2013-04-26 Swift Water Rescue course/Emergency Response Plan

This is an Emergency Response Plan (ERP) for potential emergencies that may occur during the April 26-28, 2013 Swift Water Rescue course to be held in Pincher Creek at the Oldman Dam and Lundbreck Falls Provincial Recreation Areas.

The

requires that an ERP be submitted and approved.

Unique character
This plan recognizes the unique character of the event in which many of the participants will be the same people who could be called upon to respond to an emergency including:
 * search and rescue personnel
 * Alberta Parks personnel
 * Pincher Creek Emergency Services personnel
 * RCMP members
 * swiftwater rescue instructors

As such the normal processes of notifying emergency authorities, tasking responders and arrival of those responders, although still undertaken, may be foreshortened by having key people already on scene.

Hazards
Slips, trips and falls - accessing and working along the rocky shoreline presents a hazard of slips, trips or falls that may result in minor or more serious injury.

Medical emergency - a medical emergency arising from an injury or a developing medical condition from one of the participants may result in the need for first aid and/or emergency medical attention and evacuation to roadway access.

Swift water - working and training near and in the rivers may result in an unintended entry into the river and the need for a swift water rescue.

Other users - Other users of the Provincial Recreation Areas may be attracted to activities being performed and become bystanders at risk. Knowing there are emergency personnel in the area, other users might report their emergencies to course participants.

Environmental hazards - extreme weather events or an unplanned release by the dam may make it unsafe to be in the designated areas. All participants may have to evacuate.

Equipment
The following equipment shall be provided:

Communications
 * cell phone - personal cell phones shall be in place
 * PCES portable radio - assuming PCES personnel attend
 * sat phone - a PCSAR satellite phone will be made available, in case a situation evolves in a locale of poor cell phone and radio coverage.

First Aid
 * a PCSAR field first aid kit (backpack)

Stretcher
 * a PCSAR field stretcher (military style litter) shall be present

Swift Water Rescue
 * The course instructor shall provide a full swift water rescue kit

Personal Protective Equipment - participants shall be provided with appropriate
 * PFDs
 * helmets
 * wetsuits
 * footwear
 * gloves

Protocols
All course participants will be familiarized with this ERP at the beginning of the course.

The course instructors shall evaluate any changes in weather or river conditions and determine what activities are safe in or near the water. A significant release from the dam will be alerted by a siren and all participants will withdraw to a safe distance.

If other users, bystanders or media approach the course activities they will be informed this is a training exercise (not a real emergency) and be directed to stay away from hazardous aspects.

If an emergency related to other users (not involving course participants) is brought to the attention of participants, the appropriate authorities shall be notified and where appropriate, an offer to assist shall be made.

Because the course will involve simulated emergencies, an actual emergency will be distinguished by saying "No Duff".

If a real emergency evolves, the course will be suspended until the scope of the emergency can be determined and a decision is made when and whether the course can continue. Or in the case of minor emergencies, a decision is made that not all participants are needed and training can continue while the minor emergency is addressed.

In the event of an emergency, a senior member (Search Manager) of the hosting agency (PCSAR) shall take command (Incident Commander) pending a formal tasking from an agency having jurisdiction. Given the presence of several key agencies such as RCMP, Alberta Parks, and PCES a formal tasking of personnel on site (or alternatively a decision to use other resources) may be very rapid. If a PCSAR Search Manager who also has jurisdiction (e.g. Alberta Parks personnel) is available, this would be the first choice of command.

The most experienced person available in the rescue activity shall be assigned to be the Rescue Team Leader or Operations Section Chief. In the case of a swift water rescue, this is likely to be the senior swift water rescue instructor.

Communications shall be established with the regular emergency response system (ambulance, rescue). This could be via cell phone (911), radio, sat phone, or if in a communications shadow by sending personnel to relay messages.

The normal protocols of the responding agencies shall be applied as dictated by the situation. An actual swift water rescue shall use the NFPA techniques and methods available under direction of the instructors given the constraints of the training and experience of the personnel on site.