6 The rescue phase: guidance for those engaged in search and rescue
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC.1/Circular.1185/Rev.1 – Guide for Cold Water Survival – (30 November 2012) - Annex - Guide for Cold Water Survival - 6 The rescue phase: guidance for those engaged in search and rescue

6 The rescue phase: guidance for those engaged in search and rescue

  Search may have to come before rescue.

 Remember to:

  • Search long enough! Survival is possible, even after many hours in cold water.
  • Ask the Rescue Coordination Centre for advice; including on how long to keep searching.
  • Plan and prepare recovery methods for a variety of possible scenarios while searching. See the IMO's guidance on recovery, A Pocket Guide to Recovery Techniques.

  Rescue

 Recovery from the water:

  • Be aware of the dangers to people in the water of vessel drift, including side-splash – waves generated or reflected by the hull.
  • Try to ensure that the survivor does not attempt to assist: full and coordinated use of their fingers and arms may not be possible, and lifting an arm to take hold of a rope can induce sinking and drowning unless they are wearing a lifejacket.
  • Encourage the survivor to keep "fighting for survival". Do not let them relax too soon.
  • Ideally, the survivor should be recovered in a horizontal or near-horizontal body position. Lifting a hypothermic person vertically can induce cardiac arrest. In a relatively high lift – up to the deck of a ship or into a helicopter, for example – use two strops or loops (one under the arms, the other under the knees) or other means of near-horizontal recovery: see the Pocket Guide to Recovery Techniques.
  • However, if the survivor's airway is under threat – as it may be if alongside a vessel of any size, even in calm conditions, because of side-splash – recover by the quickest method possible.
  • Keep the survivor slightly head-down during transport to a place of safety. In a fast rescue craft, for example, this will mean laying the survivor with his feet towards the bows.
  • If a rescue craft has been deployed, survivors recovered should if possible remain in the craft during its recovery.

 Recovery from survival craft:

  • In high seas beware of swamping of enclosed craft on opening the hatch.
  • Beware of the possibility of rescue collapse on recovery. This is especially likely in survivors who have been adrift for a long time.
  • To avoid collapse employ the horizontal rescue procedures outlined above.
Parent topic: Annex - Guide for Cold Water Survival
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