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This is a review article on currentand hopefully future trends in thedevelopment of a specialized class

of enhanced Rescue PFDs currently on thehorizon. I will briefly discuss these

enhanced features, their need, potentialapplication AND the regulatory hurdles faced

by designers and manufacturers in bringingthese highly specialized designs to market. This

is not a discussion of the general class of QuickRelease Harness System or QRHS enhanced rescue

jackets, however, some trends or improvements intheir design and applications testing will be discussed."It

is time we prepare for the inevitable effect of "this weapon of massdestruction." (Jim Segerstrom 2002). The goal here is to maximizethe simplicity, comfort, retention, protection and extrication capa-bilities of the PFD which is the central platform around which allwater operations depend.

To set the frame for the picture it can’t hurt to give a quick reviewof the basic skills necessary. Whatever vest you utilize for defen-sive and aggressive swimming in turbulent water, these are thesurvival moves that should ideally be hardwired into yourskillset (paraphrased. directly from a group of experienced res-cue PFD testers- see refernces next page):

Summarizing the Key Strategies:

A) DEFENSIVE POSITION.Roll onto your back with the feet downstream to act as

shock absorbers against unexpected submergedobjects. Be able to see your toes at the surface and ifyou slide over ledges or flat rocks, arch the back andbecome a "floating straight board" in the water, butalso keeping the hands at the surface. Use thearms/hands in a modified elementary backstrokeaction to scoop water and redirect the body posi-tion to the main current--always keeping feetdownstream. This is called 'setting ferry angle tothe current direction'. If you decide to transitionto the stomach for the forward crawl bend thelegs at the knees and swing them around,keeping them at the surface as you make thechange (this keeps the feet/legs up safely).The defensive position gives good visibility forwhat is ahead.

B) AGGRESSIVE SWIMMINGThis is an effective way to get to a desired targetquickly, and because the head is up you will be able tokeep focused on your destination. You'll be facingdownstream with the head up which has the advantageof speed. Just as in boating strategy you may need to beswimming 'faster' than the current is moving to hit yourtarget. When you arrive at the eddyline, simply continueswimming aggressively to enter the eddy. If the eddylineproves difficult to cross barrel roll downstream to slideover the eddyline.

Sometimes, if the current is gentler you may use an offen-sive forward ferry technique. In this instance, faceupstream at about a 45 degree angle and use the

PFDsPersonal

Floatation

Devices

Aggressively Swimming Towards the Future by Dr Mike Crosslin

You better start swimmin’ oryou’ll sink like a stone for thetimes, they are a changin’

Bob Dylan

Title Pic:

Jim Segerstrom belays TCSAR colleague Deputy Craig Wood during a

body search of the Clark Fork in Tuolumne County. This photo was original-

ly sent by Jim to illustrate one of his own articles but since he’s the subject and

there a several in this series we’re assuming this wasn’t taken on timer and some-

one else in TCSAR should actually get the credit!

TECHNICALRESCUE ISSUE 61

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ISSUE 61 TECHNICALRESCUE

freestyle crawl to reach a spot across the stream. It is best to start highenough upstream that you won't miss your intended landing spot on your des-tination shoreline.

C) SWIFTWATER ENTRY INTO MOVING WATERA special entry is required to enter shallow moving water that may containbarely submerged obstacles. This entry can be made from shore or fromapproximately knee-depth. Place your hands together in front of your facewith your elbows slightly bent. Keep your arms in this position to protect yourface as you enter the water. Do not cross your wrists, as this reduces yourability to absorb shock with your arms. Launch yourself parallel to the waterso that your entry skims the surface. Arch your back and keep your knees andhead up so that the PFD absorbs most of the water impact. Do not enter feet-first, as immediate foot entrapment may occur. Do not enter the water head-first, as serious injury or unconsciousness may result if the head strikes anunderwater obstacle. Keep the legs up when transitioning from the entry to adefensive swimming position.

