NCJ Number
59722
Date Published
1979
Length
60 pages
Annotation
TRAINING AND TECHNIQUES TYPICALLY USED BY A CIVIL UNDERWATER SEARCH AND RECOVERY UNIT ARE DESCRIBED, ALONG WITH COMMON PROCEDURES USED AND SUPPORTIVE MEASURES NEEDED TO INFORM THE NONDIVER PARTICIPATING IN A MISSION.
Abstract
IN ORGANIZING, TRAINING, AND EQUIPPING THE UNDERWATER UNIT, SELECTION OF TEAM MEMBERS SHOULD BE BASED ON ATTITUDE, PHYSICAL CONDITION, PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH, AND SWIMMING ABILITY; BASIC TRAINING SHOULD INCLUDE A 50-HOUR COURSE IN SCUBA, INCLUDING CLASSROOM TIME, POOL WORK, AND OPEN WATER WORK (A DETAILED LESSON PLAN AND SAMPLE WRITTEN TEST ARE INCLUDED); TRAINING SHOULD FOCUS ON UNDERWATER SEARCH AND RECOVERY; SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING IN FIRST AID OR UNDERWATER REPAIR TECHNIQUES SHOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED; AND DIVERS SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH UNDERWATER GEAR. ONE ITEM OF EQUIPMENT THAT MAY PROVE VALUABLE IS THE 'ANCHOR POINT', ASSEMBLED FROM ASSORTED SCRAP PARTS AND USED AS A PIVOT POINT FOR MANY PATTERNS. TECHNIQUES INVOLVED IN CONSTRUCTING THE ANCHOR POINT AND IN MAINTAINING THE TAUTNESS OF LINES WHEN PLACING MARKER BUOYS ARE NOTED. IN ADDITION, THE FOLLOWING SEARCH PATTERNS ARE ILLUSTRATED AND EXPLAINED, WITH MANPOWER AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS, AND EXPLANATIONS OF METHODS OF EXECUTION: CIRCLE PATTERN (POOR VISIBILITY SITUATIONS), SWING PATTERN (ON SHORE LINES, ETC.), STRAIGHT LINE PATTERN (NARROW BODIES OF WATER), PIE PATTERN (POOR VISIBILITY WITH HEAVILY OBSTRUCTED BOTTOM), SINGLE ARC PATTERN (RAPIDLY MOVING WATER WITH LIMITED OBSTRUCTIONS), CHANNEL PATTERN (SLOW MOVING WATERS), GRID PATTERN (SMALL OBJECTS), AND DIVER TOW (LARGE AREA WITH GOOD VISIBILITY). FOR SEARCHING UNDER ICE AND IN RIVERS, THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED, DIVER SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, PATTERNS, AND OTHER PREPARATIONS ARE DESCRIBED. UNDERWATER COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES, RECOVERY PROCEDURES, GENERAL SEARCH PROCEDURES, AND MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES FOLLOWING DROWNINGS ARE ALSO NOTED, AS WELL AS SOME QUALIFICATIONS NECESSARY FOR SURFACE ASSISTANTS. AN APPENDIX CONTAINS INFORMATION ON BODY SEARCH PLANNING, DEATH FROM DROWNING, GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF DIVING WITH SUPPORTING TABLES, AND A REPETITIVE DIVE WORKSHEET AND TIME COMPUTATION FORM. (WJR)