6.1 General
6.1.1 When the search object has been located, the SMC (or the OSC or master or pilot-in-command of the SAR facility as the case may be) must decide on the method of rescue to be followed and the facilities to be used. The following factors should be considered:
action taken by the sighting craft and the SAR action which can be taken by other craft on-scene;
location and disposition of the survivors;
condition of survivors and medical considerations;
number of persons reported to be on board the distressed craft and the number who have been located;
environmental conditions, observed and forecasted;
available SAR facilities and their state of readiness (to reduce delay, the SAR facilities which are likely to be used should be alerted and deployed to a suitable location while the search is in progress);
effect of weather conditions on SAR operations;
time of day (remaining daylight) and other factors relating to visibility; and any risks to SAR personnel, such as hazardous materials.
6.1.2 In times of armed conflict, SAR services will normally continue to be provided in accordance with the Second Geneva Convention of 1949 (Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of the Armed Forces at Sea, of 12 August 1949) and Additional Protocol I to the Conventions.
(a) The SAR services recognized by their Administrations are afforded protection for their humanitarian missions so far as operational requirements permit. Such protection applies to coastal rescue craft, their personnel, and fixed coastal SAR installations, including RCCs and RSCs as far as these centres are located in coastal areas and are used exclusively to co-ordinate search and rescue operations.
SAR personnel should be informed about their Administration’s status regarding, and views on the implementation of, the Second Geneva Convention and its Additional Protocol I.
(b) Chapter XIV of the International Code of Signals illustrates the different means of identification that shall be used to provide effective protection for rescue craft.
(c) The above-mentioned coastal installations should, in time of armed conflict, display the distinctive emblem (red cross or red crescent), according to regulations issued by their competent authorities.
(d) It is recommended that Parties to a conflict notify the other Parties with the name, description and locations (or area of activity) of their above-mentioned rescue craft and coastal installations in the area they are located.
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6.2 Sighting and Subsequent Procedures
6.2.1 When the search object has been located, ensure that the search facility (or rescue team if it is a land-based facility) understands that the rescue of survivors may be even more difficult and hazardous than the search.
The search facility should indicate to the survivors that they have been sighted, by any of the following methods:
flashing a signalling lamp or searchlight; or
firing two, preferably green, signal flares a few seconds apart; or
if the search facility is an aircraft, the pilot may be able to fly low over the survivors with landing lights on or rocking the wings.
6.2.2 If the search facility is unable to effect an immediate rescue, ensure that it knows it may consider other steps such as:
dropping communications and survival equipment;
keeping the distress scene in sight at all times, thoroughly surveying the scene and accurately plotting its location, and marking it with a dye marker, smoke float or floating radio beacons;
reporting the sighting to the SMC with available information on:
time of sighting – time zone to be specified;
position of the search object;
description of the distress scene;
number of sighted survivors and their apparent condition;
apparent condition of the distressed craft;
supplies and survival equipment required by survivors (in general, supply of water should take priority over that of food);
all messages, including radio transmissions, received from survivors;
weather and, if applicable, sea conditions;
type and location of nearby surface craft;
action taken or assistance already given, and future actions required;
remaining fuel and on-scene endurance of search facility or land facility making the report; and apparent risks involved in the rescue, including hazardous materials.
6.2.3 The SMC may also request the search facility to:
establish the location of stretches of land or water suitable for use by aircraft, pararescuers, and paramedics and the best route for use by a land facility;
direct rescue facilities and other aircraft to the distress scene;
if the search facility is an aircraft, take photographs of the distressed craft from normal search heights and directions, from a low level, and from an angle, taking in prominent landmarks, if possible; and remain on-scene until relieved, forced to return to base, or rescue has been effected.
6.3 Delivery of Rescue Personnel and Equipment
6.3.1 Maritime SRUs are a reliable means of delivering supplies, equipment, and personnel to the scene of a distress. Equipment may include bilge pumps, towing equipment, fire-fighting equipment, and medical supplies. Personnel delivery is usually limited to medical personnel or repair parties.
