1. Introduction to training
Water rescue is a professional action of personnel search and rescue, transfer, escape and emergency response for still water lakes/ponds, nearshore waves, river rapids, urban floods and other scenarios, with the characteristics of complex water flow, changeable environment, uncontrollable risks, and short rescue windows.
It is a core rescue subject with high risk, strong professionalism and complex environment in the emergency rescue system, covering various scenarios such as static waters, flowing waters, extreme weather floods, and urban waterlogging.
Based on the principles of actual combat, standardization and safety, the training focuses on the three high-frequency and high-risk scenarios of shore rescue, rapids and flood rescue, and urban waterlogging rescue, and carries out systematic training for the national comprehensive fire rescue team, professional national rescue forces, and social emergency rescue forces, comprehensively improving the risk identification, safety control, technical operation, coordinated operations, and on-site command capabilities of the trainees in complex water environments, so as to ensure "scientific rescue, safe rescue, and efficient rescue" in real disasters and accidents. Maximize the protection of people's lives and the safety of rescuers themselves.
The training adheres to the combination of theory + practice + review, strictly follows the bottom line of water rescue safety (self-protection first, then mutual protection, and then rescue), unifies technical specifications, equipment operation, and action processes, realizes the complementary and coordinated linkage of the capabilities of professional rescue forces and social rescue forces, and builds a full-scenario, all-element, and full-process water rescue capability system.
2. Training objects
1. National comprehensive fire rescue team (water rescue commanders, special service team members, backbone of grassroots stations)
2. National professional rescue forces (rescue teams in forest fire, energy, transportation, water conservancy and other industries)
3. Social emergency rescue forces (civilian rescue teams, water rescue volunteers, backbone of public welfare rescue organizations)
3. Training objectives
1. Theoretical basis
Water classification and risk determination: still water (≤0.5m/s), slow flow (0.5–2m/s), rapids (>2m/s), wave swells, flood characteristics
The iron law of rescue safety: self-protection→ companions→ rescued persons; → boats on the shore → into the water; Do not work alone and do not wade blindly
Hydrological and hazard identification: whirlpools, boiling lines, reflux zones, reefs, debris entanglement, hypothermia, cramps, water flow shear
2. Personal equipment and self-protection
Required equipment: life jacket, water rescue suit, helmet, gloves, rope throwing bag, wading shoes, warm layer, communication equipment
Self-protection skills: safe entry into the water (flat jump/stride), backstroke/side swimming/defensive swimming, cramp relief, drowning person break-free, hypothermia prevention and disposal
Knot foundation: single set, double set, figure eight, weighing knot, grab knot, anchor knot, and double force system foundation construction
Master the basic theory, risk assessment, safety control and action norms of water rescue.
Proficient in the operation of a full set of shore rescue technology and equipment to achieve fast, safe and rescue.
Master the dynamic, buoyancy, water flow characteristics and core skills such as risk avoidance, crossing, live bait rescue, and boat operation in rapids and flood environments.
Master the rescue technology and risk elimination points of urban waterlogging complex environments (underground space, culverts, tunnels, waterlogged road sections, live environments).
Improve multi-team coordination, on-site command, communication support, casualty transfer and emergency response capabilities.
Strengthen safety awareness and risk prediction capabilities, and eliminate rescue casualties.
4. Core training content (three modules)
Module 1: Shore Rescue (Safe, Basic, Fast)
Nearshore wave/nearshore confined water rescue project (coastal, tidal, swell, inshore reef)
1. Applicable scenarios
Nearshore waves, tidal currents, rip currents, reef areas, beach traps, and ships are stranded, and the risks are mainly wave strikes, rolling and sucking, reef scratches, and tidal siege
2. Core content (layering)
• Risk identification: wave height/period, rip current, tide table, reef area, breaking wave zone, water temperature and hypothermia
• Basic skills: self-protection in the waves, anti-wave posture, swimming in the wave area, reef walking, drifting control
• Boat special: assault boat anti-wave driving, Z-shaped wave avoidance, fixed-point rescue, throwing in the waves, capsizing boat reset
• Rescue tactics: shore-based extension, boat bait, wave area towing, reef personnel transfer, tidal siege and rapid evacuation
• Shore-based vigilance, tidal warning, equipment supply, preliminary disposal of the wounded, and non-entry into the wave area operation
Module 2: Rapids and Flood Rescue (High Risk, Strong Current, High Risk)
It is suitable for strong water flow scenarios such as river torrents, flood season floods, flash floods, embankment breaches, and river traps, with the highest risk level, emphasizing water flow mechanics, boat control, live bait rescue, and self-liberation.
