Benzie Area Public Safety Dive Team
Policies and Procedures Manual
Revision 01 APR 2006
Of Contents
Purpose & Description 4
Operational Overview 5 5
Dive Team Organization 6
- Dive Team Leader (DTL)
- Dive Safety Officer (DSO)
- Lead Diver (LD)
- Rapid Intervention Company (RID)
- Search Team
- Dive Team Members (Divers)
- Surface Team Members (Non-Divers)
- Dive Team Members (Divers & Non-Divers)
- General
Safety Procedures for Diving Operations 8
- Before Diving Operations are Commenced
- Termination of Diving Operation
Risk/Benefit Analysis 9
Developing the Dive Action Plan—(DAP) 10
- Briefing
- Pre Dive Safety Check
Rapid Field Neuro Exam 11
- Mental
- Muscular
- Hearing
- Sensations
- Muscle Tone
- Balance and Coordination
- Romberg Test
- Vital Signs
Dive Operations 13
Line Tending Signals 14
Emergency Procedures 14
Boat Operations 14
Ice Dive Operations 15
Night Diving Operations 16
Deep Diving Operations 16
Submerged Vehicle Operations 16
Return to Service 17
Post Incident Analysis 17
Appendix:
Circular Search Pattern Layout 18
Supplemental Underwater Recovery Report 19
Training Dive Log 21
Emergency contact information 22
Final Dive Report 23
Purpose and Description:
The BAPSDT is to be utilized as a guide for the search and recovery of: persons who have drowned or been submerged in the water, stolen property and/or evidence, submerged
vehicles, boats, and objects which may create a potential health hazard. The risk factor in dive
operations of this nature can be very high. Often these dives take place in less than ideal
conditions. The Dive Team will work in conjunction with various agencies including the local
Law Enforcement Crime Scene Investigation Team to determine the nature of the call and the parameters of the operation. Due to the changing requirements, conditions, experience of the team and standards, this document is to be considered as a guideline for the Dive Team. The Dive Team also may be called upon to provide mutual aid to other governmental agencies where written agreements are in place.
Operational Call-Out
In the event that an underwater operation appears imminent, the following procedure will
be followed:
The Dive Team Leader (or alternate) will be notified.
The Dive Team Leader/Alternate will assess the situation and notify the divers, including
purpose, location, time, conditions and any other pertinent information.
Secure any additional necessary transportation and equipment.
In the event of a call-out, the minimum number of divers to be utilized, in the water will be
one and the minimum necessary on-site will be three divers (including the DSO who will
not dive, if a diver), 1-2 in the water and 2-1 suited up in reserve. Only the Dive Team
Leader can authorize a dive with fewer divers on-site.
In the event of a call-out, one team member will be designated by the team as the Dive
Safety Officer (DSO).
The DSO will be one of the most senior team members on site and will be responsible
for the entire operation. The DSO will be either a diver or a member of the Surface
Team with sufficient knowledge and experience to act as DSO.
The DSO will determine the number and organization of the divers needed for the
operation.
The DSO will determine the conditions surrounding the dive operations.
If the location is safe to dive
Underwater hazards, obstructions, cables, outflow pipes, et cetera.
Locations to search
Locations of entry and exit
Procedures to follow
Arrange for pre-dive medical baselines on all divers
Documentation of the dive mission and of all divers and procedures utilized
Due to the extreme hazards of underwater search and recovery, only the DSO will
decide whether or not a dive will be undertaken at a dive scene. The decision to dive will
be based upon a risk/benefit evaluation to the divers and can be terminated at any time
by the DSO, whose decision will be FINAL.
Detailed description of the Dive Safety Officer's responsibilities will be found in the
section on Dive Team Organization
Completion Of Operations
The DSO will upon the completions of dive operations:
Be responsible for the documentation of the dive mission and of all divers and
procedures utilized
A brief description of the operation and police agency case number.
Number and names of divers utilized and it what capacities.
Date or dates and location(s) of dives.
Time of total operation.
Total time in water.