A REVIEW OF CURRENT ART IN

STANDARD RESCUER PFDsThe following review [in italics] is excerpted directly from the 2004 and 2010PFD review study generated by a very experienced group of American CanoeAssociation (ACA) instructors and PFD testers including Jim Simmons andSam Fowlkes. The field testing done in these tests is NOT included in the offi-cial approval process for UL (Underwriters Laboratory) or European testers.The standard approval process is concerned primarily with component andmaterial testing and some rather rudimentary calm pool testing focusing onbuoyancy, positioning, ease of donning etc. These testing procedures andregulations are frankly inadequate to properly assess the application require-ments and enhanced performance claims of these highly specialized rescuetools. My hat is off to these ACA instructors for blazing a clear path for us asprofessional rescuers to develop a similar organized, ethical group of experi-enced field testers that bravely volunteer their efforts to einsure manufactur-ers get valuable feedback to steer their designers’ efforts. I’ve taken the liber-ty of paraphrasing much of THEIR work. Their full study can be found online atwww.whitewater-rescue.com This is first rate research that I enthusiasticallypass on directly from them. A shining example of collaborative field testingthat sets the bar for the future of applications testing that is so crucial in theprofessional rescue realm.

CHOOSING A RESCUE LIFE-VEST THAT FITS PROPERLYRescue vests have evolved as hybrids of USCG type III personal flotationdevices (Rescue PFD in Europe) and are designed to provide buoyancy andfreedom of movement, yet can be employed as a rescue tool. The primary dif-

ference between a regular life vest and a rescue life vest is the inclusion of aQuick Release Harness Belt System (QRHS) invented by slalom paddler HansFursattel (see Fig 1). Styles in PFD design are usually of these types:a) Low-cut designs, which position the buoyant material down on the midriffand have large armholes that provide maximum paddling freedom of move-ment. You will also see these vests referred to as 'low profile'.b) Short or Regular Waist, higher cut designs, which also have ample arm-holes, however, the buoyant material is placed higher up on the torso.c) Longer Style, with more than the usual amount of flotation and frequentlyselected by professionals, rescue personnel, and boaters paddling on bigwater.

HOW VESTS ARE SIZEDRescue vests are typically sized in these ways:a) Regular (concentric) sizes of S, M, L, XL, and XXL.b) Overlapping sizing--usually S/M, M/L, or L/XL, etc. Some of the brands canhave quite a broad range of sizes and may not fit well.C) UNIVERSAL FIT--one size fits all and include a wide range of sizes such as30-56 or 32-52. (these are normally used by outfitters, or SAR personnel).Regular sizes tended to fit more snugly without having gaps or spaces wherewater could collect. Overlapping sizes accommodate a wider range of sizesbut have disadvantages. A smaller rescuer wearing an overlapping size vest(such as 42-54) may not be able to adjust the straps well enough to prevent itriding up the torso. In addition, the excess length of the straps after beingadjusted may present a snagging risk. Universal Fit vests, because of a widerrange in sizes, may be even harder to fit with rescuers in the smaller sizingrange. When a larger size wearer adjusts the straps to the maximum size, sidepanel (rib area) torso protection is usually lacking.

Your vest should fit properly and stay in place when performing swimming self-rescue or rescue applications. A vest that 'rides' up the torso can block yourbreathing, hinder your vision and create a greater snag potential if in the waterperforming aggressive self-rescue or assisting a victim.

TRYING ON A NEW VEST:1. Put it on and cinch tight the side adjustment straps until they are snug.Next, adjust the QRHS belt with the tri-glide buckle and cam buckle. Alwaysdo this after you adjust the side straps because adjusting the harness belt isthe final step in the vest fitting your torso. Finally, adjust the shoulder strapsfor comfort/tightness. Sit in a chair or if available sit or kneel in the boat typeyou’ll be using to test the PFD’s fit2. Once the vest is adjusted have someone pull up on the shoulder straps tosee if the vest stays put and doesn't creep up the torso. If it rides up in thestore it most likely will ride up when wet, or when doing aggressive river swim-ming.Be sure that when the vest is all cinched up snugly it does not have space orgaps in the high chest area. Water can collect in this space and impede your

ExtraSport Fury Stohlquist Descent Palm 850 Nookie River Monster

PFDs

1/2 page Horizontal

PFD ad or JW Fisher?

www.trescue.com

TECHNICALRESCUE ISSUE 62

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progress if self-rescuing or swimming aggressively. For carrying rescue itemssuch as prusiks, webbing, carabiners, etc, consider how much pocket storagespace the vest provides because some have limited pocket space.