(1) Theoretical content
1. Hydrological characteristics of rapids/floods: flow velocity, buoyancy changes, eddy currents, and hook risks
2. Ten safety principles of flood rescue, self-protection first, and personnel falling into the water to avoid danger
3. Rapids rescue tactics: live bait rescue, V-shaped crossing, boat rescue, shore reception
4. Flood site risk: leakage, gas, sharp objects, floating objects, landslides, and infectious disease risks
5. Boats are safe to navigate, march in formation, avoid danger and capsize and self-rescue
6. Flood rescue command system, multi-department linkage, information reporting and evacuation plan
(2) Practical content
1. Rapids self-protection: floating stance, rolling relief, foot hook relief, countercurrent/downstream response
2. Live bait rescue, protection team members, water entry team members, fulcrum system, and collaborative passwords
3. 绳桥/快速横渡系统：高角度横渡、低角度横渡、双向救援
4. Rubber boat/assault boat whitewater control: start, steer, dock, cross waves, and avoid obstacles
5. Boat capsize self-rescue, rapid righting, personnel recovery, equipment salvage
6. Transfer of flood trapped personnel, rescue from heights, berthing of ships and rescue of personnel
7. Immobilization, waterproof bandaging, and water transfer of the wounded in rapids environment
Module 3: Urban Waterlogging Rescue (Complex Environment, Underground Space, High Risk of Electrification)
It is suitable for typical urban scenarios such as heavy rain and waterlogging, road accumulation, underground garages, subways, culverts, tunnels, and water accumulation in old residential areas, focusing on solving problems such as poor line of sight, many debris, high risk of leakage, closed space, and easy to be trapped.
(1) Theoretical content
1. Characteristics of urban waterlogging environment: water accumulation depth, flow rate, hidden potholes, lack of manhole covers, underwater obstacles
2. Live risk identification, leakage detection, power failure disposal, and insulation protection specifications
3. Underground space (garage/subway/culvert) rescue risks: lack of oxygen, drowning, collapse, water backflow
4. Selection of urban waterlogging rescue equipment: wading suits, life jackets, lighting, demolition, drainage, communication
5. Key points of vehicle wading rescue, personnel transfer, mass evacuation and resettlement
6. Waterlogging on-site alert, traffic control, hazard control, epidemic prevention and sanitation treatment
(2) Practical content
1. Walking techniques in waterlogged environments: wading posture, pathfinding methods, and team wading formations
2. Leakage detection and insulation protection, safe operation process in live environment
3. Vehicle wading rescue: demolition, opening doors, personnel transfer, vehicle fixation and towing away
4. Underground space search and rescue: lighting, communication, pathfinding, personnel positioning, rapid evacuation
5. Operation of narrow waters of boat cities: passing through roadways, turning around, docking, and avoiding obstacles
6. Rescue of trapped people in culverts/tunnels, negative pressure risks, and water flow control
7. First aid, waterproof cardiopulmonary resuscitation, transfer and handover of waterlogged casualties
8. Rescue of waterlogging at night, use of thermal imaging, and assistance in UAV reconnaissance
5. General Basic and Safety Courses (throughout the whole process)
1. Water rescue personal protective equipment (PPE): life jackets, waders, helmets, gloves, goggles wear and inspection
2. Commonly used knot systems: figure eight knots, single knots, double knots, weighing knots, anchor knots, and anti-knotting
3. Basics of water first aid: drowning first aid, hypoxia treatment, hypothermia treatment, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
4. Equipment maintenance and inspection: rope throwing bags, boats, engines, ropes, lighting, communication equipment
5. Safety review and case teaching: Case analysis of success/failure of typical water rescue at home and abroad
6. Coordinated operations: division of labor, linkage process, command and communication of firefighting, national rescue, and social rescue forces
6. Training and assessment (theory + practice + comprehensive drill)
1. Theoretical assessment: safety specifications, risk identification, tactical selection, equipment knowledge
2. Single practical assessment: shore casting, rapids live bait, waterlogging pathfinding, boat control, knotting, and casualty disposal
3. Comprehensive practical drill: multi-scenario synthetic rescue (shore + rapids + waterlogging linkage)
4. Safety assessment: personal safety awareness, risk prediction, standardized operation, and team coordination
7. Training characteristics
1. Practical orientation: full-scenario simulation, real water training, night training, harsh environment training
2. Safety first: the whole process of safety officer system, heavy protection, risk pre-control, no illegal operation.
3. Unified standards: unified tactical passwords, equipment operations, and action procedures to facilitate cross-team linkage.
4. Theoretical and practical 1:2 ratio: heavy hands-on, heavy proficiency, and re-on-the-spot response.