Total air consumed.
Any equipment loss or malfunction.
Arrange for post-dive medical baselines on all divers
Verify that all equipment has been recovered and properly stored.
ive Team Organization
Dive Team Leader (DTL)
The Dive Team Leader is responsible for the general matters and decisions directly related
to the Dive Team operation including but not limited to methods, personnel, operational
hours, risk/benefit evaluation, et cetera.
Unless conditions arise to the contrary, the Dive Team Leader will defer on-site decisions
to the Dive Safety Officer if the Dive Team Leader is one of the divers entering the water.
However, if necessary, the Dive Team Leader may contravene the decisions of either the
Dive Safety Officer or the Lead Diver.
Only the Dive Team Leader can authorize dives deeper than the 100 foot maximum limit
set for the Dive Team.
Dive Safety Officer (DSO)
The Dive Safety officer is responsible for the specific matters and decisions directly related
to the on-site Dive Team operations including but not limited to methods, personnel,
operational hours, risk/benefit evaluation, and all other considerations which occur at a dive
site.
Due to the extreme hazards of underwater search and recovery, only the DSO will decide
whether or not a dive will be undertaken at a dive scene. The decision to dive will be
based upon a risk/benefit evaluation to the divers and the dive can be terminated at any
time by the DSO, whose decision will be final.
Any attempt to usurp that chain of command or override the decision of the DSO (except
by the DTL) will result in NO divers entering the water. A person not specifically trained in
BAPSDT techniques and safety concerns/criteria will not be allowed to
potentially endanger the Dive Team divers, even if that person is a certified diver.
The DSO will be one of the most senior team members on site (probably a diver) and will
be responsible for the entire operation as it pertains to the Dive Team.
The DSO will determine, in conjunction with the Crime Scene Team if the site is considered
a crime scene and if photographs, sketches, measurements, and notes are required.
The DSO will work with the Crime Scene Team to obtain the necessary diving information and/or interview anyone detained by the police who can provide dive related information.
DSO (continued)
The DSO will work with Incident Command as require for crowd control, in, on, and around
the water.
The DSO will determine the number and organization of the divers needed for the
operation.
The DSO will determine the conditions surrounding the dive operations using the Dive
Incident Sheet.
If the location is safe to dive.
Underwater hazards, obstructions, cables, outflow pipes, et cetera.
Conditions as weather, recent rains, water temperature, depth, currents, visibility,
potential decompression, and sources of emergency assistance.
Determine if Fire Department HAZMAT needs to HAZ/CAT the water before diving.
Determine if Fire Department decontamination upon exiting the water are necessary.
Locations to search and methodology to use.
Locations of entry and exit.
Procedures to follow.
Arrange for pre-dive and post-dive medicals on all divers.
Documentation of the dive mission and of all divers and procedures utilized.
A brief description of the operation and police agency case number.
Number and names of divers utilized and it what capacities.
Date or dates and location(s) of dives.
Location of any floats released by divers.
Time of total operation.
Total time in water.
Total air consumed.
Any equipment loss or malfunction.
Verify that all equipment has been recovered and properly stored.
In the event of hazardous inflow/outflow pipes, electric cables/machinery, et cetera the
DSO will make sure that the hazard is properly closed/turned-off and tagged. If possible,
the DSO will assign a person to monitor this condition during the course of the dive(s).
DIVE TEAM MEMBERS:
- Dive team members shall make every effort to respond, with the appropriate
equipment for the dive, when called.
- Members shall conduct themselves in a professional manner with due respect for the situation and for friends and family of the victims at the
scene.
- Divers will provide their own diving equipment in accordance with good
diving practices.
- A member shall notify the Chief diver if they have consumed any alcoholic
beverages within twelve (12) previous hours.
- Any team member that feels conditions are unsafe to dive in, shall report
their concerns to the Chief diver.
- Any team member has the right to refuse to dive in conditions they feel are unsafe.
Dive Team Members (cont)
It is the responsibility of the Dive Team Members to assist in the pre-dive evaluation and
provide feedback to the DSO based upon their assigned tasks, knowledge, and
experience.