If the vest comes only in overlapping sizes, a smaller paddler may not be ableto adjust the straps snugly enough to prevent the vest riding up the torso. Inaddition, the excess length of the side adjustment straps can be a hindrance.[Excess belt length can propeller in the water causing it to twist].In rescue vest reviews that a few of us instructors have conducted we felt that

vests manufactured in regular sizing (s,m.l,xl, etc) tended to adjust the best.Some manufacturers use beveled foam, or ergonomic panels which give agood fit. Ask a lot of questions and do some comparison shopping before youmake a purchase--your rescue vest will serve as a trustworthy friend.

PFD DESIGN FEATURES• The QRHS consists of several components: a tri-glide stainless steel buckleand a plastic cam buckle with a red toggle cord attached for releasing the har-ness belt . A steel ‘O’ ring in back allows rescuers to be connected to a rescueline. For some models the harness belt is sewn in, on others it can be removedand the vest used as a type III (USA-only) PFD without the harness belt.

• An AUXILIARY SELF-TETHER (also called cows tail, pig tail, or swiftwater towtether), allows rescuers to self-connect to a rescue line. It must be safelystowed to prevent entanglement when not in use because tethers that hangexcessively create a snagging potential. One or two models have a side pouchfor safely stowing the tether when not in use.• A HARNESS BELT passing through the tri-glide buckle may jam/stickbecause: 1) the rescuer did not pull the toggle straight out on release (perpen-dicular to belt), 2) excess belt length causes friction 3) the belt end is not leftflat when the excess is shortened and seared.• Manufacturers recommend that 25 LBS OF FORCE is needed to make theharness system release reliably under a load. With less force the belt releasesmore slowly or not at all. Rescuers must be practiced in inserting the thumbsinto the cam buckle/tri-glide assembly to make the belt release if there isn’tenough load on the line. (refer to the section on QRHS and testing the release

with commercial scales).• A LOCKING CARABINER must be used when attaching a rescue line to the‘O’ ring or with the self-tether. A non-locking carabiner might inadvertently clipinto some other part of the rescue vest, thereby nullifying the ability of the res-cuer to release from the rescue line. In swiftwater rescue classes, pre-deter-mined signals are established to pendulum a rescuer to shore in case of emer-gency.• A locking carabiner can be used in place of A LOST ‘O’ RING, or else a res-cue line can be tied directly into the ‘O’ ring with an appropriate secure knot.• A rescuer can thread the harness belt through the black cam buckle only(SKIPPING THE TRI-GLIDE) when towing a light load (such as a boat that isupright and empty, etc). A second choice would be to pass the harness beltthrough just one of the slots in the tri-glide and then through the cam buckleto insure a light load would release properly.Always be certain to thread the QRHS as the manufacturer requires when exe-cuting tethered lowers or live bait techniques.

BODY AND TORSO PROTECTIONMany personal injuries that occur in both live rescues and rescue workshopsare caused from tripping and falling along the riverbank. For protectionagainst impact, a vest should have sufficient cushioning in the upper andlower torso and in the side panels. Some companies are now including sideimpact panels made to protect the rib area of the torso. Not only does thisgive more cushioning, it adds needed flotation. Upper torso cushioning is amain drawback of low profile style vests. Most current models also lackimpact protection in the clavicle or shoulder area because of the necessity forfreedom of movement when paddling. One brand had wider padded shoulderstraps that provided some protection to the clavicle/shoulder area. Morestudy is needed to determine ways to have this protection without compromis-ing paddling freedom or swimming movements.

DAY AND NIGHT VISIBILITYAlthough manufacturers use a variety of colors for rescue vests, the brightercolors (red, yellow, orange and mango) provide better contrast in daytimefunctions. Some lighter green and blue colors, as well as black, blend in toomuch with the color of river water and are not as visible. Rescuers should beclearly visible to one another when working on rescue functions, especially indim light. Most vests include reflective tape/piping on both the front and backpanels for night visibility and a few provide excellent night visibility. Somelack any reflective tape over the tops of the shoulders.

