Rescue 4 Award

Posted on by Conall Boyle

Aim: To test the candidates’ ability to attain the highest standard of Water Safety in terms of knowledge, judgement, skill and fitness.

Prerequisites:

  • Minimum age 15 years on date of assessment.
  • Rescue 3.

Award: Certificate.

Dress: Swimsuit / wetsuit, shirt and trousers.

Validity: 2 years.

Ratio: Recommended examination ratio of 10:1.

Note(s):

  • Goggles may not be used in full contact rescues.

Test Items

  1. BLS3 (Skills and Theory)
  2. Oral Test:
    • Personal Safety
    • Hazards in open water situations
    • Principles of simple rescue
    • Correct follow up procedures
    • Recognition of emergency situations
    • Non-contact swimming rescues
    • Personal contact rescues
    • Spinal injuries
    • Principles of systematic search patterns
  3. Demonstrate the following:
    • At least 2 items from Safety Awards.
    • At least 2 items from Rescue 1 Award.
    • At least 2 items from Rescue 2 Award.
    • At least 2 items from Rescue 3 Award.
    • Deep-water resuscitation while using a buoyancy aid.
  4. Mini incident involving a continuous 100 metres head up approach to a struggling subject. Take suitable action to get subject under control and carry to safety 100 metres away using a cross-chest carry.
  5. Show ability to use the following rescue equipment in carrying out a rescue, causality approximately 10 metres from safety:
    • Can buoy or Rescue tube.
    • Ring buoy.
    • Un-weighted rope.
    • Reaching pole.
      Maximum of 2 minutes per scenario.
  6. Ability to carry out any of the three techniques for stabilising a spinal injury victim in water.

Guidelines

  1. As per CFR Handbook.
    • As per Rescue Skills Manual.
    • Understanding the theory of contact rescues.
    • To include theory and recognition of spinal injury management in water.
  3. Options to include varied conditions as
    outlined by Examiner. Ability to recognise,
    assess, appropriate contact and carry. No
    aids available. (Rescuers clothing not to be
    used).
  4. Should include technique only and minimum
    distance (approach and carry not more than
    10m for each item). Total of 90 metres for
    this test item.
  5. This is a scenario based test item, where the candidate’s ability to use aids while carrying out a rescue is judged. This can be incorporated in one scenario or over several scenarios.
  6. A close look at the releases in isolation excluding any complications.

N.B. Water test items must be done in the order as specified.