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6.3.2 Air delivery of supplies, equipment, or personnel to the scene is the most expeditious method. Helicopters are particularly suitable for this purpose and are usually the primary means for delivering personnel.
Personnel delivery by fixed-wing aircraft is limited to pararescue personnel.
6.3.3 SRUs should carry a variety of rescue equipment at all times, but SAR boats and helicopters are limited due to their size. An SRU should be provided with rescue equipment suitable for individual operations. A supply of commonly required equipment should be maintained at the permanent bases of SRUs. This includes equipment designed for supply-dropping by aircraft.
6.3.4 Illumination of the scene of operation is required at night. All SRUs should be capable of providing this.
Illumination could involve the use of parachute flares or high-intensity searchlights. Section 5.7 provides additional information.
6.4 Supplies and Survival Equipment
6.4.1 Supplies and survival equipment are carried by air and maritime SAR facilities to aid survivors, and facilitate their rescue. The type and number to be carried depend on the circumstances on-scene. Maritime facilities and helicopters generally can deliver this equipment directly to survivors. Fixed-wing aircraft can deliver supplies to survivors if suitable landing areas exist nearby or if the supplies can be dropped at the scene.
The packing of supplies and survival equipment should be adapted to the manner of delivery.
6.4.2 Packs of supplies and survival equipment must be adapted to the circumstances of the SRR in which they are used. Appendix G provides a guide of recommended supplies and survival equipment that SRUs may be expected to provide. Other SAR facilities may not have such supplies and equipment.
6.4.3 Droppable Containers and Packages. The type and dimensions of droppable containers or packages will vary with the type and quantities of equipment to be dropped (dictated by the number of survivors and their requirements); the size and type of the delivering aircraft; the manner of delivery (e.g., parachute or free-drop from wing racks or through hatches, let down from helicopters, etc.); and the surface conditions.
Containers and packages of supplies and survival equipment should be strong, easy to open, of a highly visible colour, waterproof, and buoyant. Containers are normally cylindrical and can be made economically of a light metal alloy, such as aluminium, or of plastic-coated three-ply corrugated cardboard. Packages may consist of bags made of heavy canvas reinforced with webbing and cardboard stiffeners. If it is necessary to drop large quantities of liquids separately from other items, suitable containers should be filled to no more than nine-tenths of capacity to prevent bursting. Drinking water may be free-dropped in suitable containers. Other considerations include:
(a) Items of a non-fragile and robust nature may be free-dropped into water or other favourable areas provided their packing will be able to withstand the shock and are watertight and buoyant. It is usually better to attach parachutes. The parachutes need not be of the same standard as those used by air crews and may be economically made from obsolete aircrew parachutes, or from a suitable and inexpensive cloth.
(b) The contents of each container or package should be clearly indicated in print in English and two or more other languages or using self-explanatory symbols, and may also be indicated by colour-coded streamers and pictograms discussed in Appendix G, Section G-7.
(c) Instructions on the use of survival equipment should be enclosed in each of the droppable containers or packages. They should be printed in English and one or more other languages appropriate for the area, using self-explanatory diagrams and symbols wherever possible.
6.4.4 Storage and Inspection. Since it may not be economical to provide all facilities with supplies and survival equipment, storage depots may be established at appropriate locations. These depots could also be used to store equipment that should be available to SRUs if not already carried by them as discussed in chapter 5.
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(a) An adequate number of packs of supplies and survival equipment should be kept at aerodromes and ports from which SRUs normally operate. In addition, packs may be stored at redeployment bases and at aerodromes and ports where SRUs are not normally available, but where the packs could be easily picked up during a SAR operation. If this is not possible, arrangements should be made to ensure rapid delivery from a nearby depot.
(b) Used stocks of packing material and supplies and survival equipment should be replenished immediately. Unused stocks should be inspected and repacked at regular intervals and replaced if necessary.