ATTACHMENT CAPABILITY AND STORAGE POCKETSMaintaining a streamlined profile is important when carrying items in pocketsor attaching things to the outside of the vest because protruding items presenta significant snagging risk to a swimmer or rescuer working in the water.• Pocket or storage space should be adequate for such rescue items as cara-biners, prusik loops, webbing (rescue sling), fire starter, CPR pocket mask orother items. Pockets must close securely, drain well, not collect water andshould be easily accessible. Some of the current low profile models have onlya center pocket and when full it protrudes quite a bit. This might impedeswimming progress or self-rescueing over a strainer.• Some models have carrying capacity in the back panel for a rope or otherrescue items that leave the hands free for swimming. Others allow the attach-ment of additional pockets to increase storage space or for adding water blad-ders.• Attachment points for knife, whistle, etc. that have breakaway capability tolessen potential for snagging.

QRHSOne important function of a rescue vest is for tethered rescuer lowers in strongriver current, a technique that substantially increases risk to rescuers.Because rescuers can withstand only so much pressure acting on the body,

FIG 1: The first “Multisafe” PFD was designed by Germanextreme boater Hans Furrsattel. Here is an early attempt to testthe resilience of the original QRHS belts and below are some early designs.

KEY FEATURES

1 Ease of donning and removal

2 Snug/comfortable when adjusted

3 Shoulder adjustment

4 Torso adjustment system

5 Visibility daytime in water

6 Visibility at nightime in water

7 Good kit carrying capacity

8 Easy access to pockets

9 Fits different size rescuers well

10 Freedom of movement & aggressive swim performance

11 Stowage for a folding saw - thisshould be in every rescuers’ arsenal

12 Buoyancy in excess of 8kg/17lbs

13 Leg loops stop the PFD riding upand fastex attachments front andback is a bonus

14 Ease of releasing toggle whenQRHS is under tension and stillsnug after release QRHS shouldideally be mid-chest rather thanwaist-mounted

15 Lash points for knife, whistle etc

16 Self-rescue capability swimmingover strainer

17 Upper torso protection ,Lowertorso protection *(vest is longer inback)

18. Side panel protection (rib area)

19. Buckle retainers for leftovertails/adjustment straps

20. Small keeper pouch or easyaccess cover for cowtail/self tethercarabiner

21. Patch of velcro attached to theO-ring to mate it to the back ofjacket

22. buoyancy best distributed so asto maximize movt/trauma protec-tion/ performance when swimming

23. PFD fabric of ripstop nylon(instead of Cordura), which islighter, dries faster, and seems tobe less drag-resistant when aggres-sively swimming in current.

24. Over-the-shoulder extricationleash that can be placed over eithershoulder accommodating dominanthand. This manner of storing thetether (extrication leash) reducessnag potential.

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No PFD currently has all of the features preferred for rescuers but the Force 6 probably comes the closest.

Also shown here and and with an good range of feaures are the Stearns VR and the HikoExtreme Pro

6

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If we beef up the webbing on standard QRHSystems with rated harnesswebbing and add something like the Cobra Quick-release (shown over-leaf) instead of the various plastic buckles and place the whole assem-bly mid-chest we now have something that is quick to don and releasebut much stronger and safe for ‘belay’. But we should make it veryclear that we are talking about restraint and towing or pulling backunder in-water load NOT a standard PFD being used to rappel.

Sam Drevo tested this jacket andfound it highly innovative and welldesigned, including enhanced traumaprotection in key areas. His prototypewas stolen and lost to further review.Hopefully Stohlquist will build it again.There is a compelling argument for twodistinct niches of enhanced technicalPFDs. In advanced technical swiftwa-ter, one is left with adding an externalharness that does not take advantageof the jacket retention that leg loopsprovide…in essence a built in crotchstrap.Jacket retention is an important issuethat often gets glossed over since it’s aform of enhanced applications testingthat is NOT part of the current PFDapproval process. This is a controver-

sial topic, many of us have long advocated crotch straps be included in theessential design of rescue PFDs…perhaps all PFDs. In highly turbulent water,pins, sieves and entrapments etc. the jacket may be stripped by strong lubri-cating forces especially in head-down entrapments. Since Rescuer PFDs areoften universal fit to cover a wide range of sizing in gear caches, fit may not beideal. Jacket stripping can be dramatically demonstrated by upward appliedforce on a rapidly donned jacket. Having a rescuer don his jacket quick-ly...adjust as best as possible....lift their arms and have me yank the jacket offinstantly. Wake up call big time.