It is the responsibility of the Dive Team Members to inform the DSO if they have an illness
or a concern about the dive which would preclude their diving, so that they can be assigned
to other tasks.
It is the responsibility of the Dive Team Members to carry out the instructions of the DSO
and the Lead Diver (LD) to the best of their ability and training level.
New Dive Team members must participate in dive training activities that includes:
- Review of our Search & Recovery Operations & Procedures and training dives that include both the Circle and the Stay-jack patterns prior to joining the dive team. Additionally, dive team members that have been certified for less than six months and inexperienced divers will serve a three month probation period before participating in any water related event, except training missions. At the end of the three-month period, the Dive Chief and Training Chief will make a recommendation to end probation or extend it for a longer period of time to assure diver readiness for response.
Line Tenders/Surface Support
- After consulting with the Dive Team Leader, following a satisfactorily completed six-month probation period. Support Personnel must be familiar with proper procedures in boat handling and operations, as well as Dive Team operating procedures.
- Must be trained and qualified to independently tend divers and to operate
surface support equipment.
- They shall be dive team members.
- Tenders shall keep the DTL and/or the DSO informed of progress of dive and/or
emergencies.
- Tenders shall check divers for proper equipment.
- Tenders or recorder will log the results of the pre and post neurological
checks, name of divers, time diver enters water, PSI in tank (at both start and
end of dive), time diver exits water and depth of dive. (See log sheet).
- After completion, this form will be given to the DTL who will
make a photo copy, retain one for dive team records and deliver the other to the
Sheriff's Department.)
- Tenders will always watch bubbles and line to divers to know their
location. They will record, any recovered items or victims. They will also tie
two handles in the line to determine area and distance searched.
- All attention shall be given to the diver.
Safety Divers (SD)
The Safety Divers (SD) will be made up of at least two the next most senior
divers to the DSO and will serve as both a safety and reserve diver function.
The SD will designate a LD when assigned and before entering the water.
The SD function is to have at least one diver suited up and ready to instantly enter the
water and the other 90% ready to enter the water under the following circumstances:
The diver(s) on the search team need emergency assistance.
The diver(s) on the search team need additional non-emergency diver assistance.
The diver(s) on the search team need replacement due to injury, air consumption, or
having reached their bottom time limit.
When manpower allows, a SD will always be used, even at the expense of extra search
time.
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT LIAISON:
- Marine Division Officer and DTL will meet to discuss operations,
etc. (DTL has the final say over deployment of dive team).
- The Benzie County Sheriff Department (hereafter BCSD) officer will
notify central dispatch when there is a need for the team.
- The team will then be notified via pagers, or via telephone.
- Only dive team members will be called in an operation.
- The BCSD officer will operate the watercraft assigned to the team.
- The BCSD officer shall secure the dive area and have the area roped off as necessary.
- Only authorized personnel approved by the DTL and/or Marine Division officer will be allowed within the dive area.
- The BCSD officer controls, records, and secures any physical evidence collected.
SAFETY PROCEDURES FOR DIVING OPERATIONS
- Conduct a Risk/Benefit field analysis to identify the risks and determine the benefit of conducting the dive at each site.
- Insure that a fully dressed Safety Diver is prepared to immediately enter the water (in the event that a Primary Diver becomes entangled or needs assistance) prior to any dive operations being initiated.
- Develop an emergency action plan including transportation an injured diver to the nearest operational hyperbaric chamber, or closest appropriate emergency medical facility.
- Develop a safety plan for all surface and dive operations prior to any operations being initiated.
- No dive operations shall be conducted without a Safety Diver and 90% Diver for every diver that is operating below the surface.
- All water is to be presumed contaminated; therefore, all open water dives will be conducted in dry suits and Full Face masks to reduce exposure to contamination.
- Proper decontamination procedures will be followed for all chemical and biological hazards.
- The Dive Tables will be referred to on all dives.
