The term “swift water rescue” refers to a subcategory of technical rescue involving fast-moving water conditions. Although sometimes called “white water rescue”, it applies to any rescue situation in an environment—rural or urban—with moving water, including one not normally submerged, such as a flooded drainage area. While “swift water” has no formal definition in the rescue industry, many industry professionals accept the following qualifications as standard:

• Water depth of over 2 feet
• Flow rate of, at minimum, one knot (1.15 miles/hour)
• Occurrence in a natural watercourse, flood control channel, or flood-affected environment

Basic Rescue Principles of Swift Water Rescue

When engaged in a swift water rescue situation, there are several basic principles to keep in mind to minimize the risk of injury to life and limb. The guidelines for safe and successful operations include:

• Do prioritize the first the self, then the team, and finally the victim(s)
• Do employ the proper personal protection equipment (PPE) (note: at a minimum, this includes use of a personal flotation device—PFD—when within 10 feet of swift water)
• Do maintain a simple rescue plan as the higher the complexity, the greater the potential for failure
• Do plan for contingencies—i.e., have a backup plan
• Do deploy upstream spotters and multiple downstream rescuers
• Do not stand inside the rope bight or on the downstream side of a tension line
• Do not tie a rope to a rescuer directly
• Do not put your feet down in swift water that is deeper than knee height
• Do not tension a line 90 degrees to the current
• Do not loosen the rope once the victim is contacted
• Do not rely on the victim to aid in their own rescue—i.e., be proactive

Potential Hazards and Risks Associated With Swift Water Rescues

As with most rescue operations, swift water rescue carries several potential hazards that put both rescuers and rescuees at risk. Some of the most common include:

• Force of water. The power carried by moving water is deceptively strong and can catch many victims unaware. The standard weight of water (62.3 pounds/cubic feet), when set in motion, can produce tremendous force (e.g., at 8 miles/hour, the force generated by door level water can push a car off a roadway)
• Cold water. When directly exposed to cold water (less than 70° F or 21° C), a human is at risk of hypothermia if they do not receive proper care. In mild cases, symptoms include diminished physical and mental capacities, while, in severe cases, they include significant impact to brain, heart, lung, and other critical bodily functions. Submerged in water between 70 to 80° F, a person may survive for three or more hours. However, at 32.5° F, their expected survival time is 45 minutes maximum.
• Low-head dams. This hazard is a man-made feature built across a river or stream for the purpose of confining water where the impoundment, at normal flow levels, is completely within the banks and all flow passes directly over the dam structure within the banks.
• Entrapment refers to situations in which a person’s entire body or extremity is forced into a crack, crevice, or undercut and pinned there by the force of the water current.
• These water hazards allow fluid, but not solid objects, to pass through. They pose a risk for people or vessels caught between them and the force of water.
• Culvert openings. These structures can cause the formation of man-made strainers. The pressure exerted by water rushing into an open drain is extremely powerful and can drag those caught in the current through the opening.
• Flood control channels. These man-made watercourse structures featuring steep sloping walls are used to move floodwaters out of urban areas. Their design adds difficultly and danger to any basic shoreline rescue operation.
• Low-water crossings. Low-water crossings provide a convenient method of crossing a watercourse in normal conditions. However, once water levels have risen to the point where it crosses the road surface, the crossing becomes unsafe and unpassable as the water level conceals the roadway, making it easy to fall off either side.
• Floor debris. Debris—whether surface-level or submerged—that is picked up by the current serves as a hazard to swimmers in the water environment. If moving at fast enough speeds, it can cause serious injuries.