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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Perform an elementary swift water rescue operation 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
260132  Perform an elementary swift water rescue operation 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Fire and Rescue 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 11 - Services Cleaning, Domestic, Hiring, Property and Rescue Services 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  3 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard is for rescue practitioners that are expected to respond to incidents that require the application of shore-based rescues of patients, and self-rescue in the event of accidental immersion, in any swift water environment.

A person credited with this unit standard will be able to:
  • Describe the dangers and limitations associated with swift water rescues.
  • Use swift water rescue equipment.
  • Effect a swift water rescue.
  • Effect self-rescue in the event of accidental immersion.

    This unit standard will contribute to the full development of any supervisory level learner within the emergency services by providing recognition, further mobility, and transportability within the rescue and emergency services field. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that a learner is already competent in:
  • Communication at NQF Level 4.
  • Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 4.
  • The unit standard:
    > Conduct single-person high angle rope rescue.

    It is strongly recommended that persons undergoing this unit standard must have the ability to swim. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Swift water environments refer to but are not limited:
  • Rivers.
  • Dams.
  • Streams.
  • Flood plains.
  • Gorges.
  • Watersheds.
  • Sluices and weirs.
  • Channels.

    Swift water rescue equipment refers to but is not limited to:
  • Personal flotation devices.
  • Swift water rescues helmets.
  • Throw-bags (with rope).
  • Swift water rescue whistles.
  • Flotation buoys.
  • Rescue lines.
  • Torches, chemical lights and strobes.
  • Swift water rescue knives.
  • Pulleys and karabiners.
  • Two-Way radio. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Describe the dangers and limitations associated with swift water rescues. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Dangers associated with swift water environments are identified in terms of actions required to perform safe rescues. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Dangers include but are not limited to bank collapses, slip and trip collapse, wash-aways, geomorphic hazards, water volumes pressures and speeds, local and remote climatic changes, fauna and flora, and debris.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Swift water areas are assessed in terms of requirements to facilitate safe operations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Swift water dangers are identified and explained in terms the likelihood and consequences of their occurrence. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Limitations of performing swift water rescue operations are described for a given environment. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Limitations refer to but are not limited to equipment, climate, rescuers, patients and condition.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Use swift water rescue equipment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Equipment used for swift water rescue is described in terms of their features and limitations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Swift water rescue equipment is used in accordance with its design and a given scenario. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The importance of maintaining personal safety when performing swift water rescue operations is explained in terms of on-going readiness to provide assistance to victims. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Swift water rescue equipment is maintained in accordance with manufacturer or organizational specifications in real and/or simulated circumstances. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Effect a swift water rescue. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Swift water rescue terminology is known and used within the swift water environment to ensure facilitation of a coordinated operation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The principles of a swift water rescue and their application are explained in the context of safe operations. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Principles refer to the acronym used in the swift water rescue industry as "RETHROGH" (REach, THrow, ROw, Go, Helo).
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    A throw-bag is deployed to reach a victim within accepted tolerances for a given situation. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Situations include but are not limited to patients that are adrift, stranded, ensnared and patients that are trapped in 'hydraulics'.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Zip lines are constructed and rigged through stretching a line to assist rescuer and victims to cross over currents. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Victims are rescued from a swift water environment within acceptable timeframes for the given situation and victim condition. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Effect self-rescue in the event of accidental immersion. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The importance of exercising precautionary measures against accidental entry into water is explained in relation to overall safety operations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Methods to gain access to safety are applied in order to rescue self and other victims involved in an accident. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Methods refer to positioning and ferry-gliding to facilitate movement within and across a moving body of water.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Points of exit to ensure safety of the rescuer are identified and explained in terms of their advantages and challenges. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    A throw line is used in accordance with standard procedures to rescue self from potentially hazardous situations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    A zip line is used in accordance with standard procedures to rescue self from potentially hazardous situations. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Any individual wishing to be assessed (including through RPL) against this unit standard may apply to an assessment agency, assessor or provider institution accredited by the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard or assessing this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be conducted by the relevant ETQA at its discretion. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • Ropes and knots.
  • Incident Management System.
  • Organisational rules, processes and procedures.
  • Swimming techniques.
  • Personal safety. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identifying and solving problems related to swift water incidents such as drowning, near drowning, hypothermia, entrapments and rapidly changing environments and apply methods and techniques to rescue victims and/or rescuers. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others by assisting members of the team to ensure efficient and effective safe rescue operation in a specific swift water environment. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    The ability to speedily organize oneself and one's activities and swift water rescue equipment in order to perform swift water rescues. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information relating to the environmental, climatic and water condition including the patient condition to determine appropriate rescue strategy. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively by using different methods of communication channels in respect of radio, verbal and non-verbal communications throughout the swift water rescue operations. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others by using appropriate rescue systems or strategies in a dynamic environment. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Understand the world as a set of related systems in that the dynamics of swift water rescue will determine the actions of the rescue team. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  64390   National Certificate: Emergency Services Supervision: Fire and Rescue Operations  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  LG SETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Goldfields Emergency Fire Services Training Academy 
    2. Josmap Training Institute 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.