IW5 - Public Rescue Equipment

Issue Date	Effective Date	Version
07/2024	01/07/2025	2.0

Purpose

To provide guidance for the provision of public rescue equipment at inland waterway locations.

Public rescue equipment is identified as equipment intended to be used by untrained persons to save a person from a dangerous or difficult situation.

Scope

This guideline applies to entities and/or individuals who own, operate, or control inland waterways; or own, operate or control public access to inland waterways; or have a responsibility / duty of care for the use of the associated inland waterway, such as land or water managers or inland waterway program or activity operators (hereafter referred to as the ‘responsible person’).

There are many examples where access to waterways is via land owned or operated by a variety of stakeholders, and where the waterway is owned or operated by a third party. A shared responsibility approach between stakeholders to each do what is reasonably practicable to reduce the risk of drowning or serious aquatic injury arising from use or access to the waterway should be adopted.

Description

The responsible person should make provisions for the availability of appropriate public rescue equipment at inland waterway locations, where reasonably practicable.

The provision of public access rescue equipment should be consistent with the Inland Waterway Classification and Associated Risk Treatment Measures Summary in Appendix C.

Public rescue equipment provisioning should never be considered in isolation. Other risk control measures should complement public rescue equipment, such as signage, zoning, supervision, etc.

The responsible person should provide public rescue equipment that is:

appropriate for the features and conditions of the inland waterway
meets regulatory requirements for buoyancy, dimension, material, line specifications and break strain
a weight not overly affected by wind conditions or that will present a danger to the victim or rescuer
bold in colour (ideally red, yellow or orange)
retrievable once deployed and then reusable
accompanied by appropriate signage and safe usage information
easy to use by members of the public with minimal hesitation and without putting the rescuer’s safety at unacceptable risk
positioned at optimal height for ease of access
positioned close to the water’s edge where possible (where not impacted by frequent flooding)
regularly inspected to ensure good working order

The selection, frequency of placement, and locality should be determined by a systematic risk assessment.

When conducting the risk assessment, consideration should be given to installing public rescue equipment at:

areas along the inland waterway with a high-population-density (greater than 500 people per square kilometre)
areas along the waterway where there are high visitor numbers
areas along the inland waterway where there are natural or engineered structures with a near-vertical drop into the water, including any areas affected by extreme storm impacts or dam-related release levels
areas of a waterway where egress would be difficult after an accidental immersion (e.g. dock, steep or rocky banks, etc.)
areas along the waterway that are designated swimming and recreation locations or are in public areas where in-water activities are promoted or known to occur

Known Swimming and Recreation Areas

See IW7: Designated Swimming and Recreation Areas

Determining location and frequency of placement

Rescue equipment should be placed:

in a centrally located, accessible position
located at an optimum height for ease of access (between 1.2m and 1.5m from ground to centre of equipment is usually appropriate for most adults)
at places of highest risk, close to hazards
at recognisable entry points to the water, such as boat ramps, beach entries, walking paths

The responsible person should determine the feasibility of providing rescue equipment at regular intervals within a recreation area. For example in high visitation areas, such as city centre areas with riverways, rescue equipment should be provided at regular intervals along the inland waterway where public access is available. In determining the frequency of intervals, the responsible person should consider:

how difficult the paths of travel are to and from the rescue equipment and the waterway
how far a person on the shore would need to travel in order to access the rescue equipment to conduct the rescue
how inherently hazardous the conditions in the inland waterway are, such as currents, cold water, floating objects, waterfalls and submerged objects

Central Business District Locations

Central Business Districts are highly visited areas to work, live, visit and play. The Yarra, the Swan, the Brisbane, the Ross, the Macquarie and many other rivers which pass through cities, are the in the top 10 blackspot drowning locations nationwide.

Responsible persons should provide public rescue equipment (and safety signage) at CBD waterfront locations at frequent intervals.

Consideration should be given to accompanying rescue equipment installation with community education activities and media to raise awareness of the equipment’s location and educate safe use.

Selecting the type of public rescue equipment

Public rescue equipment should be suitable for the aquatic environment and should prevent the rescuer from entering the water to reach a victim whenever possible.

Types of public rescue equipment can include:

lifebuoy ring (also known as life ring, life buoy, angel ring)
throw ropes
reach poles/hooks
rescue tubes

Rescue Equipment Selection Information

The below table represents the various benefits and limitations of different types of rescue equipment.

