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Firefighter Survival in the Water By Gerald M. Dworkin February 11, 1998
During the past several years, there has been a lot of conflicting
information advocating the need for the firefighter to assume a prone
(on the front) versus a supine (on the back) position in the water.
It is our belief that the firefighter should assume a horizontal
position in the water as soon as he floats to the surface. Whether the
firefighter assumes a prone or supine horizontal position should be
dependent upon the individual comfort level of the firefighter. However,
it is also our opinion that if the firefighter is wearing SCBA, as he
would during suppression activities, it is safer and more comfortable
for the firefighter to assume a supine horizontal position. It is our
hope that this article and the supporting photographs will clarify our
opinion. Wearing full turnout gear with SCBA increases the weight of a firefighter by approximately 60 lbs. (Photo A). When the turnout gear is wet, approximately 40 lbs. of additional weight is added as a result of the absorbed water into the pockets and lining of the turnout gear. Yet, even with the additional 100 lbs. of weight, after the firefighter falls into the water, he will immediately float to the surface as a result of the trapped air inside his turnout gear. The firefighter can safely maintain his buoyancy in the water while working his way to safety or until he can be rescued by other firefighters. (Photo B). Once immersed, many airpacks will automatically free-flow air. Due to the positive pressure in the air mask, as long as the seal has not been compromised, the firefighter can continue to breathe with the mask in place.    Immediately
after falling into the water, the firefighter needs to assume a horizontal
position in the water. If he attempts to get vertical, all the trapped
air will escape from the neck and arms of the turnout coat and the firefighter
will immediately lose his buoyancy. (Photo C). While
maintaining a horizontal position in the water, the firefighter should
use only underwater arm movements to progress himself to safety. Overarm
movements will again result in losing air from the turnout coat, and
the weight of the arms will lead to exhaustion of the firefighter.
The firefighter's turnout gear can assist him in staying afloat. The firefighter's helmet can be used to trap air and when placed over the hips, will help to elevate the firefighter's hips in the water. (Photo D). If the firefighter is wearing rubber pull-on boots, he can remove one, or both boots, empty the water from them, and then invert them to trap air. The trapped air inside the boot provides sufficient buoyancy to keep the firefighter afloat. (Photo E & F).
  
We encourage all Fire and Rescue Departments to provide the
opportunity for firefighter personnel to practice these survival procedures
while wearing full turnout gear. These practical evolutions should be
performed in shallow water under the watchful eye of an Instructor.
After these skills are mastered and the firefighter is comfortable in
the water with his gear, these skills should then be practiced in deep
water. We recommend these skills be practiced by one firefighter at
a time in the water along with an in-water Instructor. The in-water
Instructor should have a buoyant device (i.e. Rescue Tube) available
should the firefighter panic and/or lose his buoyancy. Lifesaving Resources Inc. - www.lifesaving.com - 603/563-8330 |
It
is the opinion of this author that the best horizontal position for
the firefighter to assume when wearing SCBA is the supine position (on
the back). This position allows the firefighter to assume a good horizontal
position with the toes of his feet near the surface in order to trap
air in his boots. It also provides the best advantage for seeing his
surroundings, as well as for using the underwater arm movements. Should
the firefighter need to dump his SCBA, the supine position allows the
firefighter the best access to his SCBA straps. (Photo G).
Should additional air need to be added within the turnout coat, this
can easily be done with the firefighter in this position by spashing
water into the bottom of the turnout coat. 
Some authorities recommend a prone (on the front) position. However, by assuming this position, the SCBA bottle prevents the firefighter from removing his head from the water, especially if he is still wearing his helmet. Furthermore, by overcompensating and lifting his head higher out of the water, this tends to place him in a more vertical position which results in his losing trapped air from the turnout coat. (Photo H).