Some argue against crotch straps in case they need to strip the jacket off in asnagging pin. And even if crotch straps were provided most kayakers believethey interfere with the spray skirt, others are just too habituated to not usingthem. This experiential resistance is strong and real. There may be more ele-gant solutions to this problem which I will review later in this article.

Some personal thoughts on harness designIdeally these harnesses should be minimalist design, for many reasons. Theymust not impair the aggressive swim capabilities of the vest. Here some les-sons from our canyoneering friends and caving experts help steer design.They have the same criteria of NO SNAG…NO DRAG moving over tight terrain,squeezing through tight spots and sometimes swimming and sliding a lot ontheir butts. This is crucial,the design of caving and canyoneering harnesses isradically different from other technical harnesses. The best design I havescouted and tested here is the Pit Viper Harness from the caving experts atPMI. It has no extraneous webbing to snag, fits very snuggly and swims per-fectly but it has a lowish center of gravity, a specialized minimalist design thatif tweaked and modified is an excellent candidate to consummate a happymarriage with a Rescuer PFD.

It must be remembered that PFD’s are not designed to be loaded in the sameway that a full body or a chest harness is except in rare examples like theForce 6 model we will discuss shortly. But the title picture showing JimSegerstrom with a tied swami belt and colleague Craig Wood with a full CMCRescue harness searching beneath a waterfall demonstrate that there is aneed for enhanced PFD safety. The problem is that if we don’t go the wholeway and incorporate a full load bearing harness with leg loops into the PFD,rescuers might be tempted to push the capabilities of a simpler enhancedQRHS and rappel or short-haul on it. But assuming we can overcome that con-cern which is a training implication there are situations in which it is appropri-ate to hard tether to the back of a rescue PFD in a restraint or tow/pull-backmode. New technically competent quick release technologies may need to bedesigned to fully exploit and protect rescuers for this. Innovative quickrelease technologies is an area of much needed attention in advanced techni-

cal evolutions both for aviation and in water use. This is a solvable problem,look to kite surfers and the amazing push release systems they use to sepa-rate from errant kites. This is not appropriate for our use but the attention andengineering prowess is a great example of extreme problem solving thatresulted in amazing solutions specific to their sport.

The reality is that the QRHS on rescue jackets isalready commonly used for psuedo-belaysWhen working near hazards...drop offs, chutes, strainers, sieves etc. thateffectively represent the "void" there are situations where a bomber belay orrestraint attachment point on the back of the jacket is far safer than whatmany do with the QRHS. When Jim Segerstrom and I wrote SRT I and II in thelate seventies, there were no QRHS. Our reason for suggesting that you neverattach yourself to a line in moving water came from an incident in Yosemitewhere a climber attempted to cross Bridal Veil creek after successfully scalingthe Leaning Tower. It was spring; he attached himself to his climbing rope andtried to shallow water cross. His body was recovered in his harness on the endof the rope. Fast forward to 1980 when I took a trip to Germany to work withkayakers running steep creeks in the Alps. I saw the first use of QRHS on HellyHansen Jackets and brought a couple to the US after working with them onthe Ice canal in Munich. We then introduced them into our curriculum atRescue 3, and tested them for tethered swimmer rescues and v-lowers etc..We then added a series of QRHS evolutions to the SRTII program. Our newmantra became "never attach yourself to a rope in moving water without aQRHS and advanced training AND a knife”. All I am now advocating is that weadd a caveat that you never attach yourself to a QRHS in a manner that mightexpose yourself to the "void"or better yet, the abyss...defined as terminal fea-tures,long fall, sieve, strainer etc. In these circumstances we would all benefitfrom a hard point attachment front and back on our rescue jackets conjoinedwith a secure harness belt replacing the security system we now use on themajority of jackets. This has been the impetus for building a more technicallyrobust , less prone to accidental slippage or release belt system for extremeenvironments, extreme boaters and more technically challenging circum-stances where accidental release could be fatal.

