SAR 1 Rescue Technician Diver Recovery SOPs

1) FRV arrives on scene, coxswain to ensure

local CG Radio is notified of intentions and
requirements.
2) Crew performs SAP arriving on scene.
Coxswain designates a Lead Rescue
Technician in charge of the recovery
operation.
3) PPE is donned: surgical gloves,
belts/harnesses (if applicable), etc.
4) Lead Rescue Tech instructs crew to prepare
the necessary equipment:
a. Main first aid pack
b. AED
c. Thermal blanket
d. Conventional blankets
e. Parbuckling lines
5) Lead Rescue Tech appoints crew to facilitate
parbuckling. If possible Lead Rescue Tech
stands by to receive the patient.
6) Prepare the parbuckling station, and open
the thermal blanket on deck with the shiny
side up. The blanket makes it easier to slide
the patient into a better working position,
can be used as stretcher to lift the patient if
required and can be used to for warming.
7) Parbuckling crew secure their harnesses at
the appropriate locations.
8) Secure the diver patient, ensure patient is
face up, and lead patient to the starboard
parbuckling position with head directed at
the bow.
9) Lead Rescue Tech to advise Coxswain with
SITREP on requirement of rapid transport.
 Diver Recovery SOPs

10) One crew holds the patient while the other

crew releases, in order:
a. The weight belt – ALWAYS RELEASE
THE WEIGHT BELT FIRST. The weight
belt can generally be released simply
by pulling and flipping the loose end
of the belt – as on SAR work vests.

b. Additional pocket weights (if

applicable and accessible)

c. The dive bottle harness, typically

attached with four clips:
i. Small belt across the chest
ii. Two side straps
iii. Main belt
On some harnesses the side straps
cannot easily be opened – in such
case cut them with medical scissors
d. Any other items/clips that might
attach the diver to the harness, such
as air lines.
e. Make sure to recover and secure the
diver’s watch and instruments,
which might be required for
investigation purposes later. Do not
change any settings, gauges or
computers.

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 Diver Recovery SOPs

11) If a buddy diver is in the water assisting the

patient, the buddy diver can help with the
removal of all gear. The buddy diver can also
administer rescue breaths while the diving
equipment is being removed and the
parbuckling lines are positioned.
12) Position the patient in the parbuckling lines as
per standard parbuckling instructions.
13) The buddy diver should administer two rescue
breaths immediately prior to parbuckling.

14) Once the patient is brought on deck, start

First Aid assessment immediately (ABC’s).
15) Remove the patient’s hood and anything that
may restrict the patient’s breathing.
16) If the patient is unconscious and not
breathing, start CPR immediately. A bag-
valve-mask may be used in conjunction with
an OPA if available but DO NOT DELAY CPR to
prepare a BVM and OPA.
17) Cut the dry suit open with medical scissors to
expose the chest – DO NOT USE A KNIFE. It is
often easiest to cut along any zippers.
18) If necessary, prepare the patient for AED
application. Install and use the AED as per
standard instructions.

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 Diver Recovery SOPs

19) Wrap the patient in the thermal blanket as much as possible.

20) Coxswain to assess the situation for rapid transport: if the other divers are in no immediate
danger, advise them you will first deliver the patient to EMS before returning on site to recover
the other divers, or request another resource if necessary.
21) If the transit time is expected to be long, move the patient inside cabin to the port stretcher
position.
22) Reassess the patient frequently during transport.
23) If the AED is applied and signals it wants to analyze the heart rhythm, stop the boat temporarily
to allow the AED to perform the analysis.
24) Ensure all patient details are recorded on the First Aid log and on the ship’s log.
25) Pass patient off to higher medical care. The dive equipment is to be passed on to the local police
as evidence. Any alterations to the dive equipment during the rescue (e.g. cutting straps) must
also be reported to the receiving officer.

Version 1.1 – February 2014