6.4.5 For air SAR facilities:
(a) All fixed-wing search aircraft should carry supplies and survival equipment for dropping to survivors as soon as they have been found. This will be important when survivors are found to be in a weakened condition, or, after being located, must sustain themselves for extended periods.
(b) Liferafts packed for dropping should be available for use when:
survival craft have not been launched successfully or have been damaged in launching;
survival craft have become unserviceable;
survivors are overcrowded in the survival craft in use; or survivors are in the water.
Liferafts, supplies, and equipment may be dropped together in a chain (ideally with liferafts at each end).
(c) An airborne droppable lifeboat may contribute to the rescue, but the need for a particular type of aircraft, handling, and dropping procedures makes it an item which can only be used by specialized SRUs.
6.4.6 For maritime SAR facilities:
(a) The supplies and survival equipment carried on rescue boats and other inshore craft need not be extensive when medical attention, blankets, clothing, hot drinks, etc., are available ashore. Additional equipment should be taken if the rescue boats are limited in number or the climate is severe. Hot liquids, covering for survivors, and insulating blankets for hypothermic survivors should always be carried.
(b) Rescue vessels likely to operate some distance offshore should carry an adequate quantity of the items referred to above, including equipment for artificial respiration, first aid, and advanced life support to the extent of the crew’s training.
6.5 Supply Dropping
6.5.1 When deciding whether or not supplies should be dropped, consider whether communications have been established with the survivors, and if so, whether:
the needed supplies have been identified;
suitable aircraft are available; and
the crew has adequate training and experience.
6.5.2 Pilot and crew should understand and be able to account for factors that affect an air drop, such as:
correct release point;
drift effect of the wind;
aircraft speed;
aircraft height;
relative locations of the distress site and the rescue facility’s base;
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time before rescue can be effected; and danger of exposure.
6.5.3 Type of Aircraft. Military aircraft designed for dropping containers or specially designed civil aircraft should be used when supplies are to be dropped. If such aircraft are not available, supplies should be dropped only in extreme emergencies. Selection of other aircraft should be made in advance by personnel knowledgeable in this type of operation, and accounted for in the plans of operation.
6.5.4 When necessary, a supply-dropping operation should be co-ordinated with the appropriate ATS unit as far in advance of the mission as possible to avoid any undue delay in the issuance of an air traffic control clearance.
6.6 Medical Personnel
6.6.1 In formulating any rescue plan, the SMC should consider establishing a forward medical base to enable triage by competent medical staff. Once the search object has been sighted, the SMC must consider whether to send medical personnel to the scene. Another consideration is the mental trauma that both survivors and rescuers may endure. Plans and procedures should be developed for post-traumatic stress syndrome debriefings.
6.7 Rescue by Aircraft
6.7.1 In some cases aircraft may be used for rescue. Each aircraft has operational and technical limitations and should not be used on operations for which it is not suitable. When possible, a rescue operation by aircraft should be backed up by a surface facility, particularly for a large number of survivors.
6.7.2 Fixed-wing aircraft may drop equipment to survivors and direct rescue facilities. They can mark the position as long as they can remain on-scene, by serving as a radio and radar beacon, showing lights, dropping flares, and providing radio signals for direction finding and homing by other rescue facilities.
6.7.3 The use of a landplane as a rescue aircraft is limited to instances where there is a suitable landing site at or near the distress scene or where the aircraft is designed to operate from rough and improvised strips. This can be done, for instance, in cold climates where landplanes fitted with skis operate from frozen lakes and rivers or snow-covered surfaces. Landing in unknown terrain may, even under ideal conditions, be hazardous, and the urgency of the situation should be carefully considered by the pilot before it is attempted. It may be possible to have one qualified person parachuted in to survey the area.
6.7.4 Seaplanes and amphibians are able to operate from lakes, rivers, and in-shore waters and can land close to survivors located in such areas. However, a landing in unknown waters may be risky.
(a) Under favourable weather and sea conditions, seaplanes and amphibians can be used for rescue operations in inland seas, large lakes, bays, or coastal waters. This should only be considered when no other means of rescue are immediately available.