A couple of WARNINGS, big bad habits to be avoidedDon’t use a standard rescuer QRSH for any serious belay activity where seriousloads are anticipated…not even down climbing or pseudo-belays…unless yourintuition demands it. We have all done it, but again I have heard numerousstories of near fatal accidents from this inappropriate use. It is possible toadd a more technically robust Austrialpin Cobra-style click buckle to the cur-rent QRHS. This would be high-load rated and not susceptable to slippageunless purposely manipulated with a simple outwardpull force via an attached toggle. This has beenextensively tested in the Crossline integrated systemwhere our long-term submersion tests have shownthat it functions well and merits further testing with aview to beefing up PFD belay/restraint safety. Againthis is in ADDITION to the current QRHS art. This sys-tem is not currently available in any PFDs, but is avail-able in a separate PPE system designed specificallyfor advanced personal and team protection available through PMI. My prefer-ence is to build the additional protection into the personal throw-bag/tag/escape/belay belt platform, giving an enhanced level of technicalsafety and more robust protection against accidental release. We could con-verge multiple capabilities in an area along the lower front edge of the PFD,still jettisonable, but not as prone to loss as PFDs in extreme conditions. Astowed 3-meter sewn sling can easily convert to a full sit harness if needed.This is the system I now use for extreme boating and canyoneering and floatsif jettisoned so I feel its possibilities for the rescue industry should also beexplored

the force of the current (class of rapids) becomes a limiting factor in whetheror not to employ a tethered rescue.“The point of attachment [of the rescue line to the ‘O’ ring] be in exactly the

correct spot, that is, about mid-point between the shoulder blades.” This pointof attachment was intended to float the rescue swimmer almost horizontally ina ‘planing’ posture when performing rescue lowers (with the feet close to thesurface and the head remaining above water). Actually, when performing teth-ered lowers, rescuers can lessen the force of the water pressure on the bodyby arching the back during the maneuver allowing the water flow to passunder the body.Testing with a set of commercial scales revealed a range in the amount offorce necessary to make the harness system of different vests release under aload. Results varied from 12lbs [5.4kg] to 48lbs [21.8kg]. The harness beltshould release consistently and easily. Friction in a harness system dependson several factors: the number of loops the belt feeds through, the position ofthe belt across the front torso, and excess length of the belt end. Throughpractice rescuers will learn exactly what to expect from the harness system ona rescue vest. It is a good idea to frequently check the harness belt for frayingedges.

LOW-CUT VERSUS FULL SIZE PFDS?It is my view that any rescue vest should have more sub-stantial physical protection than low-cut designs provide.It should also have more than the standard 16.5-17.5 LBS[8kg] of flotation. Obviously, the majority of time a vest will simply serve as a rescuers buoyantaid, but when needed for what could be a variety of rescue applications Ibelieve a vest, first of all, should be considered a 'protective rescue tool' thatjust happens to double as the required buoyant aid. I disagree with the currenttrend toward almost exclusively low-cut vests. Can we not have options forfuller, higher cut vest that still satisfies freedom of movement and aggressiveswimming?This commentary is not intended to offend vest manufacturers and we realizethe newer low-cut designs are perceived as pretty 'cool' by many. We're notimplying that a rescue vest should cover the upper torso as if you are anarmored knight, only that it should have protection for upper areas of the bodytoo. We believe the large armholes characteristic of low-cut vests are gross'overkill' for sufficient freedom of movement required. In simple comparisonsusing different vest brands it's apparent to us that the large openings are amarketing trend and without merit. We respect what vest makers deal withregarding marketing numbers, production costs, supply and demand, yet weremain uncertain as to why manufacturers believe low-cut vests should be thestandard bearer (our argument can apply to regular life vests too).

There was a perception in the past that the vests should be a valuable rescuetool; hence the fuller, higher cut that gave body protection (in the US you mayeven have been required to sign a waiver/release when purchasing one, verify-ing that the you had received rescue training). These early vests did notimpede movements in any manner. Are there clear evidence-based reasonsindicating low-cut designs are a decided improvement over higher cut vests?Over several years in practice sessions with a variety of vest brands we'vefound body areas especially vulnerable to injury are the upper torso (front andback), side rib panels and the clavicle area; places not typically catered for inlow-cut designs. More 'body' in a vest should also provide more potentialcapability in functions a vest might have, plus it would be warmer in coldweather paddling. Relative to vest buoyancy, our desire is to have a rescue lifevest option that has a range of 20-22 lbs. of flotation. With regular flotation,when executing swimming self-rescue in turbulent water a swimmer will likelybe underwater more than on the surface (applies to regular life vests too).Additional flotation is also needed for handling the size and weight of a vic-tim, such as when engaging a swimmer in the river. We have experimented

with differentbrands (with varyingamounts of flotation)and although we've notconducted repeated formaltrials we believe the highercut vests provide betterflotation than the low-cutdesigns.