- Dives that will be conducted in depths greater than 100 feet, will be at the discretion of the DTL
- A three minute safety stop is suggested on all dives.
- Divers will go through a post diving medical and field neurological examination upon exiting the water. The department team leader shall be responsible for maintaining annual baseline field neurological examinations for his/her team members.
BEFORE DIVING OPERATIONS ARE COMMENCED
- A Dive Action Plan (DAP) shall be developed.
- Advance Life Support and medical transport is on site.
- Approved electronic communication system fully operational must be in place before any dive
operation is initiated unless there is a rescue mode exception present.
- All divers shall be line tended unless conditions dictate otherwise. The operation can only be done off line with the approval of the Safety Officer or Dive Team Leader.
(Cont.)
- All divers shall be technician level and all line tenders must be trained to a minimum of operations level.
- The “diver-down” flag shall be prominently displayed during all dive operations unless currents or lack of overhead boat traffic dictate none is needed.
- Enclosed or confined space dives that are outside the scope and training of the organization shall not be conducted.
- Diving operations shall not exceed the no-decompression limits or dive computer limits for any given dive.
- Any diver who exceeds the no-decompression limits of the dive tables shall be administered high flow oxygen and transported to an appropriate hyperbaric chamber for these types of incidents.
THE DIVE SHALL BE TERMINATED WHEN
- Ultimate responsibility for safety rests with the individual diver and it is the diver’s responsibility and duty to refuse to dive or terminate a dive if, in his judgment, conditions are unsafe, unfavorable, or if diving would violate the precepts of his level of certification or training or for any other reason that the diver deems reasonable
- Dive Tender indicates that due to air consumption rate or emergency that diver is required to surface or any reason the tender deems reasonable
- The cylinder pressure has 500 PSI remaining in the cylinder and/or
- Loss of communications and/or
- In the opinion of the Competent Person and/or the Safety Officer the dive should be terminated for safety reasons and/or
- The depth of the dive operation exceeds the set maximum depth of 60 feet unless specifically trained and certified in deep dive techniques
- A No Decompression Limit is being reached.
FACTORS TO CONSIDER FOR A RISK/BENEFIT FIELD ANALYSIS
- Where Underwater Search & Rescue/Recovery operations are requested, the Incident Commander, Dive Team Leader or his/her designee should consider the following factors:
- Anytime the IC or Dive Team Leader determines the risk to dive team member
exceeds the benefit of the dive operation the dive shall be terminated until such risk
can be mitigated.
- Determine that operations at the site will not exceed the department’s capabilities.
- Is the operation that is being requested a ‘Rescue or Recovery Operation?’
Risk/Benefit (cont.)
- Ability to establish a credible ‘Last Seen Point’ from on site witnesses.
- The dive operations will not exceed sixty feet (100’) in depth.
- The current of the water does not exceed one half (.5) knot unless specifically trained and certified in current diving
- The diver’s can safely operate in water conditions that are present.
- There are sufficient divers, dive tenders, and equipment on site to conduct operations.
- All safety aspects are considered.
- All medical safety issues can be addressed by on site resources.
- Assets on site will not meet the demands for a safe operation, are other qualified resources available that can provide support.
DEVELOPING THE DIVE ACTON PLAN
- Planning of a dive operation shall include as a minimum:
- Diving mode (training or operational (rescue/recovery). Determine that the objectives of the dive are within the scope of this standard operating procedure.
- Determine if dive operations will be shore based, boat based or boat assisted.
- Surface and sub-surface conditions and hazards.
- Emergency procedures are identified.
- Approximate number of dives anticipated.
- Location(s) of proposed dive(s).
- Estimated depth(s) and bottom time(s).
- Current environmental conditions and expected changes.
- Proposed work, equipment and other resources needed.
- Diving shall be coordinated with other known activities in the area that may interface with the diving operation.
- Minimum of three (3) divers on scene for a rope based search pattern operation.
- Type of search pattern that will be utilized for the operation.
BRIEFING
- All Division/Group Officers, Divers, Tenders, and Medical Personnel will participate in an
operational briefing before operations are initiated.