(b) Open-sea landings should only be contemplated with aircraft designed for the purpose. A landing in the open sea should not be attempted when rescue can be assured through other means.
6.7.5 Helicopters can be used to rescue survivors by winching or by landing on a ship if a suitable location exists.
Water landings are possible when amphibious helicopters are used. Due to their unique flying capabilities, they should be used whenever possible. They are particularly suitable for rescues in heavy seas or at locations where surface facilities are unable to operate. However, there are special concerns of which the SMC must be aware:
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(a) Operations by surface parties may be hampered by the noise and rotor wash produced by helicopters. To facilitate the co-ordination between helicopters and surface rescue facilities and to minimize the risk of collision associated with helicopters operating in a confined space, their operations should be co-ordinated by a facility in communication with them, and preferably by the OSC.
(b) The number of survivors that a helicopter may take aboard each trip is limited. Therefore, it may be necessary to reduce its weight by removal of non-essential equipment or fuel. Fuel loads at the scene may be reduced by use of advance bases with fuelling capabilities.
(c) The route followed by the helicopter as well as the location where the survivors are to disembark should be known to the SMC.
(d) Due to the generally limited fuel reserves of helicopters, and their susceptibility to icing in some locations, it may be advantageous to dispatch a fixed-wing aircraft in advance to confirm the suitability of en route weather, and ensure that the craft requiring assistance is properly briefed in advance on helicopter hoisting procedures.
(e) Recovery by landing of the helicopter creates additional concerns. Factors like turbulence, level terrain, clearing, loose debris, altitude, and landing and take-off paths must be considered when selecting a landing site. Operations in a high-altitude environment will reduce helicopter performance and severely affect hovering capability. When conditions are marginal, landings should be carried out only as a last resort.
(f) A typical recovery is carried out by hovering over the survivors and taking them aboard using a winch with a sling, rescue basket, rescue net, rescue seat, or rescue stretcher. Selection of the site is the same as for recovery by landing. However, the cable and rescue device being lowered may have a large static electricity charge. No one should touch the cable or rescue device until it has made contact with the surroundings.
6.8 Rescue by Maritime Facilities
6.8.1 When both maritime rescue facilities and helicopters are dispatched to the scene, it may be advisable to transfer survivors to the helicopters for a more rapid delivery to medical facilities. All surface SRUs should be equipped to lift survivors from the water without help from the survivors, as they may be injured, exhausted, or suffering from hypothermia. When hoisting a person suffering from hypothermia, especially after immersion in water, a rescue basket or stretcher should be used to hoist the person in a horizontal position since the hoisting of such persons in a vertical position may cause severe shock or even cardiac arrest.
6.8.2 Rescue vessel capabilities generally fall into two categories.
(a) Designated SRUs can provide excellent means for rescuing survivors in coastal areas and at sea.
Larger vessels are generally capable of radio communication with any ship or craft on all maritime frequencies. The master of a designated SRU of this type is particularly suitable for acting as an OSC.
Larger rescue facilities are capable of all SAR operations, including extended search.
(b) If no designated vessels are available, a merchant ship should take over the duties of OSC (see International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual for Mobile Facilities). Merchant ships may be the only means for an immediate rescue. ARCCs and MRCCs responsible for maritime areas should be able to rapidly obtain the positions of merchant ships within their areas. Section 1.3 provides additional information.
6.8.3 Rescue boats typically are designated SRUs but may include any craft near the scene of the distress.
Designated rescue boats are generally small and may not be able to carry many survivors. It may be necessary to send a number of boats to the distress scene if they are available. Each boat should carry additional lifesaving appliances to enable survivors who cannot be rescued immediately to remain afloat
Designated rescue boats are generally small and may not be able to carry many survivors. It may be necessary to send a number of boats to the distress scene if they are available. Each boat should carry additional lifesaving appliances to enable survivors who cannot be rescued immediately to remain afloat