CURRENT

TRENDS

IN

ENHANCED

RESCUER

PFDSTwo areas of interest in PFD design have evolved out of the need for a newclass of technical Rescue Swimmer PFDs that integrate a built-in harness intothe PFD. Two companies Force6/Mustang and Stohlquist have built andtested this type of design with two different user groups in mind. The Force6/Mustang entry is built around a sturdy integrated harness for use primarily forthe Helo-Rescue Swimmer, but also appropriate for advanced swiftwaterapplications. The Stohlquist entry…Lucero vest is now out of production, butgets high marks from extreme boaters who have tested it. It was designed asa Creeker/ Canyoneering Rescue PFD and utilized a rear pocket on the backof the jacket to stow a lightweight harness when not in use. Extreme boater

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PFDs PFDs

SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE VESTSI photographed this Patagonia prototype in 2007 at the WW Symposiumwhich may have held some answers but has since disappeared withouttrace. I examined this jacket closely and test-ed its fit and ability to be pulled off with aboaters arms held vertically...again I couldNOT STRIP the jacket. That’s a BIG thing...notehow simple the design is, how easy to sew,how easy to don the jacket, and how it easythe fit is secured quickly and safely. The cat isnow once again out of the bag...I rarely pushdesign styles, but I can’t concieve of a moreelegant, simple solution to improve Lifejacketdesign that CAN EASILY be incorporated intothe myriad of different design styles that nowexist. The key is the assymetric downward angle of the waist belt thatsecures the jacket below the rib cage...once again creating a chinese hand-cuff type action on the jacket as it’s pulled vertically. Ingenious, simple andits improved safety is a complete accident. Austrialpin’s Cobra

Quick Release

Fig 2

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www.t-rescue.comPFDs

THE RESCUE SWIMMER/HELO CREWENHANCED PFD’SThis is a completely separate category of enhanced rescuer PFDs designedprimarily for rescue swimmers undertaking aviation evolutions such as hoist-ing and short-hauls. It is also perfect for for advanced swiftwater technicalevolutions. Getting UL approval for this platform is uniquely difficult sincedonning time is extended and current US regulations make no allowances fora ‘new class’ of specialized rescue tools. No applications testing criteria haveyet been developed.

Here is a review of the Force6 Tactical PFD shown in the pictures above astested by Helo-Crews from Austin EMS. They have extensive gear testing expe-rience and a high operational tempo. Casey Ping runs a very superb group ofspecial rescue operators there. This is verbatim:

“We think the new Force 6 Tactical/SAR PFD offers our helicopter personnelwith the best device for hoisting/short hauling in the swiftwater environment.Previously, we used various harnesses with a PFD over the top of the harness.This created some hoist/short haul vs. harnesses interface issues. One inte-grated unit solves that problem.There were some logistical issues in the development. Harness design is reallybased upon intended use. In this case we wanted an integrated harness thatwas a comfortable swimming harness with unrestricted movement of thearms/legs, but was also as comfortable as possible when suspended in it. Itwas a matter of compromise to find the best combination of both worlds.The upper part of the PFD and shoulder openings are large, offering unrestrict-ed movement of the arms.Users should understand that this PFD is not intended to be a harness res-cuers will be in for a long time. Most hoist and short haul durations are meas-ured in minutes. Multiple lifting points offer both traditional and dorsalattachment options. The waist lifting point allows for boat/ground based res-cuers to do over-bank evolutions that may be necessary in some swiftwaterenvironments. The PFD has MOLLE webbing so any of the hundreds of off-the-shelf MOLLE pouches/bags/pockets will work, giving the wearer endless pos-sibilities for configuration and meeting environmental or mission demands.The integrated harness has another benefit: it holds the PFD down. Normallythe PFD wants to ride up as the wearer enters the water. It is amazing what alittle flotation in the right position can do. Even though this PFD only has 18lbs of flotation many of our rescuers float higher than in previous Force 6PFDs. That is because the flotation is in the best place to be effective.

