulley) was used on both sides of the river to maintain proper and controlled progress of the boat and rescuer.

In this next video the goal in this shoot was to capture the essence of anchors for the rescue boat and hydraulic effects of the river on the boat itself. After the Rescue Max was used to shoot the line across the river, the River Left team anchored one line while River Right A and River Right B anchored the other two ropes. The goal was to “access” a victim in a very difficult place in the river.

Using the moving water itself along with with each rope (both in tension and compression mode), the boat was ferried to an eddy behind the rock (where access the victim would likely occur). A Reach grappling tool was used to attach a separate “vector assist” line to River Left and angle the boat into proper position.

Special Thanks to:Rescue Response Gear and The City of San Diego Lifeguards

In this last video the victim desperately trying to keeping their head above the swift moving current of the river. Rescue needs to be quick. The first team heads out on Carlson Rescue Boards and to ferry the River Right (RR team). River Left (RL team) team fires the initial line across the river to the RR team who then pulls the main line across. RL team attaches “the noodle” and together, both team lower the “net” to the victim as he passes below.

A successful evolution require both teams to think quick and have river knowledge. The precise placement of the rescue capture device in the water is critical. Main river currents dictate where, and speed of the current determines how much time they have to get ready.

Gear Used:

Petzl Rescucender Rope Grab:
http://www.rescueresponse.com/store/petzl_rescucender_grabs_belays_descenders…

Extrasport Swiftwater Ranger | SAR Lifevests – PFD’s:
http://www.rescueresponse.com/store/extrasport_ranger_swiftwater_life_jackets…

Sterling Rope WaterLine 7/16 Inch:
http://www.rescueresponse.com/store/sterlings_ropes_waterlines_7_16_inch_swif…

Petzl William Carabiner:
http://www.rescueresponse.com/store/petzl_william_screwgate_carabiners_M36_SL…

Tags: anchor, carabiners, petzl, Pulleys, Raven Collective Media, search and rescue, sterling rope, swift water rescue, training, Video