TYPE	BENEFITS	DRAWBACKS	SUITABLE TO USE
Small to medium sized lifebuoy ring	adequate buoyancy to support a victim durable in extreme weather conditions designed to throw not easily tossed by the wind rescue line assists in quick victim retrieval can be used as an in-water rescue device easy to deploy	minor risk of injury to victim if equipment impacts head during deployment victim must be conscious in order to use	rocky shorelines where there is medium or steep shelving
Large lifebuoy ring	adequate buoyancy to support a victim durable in extreme weather conditions designed to throw not easily tossed by the wind rescue line assists in quick victim retrieval can be used as an in-water rescue device easy to deploy	minor risk of injury to victim if equipment impacts head during deployment victim must be conscious in order to use	anywhere where there is a straight drop between the rescuer and the victim. where the victim might not be easily recovered from the water (no obvious access/egress point) location with possible multiple victims (where boats enter and exit the water or along public pathways
Throw rope	designed to throw easy to deploy Easy to redeploy	potential of rope catching when surface hazards are present between rescuer and victim victim must be conscious	rocky shorelines where currents are present
Rescue tube	light weight adequate buoyancy to support victim and rescuer durable in extreme weather conditions loop line facilitates tow rescue may be used as a reach aid or throw aid over shorter distances	potential of rope catching when underwater hazards are present due to its light weight, it can be carried by wind when thrown, may be difficult to effect a dry rescue (requires an entry in most cases)	victim is too far away to throw or reach water conditions are suitable for entry where an in-water rescue is required

Rescue Equipment Specifications

The following table describes the specifications for differenet types of rescue equipment.

	LIFEBUOY RING	THROW ROPE	RESCUE TUBE
Floatation / Buoyancy (N = Newtons)	A positive flotation / buoyancy of at least 50N	A positive flotation / buoyancy of at least 40N	A positive flotation / buoyancy of at least 100N
Weight and Dimensions	Small to medium weight of 1–2kg diameter of 45–61cm Large weight of 1–2kg diameter of 63–81cm	No specifications	weight: 600–750g length of 87.5–100cm width maximum of 15cm height maximum of 10cm distance from extremity of the clip to the extremity of the second O-ring: 130–165cm Overall length of from clip to the end of the lanyard 3.65–4.30m
Line	able to float be highly visible be 18–20 metres not to exceed maximum length of 25m plus any expected maximum drop to the water have a thickness of 9.5–13.5mm be made of polypropylene staple. have a minimum of 0.5 tonne breaking strain be coiled in a clockwise direction or in a bag that is easy to check and deploy freely have little or no memory to be repacked effectively where possible, have unique coloured strands to assist with identifying theft	able to float be highly visible be 18–20 metres not to exceed maximum length of 25m plus any expected maximum drop to the water have a thickness of 6–13.5mm be made of polypropylene staple have a minimum of 0.5 tonne breaking strain Have no looped end be coiled in a bag that is easy to check and deploy freely have little or no memory to be repacked effectively where possible, have unique coloured strands to assist with identifying theft	be 1.90–2.10m from the first O-ring to the lanyard webbing and must include a minimum of 2 O-rings be of a synthetic type of rope which is UV treated webbing, leash and fittings must be able to withstand a minimum of 454.55kg stress in a longitudinal direction without damage lanyard webbing: 50mm wide woven nylon with a length of 1.30–1.60m and a loop circumference of 1.20m minimum webbing connections must be 25mm wide woven nylon all stitching must be locked stitched type 301 (as in AS2259) and the thread is to have similar properties to the materials being sewn O-rings must be brass, stainless steal (welded) or UV treated nylon and be 37.5mm internal diameter with no sharp edges Clips must be brass or stainless steel snap hooks (KS2470-70) with a length of 70mm and no sharp edges
Features	have retro-reflective tape on four points to aid visibility at night-time be durable to sustain long-term exposure to outside environmental conditions be foam filled (polyurethane) or made of a solid mass (foam) to prevent water entering the item be brightly coloured (ideally red and white or orange) A grip handle is recommended to aid the throwing technique and there should have a rope attached to at least four points around the ring with rope having same or similar line specification)	have retro-reflective tape on four points to aid visibility at night-time be durable to sustain long-term exposure to outside environmental conditions be brightly coloured (ideally red and white or orange)	closed cell plastic foam, durable and flexible the body must be able to roll within itself with a force of 5–6kg be brightly coloured (colour-fast red, yellow or orange as per AS1318)
User Information	display accurate minimum instructions a maximum reading time of 10 seconds. no more than 4 words per image	display accurate minimum instructions a maximum reading time of 10 seconds. no more than 4 words per image	display accurate minimum instructions a maximum reading time of 10 seconds. no more than 4 words per image

Public rescue equipment may be accompanied by lifesaving support and first aid equipment including:

CPR equipment
defibrillators
emergency communications
first aid kits
spine board
beacons

As well as public rescue equipment, solutions for engineered developments and additional equipment could be considered to aid casualty recovery, for example, ladders, grab chains/ropes near water level, steps or scramble nets.

