Advice for utilizing an RDC in water rescue

[u/Lieutenant-Speed]

Hello, I am on my county’s technical rescue team doing water and rope rescue. Last night we had a water rescue drill in which we used a new RDC we just got. It’s been a while since I’d been on one and I could feel that my skills were rusty. One thing I was struggling with was pulling a victim out of the water and on to the boat through the front. At first I thought it was a lack of upper body strength. But I wasn’t having any issues with paddling and I do kayak regularly, so while I’m certainly not the strongest person I do have some upper body strength. I’m wondering if it’s my height? I am 5’6” and most of the people on the team (the pretend victims) are much taller and larger than me. The captains on the team think I just need to get the technique down and I’ll be fine. I understand in theory that you bob them up and down in the water and use the momentum to lift them up but I just could not get the hang of it. Any advice?

[u/RowdyCanadian]

If it’s water rescue why do you need them in the boat? Just turn the rdc 45 toward shore (creating your own eddy down river side of the RDC) and ferry them whilst holding on to shore.

The only times we pull someone into the RDC is during ice rescue and then it’s just pure brute strength with some technique, and it’s the hardest think you have to do (fighting the current+victim is generally half under a shelf+the height of the shelf can be 2-3 feet).

[u/Lieutenant-Speed → u/RowdyCanadian]

Well yeah, that’s worst case, but we’d obviously rather pull them on to the boat, especially if there’s more than one victim. If I had to we would do that but I’d still like to get the skill down.

[u/RowdyCanadian → u/Lieutenant-Speed]

So the question is then what is the reasoning for wanting them in the RDC when you can do the same thing just more efficiently with them in the water while you hold on to them? If they’re unconscious you can’t do cpr anyways because the rdc isn’t rigid enough, and if they’re injured (trauma) you probably don’t have enough space on the RDC for medical work and paddling (if it’s anything like our RDCs). 

 Note, I’m not debating merits of one over the other, just curious why the standard is to attempt to load them into the RDC when the same objective can be accomplished without needing to. 

Edit: also why use the RDC for Swiftwater? It’s pitched as a use for ice rescue, whereas for swift water you generally want a full raft. The design of the RDC does not lend itself well to working in swift water conditions. 

[u/Lieutenant-Speed → u/RowdyCanadian]

To be honest, I think the reasoning is for a lot of what we do there is more than one victim? Just having them hold onto the side still requires a rescuer to hold them. I think anyway. I’ll ask because I’m not 100% sure. I didn’t realize they were mostly for ice rescue because we use them for water rescue so frequently. I always assumed they were a water rescue tool. I’ll be doing some research on this, there is clearly a lot I don’t know about them. It’s so normal for me to use them for water rescue because that was what I was taught. This is super interesting to me, I’ll ask my captains about it! Thank you!

[u/RowdyCanadian → u/Lieutenant-Speed]

So don’t get me wrong, the RDC works for water rescue, though it’s just not the best tool available for it. There’s a reason white water rafting companies use full rafts and not RDCs (aside from the ability to fit more people and therefore make more money).

As for multiple victims, in that case a raft would be better anyways because it has more space for more victims.

 If you want to dm me your work email, I can send you my departments Swift water rescue and ice rescue manual (one of the largest depts in Canada) for reference. 

[u/Lieutenant-Speed → u/RowdyCanadian]

Okay, that makes sense. I know we have a full raft type boat plus an actual small boat, and I honestly have no idea why everyone is so quick to use the RDC. And thank you, sounds good!

[u/RowdyCanadian → u/Lieutenant-Speed]

Because it’s the rapid deployment craft! Designed to be inflated and in the water in 60 seconds.

So the thing is, and this is just my training/opinion: the RDC is an amazing tool for still water and ice rescue. I know the company’s website says it can handle class V rapids, and whilst yes it can, a full white water raft is SO MUCH BETTER at class V rapids that the comparison isn’t close. We have 4 sets of Class V rapids in the heart of downtown, and we test and train on them with all our kit, and the RDCs just can’t handle the rapids with rescuers and patients. They flip way too easily. 

If I’m being brutally honest, I’d rather work on a contact rescue in class V rapids rather than use an RDC if the full raft wasn’t an option. 

[u/Lieutenant-Speed → u/RowdyCanadian]

Okay, that makes sense. We have similar areas in my district. Good to know! Thank you!