- An accelerated briefing can be done in rescue mode.
PRE-DIVE SAFETY CHECK
- Identify objectives for the operation and complete the Pre-Dive Checklist document.
- Each operational diver (primary, safety, and 90%) must be asked and respond “go” or “no go”
to his/her physical, mental capabiltities, equipment, and dive plan.
- Identify all entry and exit points
- Review of all primary and contingency communication systems
- Emergency protocols
- Beginning and ending tank pressure
- Reporting of any physical problems or adverse psychological affects
RAPID FIELD NEURO EXAMINATION
Mental Status:
- Assess the divers post dive physical/neurological wellness. Ask the diver if he/she is having any abnormal sensation or disturbance of feeling, sight, hearing, breathing, movement or balance – if yes determine if abnormal sensation or disturbance can be ruled out as non-dive related – if rule out cannot be determined treat with high flow oxygen and transport to the nearest, appropriate hyperbaric chamber. If the diver experiences signs or symptoms of DCI, or has sustained a rapid ascent from greater than 30 feet of depth. Place diver on high flow oxygen and transport to the nearest, appropriate hyperbaric chamber.
- Ask the diver to state his name, where he is, the time of day, and most recent activity.
- Evaluate his speech for clearness and appropriateness.
Cranial Nerves:
Sight/Eye Movements:
- Have the diver follow your finger with his eyes while keeping his head straight. Move your finger up, down, left, and right. Watch for nystagmus.
Facial Movement:
- Place your fingers at the angle of the diver’s jaw and ask him to clench his teeth.
- Ask him or her to wrinkle their forehead as you smooth the skin.
- Instruct him to stick his tongue out and move it in all four directions.
- Check the diver’s smile for symmetry.
Head/Shoulder Movements:
- Ask the diver to tilt his head back and swallow. Watch for their “Adams Apple” to move. Push down lightly on his shoulders, ask him to shrug.
- Put your hand on one side of the diver’s face and ask him to push against. Do the same with the other side and on the forehead and back of the head.
Hearing:
- Rub your fingers together close to the diver’s ears to identify the sound he is to listen for. Ask him to close his eyes. Move your hand away from his ear and make the sound again. Continue to make the sound as you move your hand back towards the ear. Ask him/her to tell you when he can hear the sound again.
Sensations:
- The objective is to evaluate the sense of light touch and make sure it’s equal on both sides of the body.
- Sensations are checked with the diver’s eyes closed, pockets empty, and the diver dressed down to light clothing or bare skin.
- Tell the diver that the light touch should feel normal and the same on both sides of his body.
- Evaluate the body in sections, checking the rights and left side at the same time. Overlap the sections slightly.
- Run your fingers across the forehead, down the side of the face, and along the jawline.
- Then run your fingers down the diver’s chest, abdomen, front of arms, legs, and across the hands.
- Turn him around and run your fingers down his back, buttocks, and the backs of the arms and legs.
Muscle Tone:
- The objective is to evaluate muscle tone and determine that it’s equal on both sides of the body.
- Have the diver bend his arms, so that his hands meet in the center of his chest. With his arms bent have him bring his elbows up level with his shoulders (or demonstrate the move and say “Do this”).
- Tell him to push against you as you push his elbows up, then down, and pull his hands away from his chest and push them back.
- To evaluate grip strength in each hand ask him to squeeze two of your fingers.
Leg evaluation, diver sitting:
- Evaluate both legs. Put your hand on his thigh and ask him to pick the leg up against resistance. Then put your hand under the thigh and ask him to pull down. Put your hands on the front of his lower legs and ask him to push out. Then put your hands behind the leg and ask him to pull back.
- Leg evaluation: Diver supine evaluates both legs. Ask him to do a straight leg raise as you lightly push down on the leg. Have him bend the leg up and push against your hand as you hold his foot.
- Foot evaluation: Have the diver pull his feet up as you push them down and then push against your hands as if pushing on a pedal.
Balance and Coordination: