RES CPR 15 Distribute a Decision-Making Tool for How to Select Water Rescue Equipment
Develop and disseminate a decision-making tool for laypersons regarding the selection and effective use of life-saving water rescue equipment.
Spectrum level: Strengthening Individual Knowledge and Skills
Evidence level: Medium
Rationale:
For people, communities, or organizations who are thinking of putting in Public Rescue Equipment (PREs) , this will be a tool that can be used to show the benefits and challenges associated with each item.
Anticipated Impact:
After implementing this recommendation, you can expect to experience the following outcome:
- Developing and disseminating a decision-making tool for laypersons regarding the selection and effective use of life-saving water rescue equipment leads to a better selection metric for which PRE is chosen, with input from lIfeguards and rescue personnel and informed by evidence of effective use.
- Coordination of efforts to create a PSA relating to water safety
Evidence:
Note, Information is still being collected for this recommendation. In the meantime, Hawaii has relevant information on Personal Rescue Equipment, a source for information from New Zealand has been included under Evidence Sources, and there is additional content available from SLS South Africa.
Evidence Sources:
https://nzsar.govt.nz/news/coastal-safety-signage-and-public-rescue-equipment-guidelines.
High Risk Populations Addressed:
All populations can benefit from implementation of this recommendation, however bystanders making a rescue, and those they are rescuing, will specifically benefit.
Evaluation Metrics:
Indicators of long-term impact:
- Bystander rescuer drownings decrease
- Drowning rates decrease
Indicators of intermediate impact:
- More public rescue equipment is used to make rescues
Indicators of initial impact: - More public rescue equipment is provided at relevant locations
Implementation:
Consider the following to ensure successful implementation:
- Share with communities who may not have lifeguards but do have large waterways.
- Include information on using a rescue can, ring buoy, rescue tube, throw line, and anything else that would be deemed one of the potential tools they might put in their community if they are trying to put something up at a public waterway.
- Use professionals and bystanders who have made successful recuses in tool development.
Challenges to Implementation:
When implementing this recommendation, you might encounter challenges related to the following factors.
- People opposed to public rescue equipment.
- Ensure communities don't perceive this is a replacement for lifeguards.
Potential Facilitators:
The following factors might facilitate the implementation of this recommendation:
- State and local government agencies such as: park and recreation departments, health or transportation departments, fire and rescue services/agencies.
- Police and fire benevolent leagues or associations.
- Healthcare professionals, hospitals, etc.
- Local aquatic venues and service providers.
- Schools, churches, and other community and publicly accessible organizations and locations.