Release 1.  This is the first release of this unit of competency in the AVI Aviation Training Package.

This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to undertake helicopter aquatic rescue and recovery in compliance with relevant regulatory requirements of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and national operating standards.

It includes preparing and responding to aquatic rescue incidents from a helicopter, assessing the rescue scene, in offshore or inland waterways and developing rescue plans. It also includes gaining access to and performing a rescue on a patient, recovering the patient, and concluding the rescue.

This unit addresses technical skill requirements (physical, mental and task-management abilities) related to equipment and system operations of flight or maritime operations personnel and contributes to safe and effective performance in complex operational offshore rescue environments.

Operations are conducted as part of commercial and military aircraft or marine activities across a variety of operational contexts within Australian industry.

Work is performed independently or under limited supervision within a multi-crew environment

Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements are applicable to this unit.

Not applicable.

W – Equipment and Systems Operations

Not applicable.

ELEMENTS 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1  

Prepare and respond to rescue 

1.1 

Operation and task information is obtained from communications centre, briefing from supervisor or other sources

1.2 

Rescue equipment and/or resources are identified and selected based on task information received

1.3 

Personal protective equipment (PPE) and clothing is selected based on the nature of the rescue operation

1.4 

Any further details on the nature of the rescue received en route is discussed with rescue team members

1.5 

Anticipated situational and environmental hazards are discussed with rescue team members while en route and are for the development of a rescue plan

2 

Assess rescue scene 

2.1 

Observations are made to determine the location, number, condition and position of patients

2.2 

Risk assessment on situational and environmental hazards is conducted and control measures applied to ensure safety of self and others are developed

2.3 

Requests for additional personnel and/or specialist equipment based on risk assessment is communicated via the communications centre in accordance with organisational procedures

2.4 

Personal capabilities and limitations of self and other team members are considered in the development of the rescue plan

3 

Develop aquatic rescue plans 

3.1 

Rescue and recovery techniques suitable to the patient condition, location and offshore environment are identified

3.2 

Primary and alternate rescue plans are developed based on situational risk assessment, identification of appropriate rescue and recovery techniques and consultation with other rescue team members

3.3 

Appropriate equipment and resources are selected to perform offshore rescue and recovery as identified by the rescue plan

3.4 

Alternate rescue plans are implemented when required

4 

Gain access and perform offshore rescue of patient 

4.1 

Communication with team members is maintained during rescue

4.2 

Positioning of the patient to assist in extrication and management of a conscious patient

4.3 

Offshore rescue asset is appropriately positioned to perform a rescue or recovery where required by the rescue plan

4.4 

Offshore rescue techniques and equipment are deployed to gain access to patient as identified in the rescue plan

5 

Recover patient 

5.1 

Offshore rescue plan is implemented, where the patient is extricated and secured by using appropriate rescue and recovery techniques and equipment

5.2 

Patient is recovered using techniques in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

5.3 

Patient is secured in accordance with organisational emergency care procedures or as directed by first aid or medical personnel

6 

Conclude offshore rescue 

6.1 

Equipment is recovered, cleaned and maintained in accordance with manufacturer guidelines and organisational procedures

6.2 

Offshore rescue equipment and PPE is inspected and refurbished at conclusion of incident

6.3 

Operational debrief is participated in or conducted in accordance with own role during the offshore rescue

6.4 

Post-incident documentation is completed to organisational standards and in accordance with own role requirements

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

No equivalent unit.

Release 1.  This is the first release of this unit of competency in the PUA Public Safety Training Package.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and range of conditions on at least one occasion and includes:

• anticipating, identifying and mitigating offshore rescue hazards and risks
• applying aggressive, manoeuvring and defensive swimming techniques to escape hazards
• applying aquatic rescue techniques
• applying first aid in an aquatic rescue environment
• determining appropriate rescue and recovery methods to use according to the incident
• handling and packaging patient
• identifying changes in patient condition and position
• identifying changes in the aquatic environment, including:

• swell conditions
• rips and currents
• eddies
• other hydrological features

• informing relevant personnel of incident progress
• interacting with other members of the rescue team, patient and others
• managing spinal injuries in the context of an offshore rescue incident
• selecting aquatic rescue equipment and resources appropriate to incident type
• patient working as part of a team and supporting others in an aquatic rescue operation.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and includes knowledge of:

• behaviour of patients in aquatic environments
• composition of offshore rescue teams, and roles and responsibilities of rescue team members
• first aid hazards and risks associated with offshore rescues and recoveries, including:

• circum-rescue collapse
• hypothermia

• offshore environmental considerations, including:

• swell conditions
• rips and currents
• eddies
• other offshore hydrological features

• aquatic rescue and recovery equipment characteristics, including:

• advantages and disadvantages for deployment
• care and maintenance to enable appropriate selection and use

• organisational communication techniques used during aquatic rescue operations
• potential contaminants in water and their potential impact on the rescuer and patient
• principles of risk assessment, including hierarchy of control and control methods
• psychological considerations of offshore rescue for the rescuer, patient (normal survivor behaviour, panic, counter-panic patient, instinctive drowning response), and the potential need for support resources
• signs and symptoms of operational stress in self and others and reporting to appropriate support personnel
• relevant legislation, and organisational policies and procedures to enable safe conduct of aquatic rescue and recovery activities.

Assessors must hold credentials specified within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must satisfy the Principles of Assessment and Rules of Evidence and all regulatory requirements included within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must occur in workplace operational situations where it is appropriate to do so; where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in organisationally approved simulated operational situations that replicate workplace conditions.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

• a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or other simulations
• acceptable means of simulated assessment
• applicable documentation, including workplace procedures, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals
• relevant and appropriate materials, tools, equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) currently used in industry.