Rescue Bag Basics
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The Rescue/Throw
Bag is a vital piece of safety equipment, used to rescue a swimmer,
and in some cases to help unpin a boat. There should be a minimum
of one per boat on any trip. Bags come in various shapes and sizes,
but fall into two main categories – bags worn on the boater’s
waist and bulkier ones carried in the boat.
The bags are made of nylon or other synthetic material and contain
some closed cell foam to keep the empty bag afloat. Open the bag
just enough to pull some rope out. Hold the free end securely and
toss the bag to the swimmer. Rope used in the bags is at least partially
made of polypropylene, because it floats. The bright color of bags
and rope make them easily visible to both the swimmer and the rescuer.
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Throwing the bag to a swimmer can be done from shore or on the
water from a stable platform like a raft or drift boat. An underhand
throw, “softball pitch” style, is a natural, instinctive
motion. You may get more distance with an overhand, “baseball
pitch” toss. A sidearm throw may be necessary, depending on
your position, obstructions, etc, but accuracy may suffer. Practice
tossing your rescue bag ahead of time; don’t let an emergency
catch you unprepared.
When using a throw bag to rescue a swimmer, do your best to make sure
you’re not making the situation worse by your efforts. NEVER
tie your end of the rope to yourself or any object; always be prepared
to release the rope if need be. When setting up a rescue position
on shore, plan for where you can bring the swimmer to shore, ideally
into an eddy or slower water; not into rocks, holes or other obstacles.
For your protection, always wear your PFD when assisting in a rescue,
should you get pulled into the water. |
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Try to get the swimmer’s attention, with
whistle blasts
or shouts, before throwing the rescue bag. Ideally, toss it so that
the bag sails past the swimmer and line falls across their chest.
If you have their attention before you throw, they can move to the
rope if you miss. The swimmer should grab the line, not the bag,
hold the line across the chest and turn on their back so you can
pendulum them into shore or pull them to the boat. Discuss proper
rescue techniques before starting a trip, like in the Rafting
Put-in Safety Talk.
If you miss with the first throw, pull the bag in, coiling the
rope at your feet or in your hand. The bag should be full of water,
giving it enough weight to toss again. You can also throw the
coil of rope, although you won’t be able to get the same
distance. Be careful not to get tangled in the loose rope. And
speaking of getting tangled, along with having a rescue bag, it
is essential that you also have a sharp
knife – in case it’s necessary to cut the rope
to protect yourself or the swimmer. |
Swift moving water puts amazing pressure on a swimmer. When the
rope becomes taut, the shock on you and the swimmer can pull the rope
from your hands. Try to minimize that shock by slowing the swimmer’s
progress more gradually by moving along the bank or letting out some
line.
For a stronger grip than just holding the rope in your hands, borrow
a climber’s technique, the “belay”. Pass the rope
across your back, down low on the hips or higher across the shoulder.
You can sit and brace your feet against rocks or the boat. Another
rescuer can assist by grabbing your PFD and helping with the brace.
You can also apply friction to the rope by wrapping or bending it
around a tree, rock, etc. Again, do not tie the rope to yourself or
an object. |
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Prolong the life of your rope by rinsing and
drying it after each outing. When restuffing the bag, coil the
rope directly into the bag. Coiling it first and then putting
it into the bag can cause a tangle that prevents the rope from
smoothly flowing out of the bag when tossed.
For those of us who often drive along fast moving rivers, also
having a rescue bag in your vehicle can be a lifesaver. People
have been saved by a quick thinking motorist who was able to toss
them a line.
The bottom line is – always have a rescue bag handy and
practice using it. And make sure your boating buddies have them
too. The life that gets saved could be yours.
You can find more excellent information on rescue bag usage and
other swiftwater rescue techniques in the Whitewater
Rescue Manual, by Charlie Walbridge and Wayne Sundmacher and
Swiftwater Rescue, by
Slim Ray. |
For on-the-water safety, nothing beats taking a swiftwater rescue class,
where you get instruction and practice in rescue techniques. A number
of organizations and companies provide training. If you’re having
trouble finding a class, drop us a line at service@nrsweb.com
and we’ll try to help you locate instruction.
Boat Safe!
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