MORE “IDEAS” OPEN FOR DEVELOPMENTIs it possible to create a simple solution to the sizing problem and resultantjacket retention problem in extreme conditions? Ever put on a high end packthat feels like you just became one with the load. Clip, zip, zip, and you cannow go thundering down a mountain with the no loss of athletic stability? Iviewed a prototype design PFD from Patagonia at Whitewater Symposium (seeFig 2 inset box on previous page) that borrowed the hipbelt design from inter-nal frame packs to create a quickly donnable lifejacket that I could not stripoff even with my considerable experience as a professional stripper. Verycompelling, especially since the main feature that granted the jacket thesesuper-powers was a simple downward angled waistbelt attached to the rearspine of the jacket. This simple, elegant solution can greatly improve jacketretention. One could extrapolate Patagonia’s line of thinking into designingan internal harness integrated into the jacket structure. Internal jacket securi-ty that is not influenced by the bulky flotation compression issues that plagueexternal jacket adjustments. Perhaps leaving the external adjustments to finetuning the jacket’s performance. Just some ideas to think about. The lowerhinging waistbelt concept has the potential to greatly improve jacket retentionand safety; its simple, easy to sew and shouldn’t interfere with swimming,donning, manufacturing or regulating. Win-win design?

Lastly, Thanks to all the excellent contributors to this Rescuer PFD review; ACAPFD Testers, manufacturers, designers and rescue instructors. There hasbeen a great expansion of the ‘art’ of PFD design and equally great expansionof safety in the swiftwater setting. The greatest need in the future of rescuerPFD design is the development of an independent group of subject matterexperts in the professional rescuer realm that can be tasked with field testingand applications testing of new designs, innovative concepts and the expand-ed range of evolutions that these new tools can generate. Currently there isno organized or independently funded applications review by third partytesters of new devices and technologies. Perhaps a collaboration between allstakeholders: manufacturers, designers, rescue training organizations such asthe ACA, Rescue3, Rescue Canada, or the IRIA. and others. The ACA testershave set a great example, and their voluntary, highly ethical reviews are highlyprized but we should follow up their work with rescue-specific testing, analysisand development so that the needs of modern swiftwater rescuers are proper-ly met rather than cobbled together from standards that are, as yet, inappro-priate to the needs of this class of specialist user.

I’ll end this piece with a long rant from my good friend the late JimSegerstrom...Co-Conspirator in founding Rescue3 and the SRT pro-grams…From my private email files:

“The issue is moot for most of us since the regs simply call for a ‘Coast Guardapproved’ PFD in the boat for each passenger. On the bank, or in a canoe, youcould use squirrels velcroed to a SWAT vest and call it a PFD and the CoastGuard has little to say in the matter.

THE UL/Coast Guard approval process is stacked, biased, arduous, and thereturn for many manufacturers outside the US minimal. I got an earful on theinside politics recently from another manufacturer that just finished theprocess successfully after taking complaints all the way to the headquarters ofthe Coast Guard. In any event if a Canadian Coast Guard approved vest--whichfollows the EXACT SAME UL PROCESS! However, UL ‘requires’ the process tobe repeated in the US, at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars. Imagine that.Don't even get me started on HOW they test them” - Jim

Special thanks to Horst Fursatell, Jim Simmons, Sam Folwkes and the ACA, Mike Gardner, SamDrevo, Slim Ray, Jim Lavalley, and other PFD experts , including designers at Patagonia USA.

you could use squirrels velcroed to a SWAT vest

and call it a PFDJim Segerstrom

ED: In the next issue’s Market Guide we will include only PFDs that are soldas relevant to rescuers in a moving water environment, not neccessarilyswiftwater and not necessarily adherant to the TypeV USCG standard asthis is in itself not directly applicable to swiftwater applications. Only PFDswith a Quick Release Harness System are included in the Guide. Until aspecific and directly relevant standard can be agreed for swiftwater rescuePFDs you need to ensure that the design you choose is fit for purpose.

The Force6 Aquatic Helo TacticalPFD with MOLLE System and LiftingHarness is not yet a productionmodel but can be made to order.