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Step 6Unconscious victim
If the victim is unconscious, injured, or otherwise unable to climb aboard unassisted, it may be necessary to use a sling or harness
- rig a block and line to allow the victim to be hoisted vertically from the water
- the rescue swimmer positions the sling or harness around the victim, under the shoulders. If no sling is available, make a loop in the line using a non-slip knot such as a bowline. If the victim is already wearing a safety harness, use that.
- one crew member winches the victim up, while another steadies them and prevents them from banging into the hull, catching their legs in rigging etc.
- the tackle should have sufficient height to clear the topsides, railings, lines etc.
- lower the victim to the deck, cockpit etc., then remove the sling and administer first aid
During this exercise, we did not have sufficient height on the tackle, so that we had to drag the victim over the safety line. We should have tightened the topping lift, or otherwise raised the boom (used as a spar to support the block) by about 1 metre. It was impossible to do this once the victim's weight was on the boom. In a real emergency, we might have cut the steel lines to avoid further injury to the victim.
It may be necessary to perform CPR on the victim in the water if they are not breathing, as it will take too long to bring them aboard. This technique is often taught in SCUBA classes.
Winching aboard:
- rig a block and line to allow the victim to be hoisted vertically from the water
- the rescue swimmer positions the sling or harness around the victim, under the shoulders. If no sling is available, make a loop in the line using a non-slip knot such as a bowline. If the victim is already wearing a safety harness, use that.
- one crew member winches the victim up, while another steadies them and prevents them from banging into the hull, catching their legs in rigging etc.
- the tackle should have sufficient height to clear the topsides, railings, lines etc.
- lower the victim to the deck, cockpit etc., then remove the sling and administer first aid
During this exercise, we did not have sufficient height on the tackle, so that we had to drag the victim over the safety line. We should have tightened the topping lift, or otherwise raised the boom (used as a spar to support the block) by about 1 metre. It was impossible to do this once the victim's weight was on the boom. In a real emergency, we might have cut the steel lines to avoid further injury to the victim.
It may be necessary to perform CPR on the victim in the water if they are not breathing, as it will take too long to bring them aboard. This technique is often taught in SCUBA classes.
Winching aboard:
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