Signage for public rescue equipment

Public rescue equipment should be accompanied by directional signage to indicate the location of the public rescue equipment in the environment as well as signage at the public rescue equipment site.

The public rescue equipment signage should balance simplicity with appropriate information to enable correct and safe use.

Public rescue equipment signage should:

be a suitable size
use easy to interpret symbols in line with recognised colours and patterns (refer to IW4)
use concise language whenever possible (e.g. "put strap on shoulder, give tube to victim, return to shore")
consider including a warning message about risk to the rescuer (e.g. "Danger - even for strong swimmers or those skilled in aquatic rescue techniques, there is a real risk of drowning when attempting a rescue. Your own personal safety should be number one priority in any rescue situation."

Public Rescue Equipment Sign

Design of public rescue equipment housing / installation

Casing of pubic rescue equipment options include no housing, open housing or closed housing. Each option needs to consider variables including visibility, access, UV protection, vandalism, maintenance, instruction display and cost. Evidence suggests that public rescue equipment in secure housing may provide a better deterrent to vandalism.

Regardless of casing option, the casing should be:

Bold in colour (ideally red, yellow or orange)
Simple in design
Easy to open

Though not always possible, consideration should be given to the functionality of public rescue equipment automatically alerting emergency services when activated whenever possible.

Due to coverage and reliability of mobile telephones at some inland waterway locations, if the public rescue equipment does not automatically alert emergency services, consideration should be given to communication devices suitable for isolated aquatic environments (e.g. fixed land-line emergency telephone, Global Systems Mobile – based emergency telephone/call point).

It is advisable to incorporate safety information on either the public rescue equipment housing or the signage. The information should include the following:

emergency assistance information
call triple zero (000) in an emergency
details of the location to help the rescuer direct the emergency services

Maintenance of public rescue equipment

Inspections are important to ensure public rescue equipment is in good working order.

Inspections may be conducted in conjunction with an aquatic risk assessment or as a stand-alone activity.

The frequency of inspections can be monitored for a period of time to gauge how often the equipment is used, vandalised, or removed.

All inspections should be documented.

Unique location codes at the equipment site can help manage and maintain the equipment as well as information relevant to the criminal statute within your jurisdiction, e.g. anti-theft/vandalism.

Vandalism of public rescue equipment may be a problem experienced at some locations, so budgetary provisions for checking, maintenance and replacement is an important consideration.

References

Australian Government National Health and Medical Research Council (2006). Guidelines for Managing Risk in Recreational Water. Australian Government, Canberra, Australia.
Dennis, A. (2023). Using Good Design to Save Lives. Life Saving Victoria, Port Melbourne, Australia.
International Life Saving Federation (2023). ILS Competition Rule Book. International Life Saving Federation, Gemeenteplein, Belgium.
Lifesaving Society BC & Yukon Branch (2019). Waterfront Safety Standards. Lifesaving Society BC & Yukon, Burnaby, Canada.
New South Wales Office of Local Government (2017). Practice Note No. 15 – Water Safety. Department of Planning and Environment, Sydney, Australia.
Royal Life Saving Society – NSW/ACT/TAS (2022). Public Rescue Equipment Guide: Inland Waterways. Royal Life Saving NSW/ACT/TAS, Sydney, Australia.
Royal National Lifeboat Institute (2007). A guide to costal public rescue equipment. Royal National Lifeboat Institute, Poole, England.
Royal Life Saving Society Australia – Victora Branch (2004). Guidelines for Water Safety in Urban Water Developments. Royal Life Saving Society Australia – Victorian Branch, Melbourne, Australia.
Standards Australia (1996). General requirements for buoyancy aids (AS 2259:1996). Standards Australia, Sydney, Australia.
Standards Australia (2010). Water safety signs and beach safety flags (AS 2416:2010). Standards Australia, Sydney, Australia.
Velasco B, Galanis DJ, Bronstein AC, et al. Inj Prev (2022). Public rescue tube deployment in Hawaii: protective association with rescuer drownings. Hawaii State Department of Health, Honolulu, United Sates of America.

Staying Safe

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