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Rescue Throw Bags AQUATIC www.t-rescue.com he "throwbag" or "Rescue Bag," long before other rescuers saw the Swiftwater and Flood has become virtually value of the throwbag, particularly Tsynonymous with swiftwater rope rescue teams, who had rescue over the last 25 years, as traditionally coiled their ropes, and Rescues familiar to rescue teams as the were then forced to "flake" the rope lifejacket and inexpensive whitewater out before it could be used. As the helmet that covers the ears of the result rescue ropes, some up to 300 wearer. Like the helmet and m. long, are now routinely stuffed into Rescue lifejacket, there are as many types bags, so that they can immediately be and designs of throwbags as there used. are manufacturers, as virtually every And the rest, as they say, is history. company with an industrial sewing The endless arguments since then Throw Bags machine have felt compelled to enter have centered around: how to throw the market with their "unique" it, retrieve the line and toss a second product. Today there are bags time, belay a swimmer with it, and Part 3 of our continuing series: "Swiftwater varying in quality from "home other uses for it. Rescue-Back to Basics”. brewed" bags put together from a Construction and design of "rescue" stuff sack and cheap line by small bags has certainly improved since our departments determined to "save early homemade versions. money," to aerodynamically designed "Premium" rescue bags today are bags capable of deploying extremely made of 1000 dernier nylon to reduce long distances. damage from wear, have grommets to Indeed, when questioned, most reduce rope wear, are stuffed with water rescuers consider the throwbag high-density foam and use hybrid the minimum requirement for shore- ropes for great strength. Early bags based rescue techniques. were stuffed with simple braided Yet, when I started working as a polypropylene. The rope floated, but commercial whitewater guide in had little tensile strength. 1973 there was no such thing as a Today's throwbags are filled with throwbag on the river. Instead we ropes made of a mixture of carried short hanks of rope for polypropylene, Perlon, and Spectra ™ bowlines, and for throwing if to provide not only a bit of positive necessary. buoyancy, but also enough strength so Legend has it that the throwbag that they can be used in some rope was the result of a couple of rescue applications in an emergency. canoeists in the northeast of the US "Rescue" bags today generally come delving into an old nautical training in three lengths, depending on use. book; they supposedly saw a drawing Small "parrot" bags, generally of a canvas bucket with rope stuffed containing less than 9 m. of 8 mm, into it utilized as a "field expedient" are designed for boat-based rescues-a device for passing a line from ship to guide making a short toss to a ship at sea. Using a sleeping bag passenger who has fallen out-as well stuff sack and some light as for emergency tie-lines, flip lines polypropylene line the throwbag was and anchors. "Standard" rescue bags born. Later on a piece of foam was generally contain 18 to 25 m. of 9- added to provide some flotation in mm. line. And some bags are filled aerated water. Soon canoeists and with as much as 30 m. of rope, kayakers in the east were carrying though it is a rare and strong arm that bags, and eventually professional guides started to see the value in them. A variation of the original idea that has continued to be used is simply a plastic jug with cheap line stuff into it. These "rescue jugs" are found throughout the US, particularly in the trunks of large fleets of police cars in flood-prone southern states. By the time we started teaching the Swiftwater Rescue Technician program in 1979, the throwbag was part of our curriculum, as it was in similar schools in Ohio, North Carolina and elsewhere by the American Canoe Association. Indeed the antecedent of the rope bag for high angle rescue teams was the humble throw bag. It wasn't too 30 ISSUE 43 TECHNICALrescue www.t-rescue.com AQUATIC can pitch one that far. designed to be used as "strong of skills tests, one of which is to throw 2. The thrower should choose a Bag design has changed little in all swimmer" belt, to carry extra gear for a rescue bag twice within 20 seconds place with good footing, of that time, other than cosmetically. boat wraps-such as a prusik loop and to victims at least 15 m. from shore, hopefully with an eddy Some designers make the bags a carabiner-and to attach flip lines. moving downstream at 20 kph. First- immediately downstream, and completely of mesh so that the water Some have the bag inside a pouch. time failure rate at that station perhaps with a tree or rock close will drain out; while others are fully And some have a bag on a quickly averages more than 50% at hand in case it is necessary to encased so that the water will stay in release strap on the side so it can be internationally. Instructors are take a half-turn with the rope for the bag to aid a second toss. Most thrown in a "quick draw" motion. required to pass that test in 15 additional friction. If necessary, a are cut cylindrically with a flat Below: Northwater "butt-style" seconds or less. place should be chosen so that bottom, but some are cut in a flatter bag/belt. The test is simply designed to the rescuer can walk shape. Some are made with a Regardless of design many highlight the fact that most thrown downstream as he or she pulls rubber "bobber" on one end to aid in organizations operate under the ropes miss on the first toss, and the the victim towards the bank. a second toss, while elsewhere, comfortable delusion that, having rescuer needs to have training and The thrower should avoid places particularly in the general opinion of purchased lifejackets and throwbags, technique to get the rope back and where the victim will swing into the British Canoe Union, the end of they have dealt with the basic issues throw it again before the victim is rocks, debris piles or other the line must ABSOLUTELY be of water safety and primary water washed beyond reach. hazards, and should avoid "clean," with no knots or attachments, rescue. throwing from the inside of turns, to avoid getting the end of the rope The reality is that the throwbag is Practice Makes Perfect since the current will push the stuck in rocks and other obstructions like the first aid kit that hangs near I generally start my throwbag drill by victim hanging on to the rope in current. In recent years, many the water cooler in many offices, having students face each other about towards the outside of the turn. companies, including Force 6, providing a subliminal comfort level to 15 m. apart in two opposing lines, 3. Ideally there should be at least Northwater, and Northwest River employees just by being there. Then, and then have them simply toss the two throwers set up as safety. If Supply, have adapted the concept on the day it is most needed, those bags back and forth. This drill gives such is not possible, the single originally created by Downstream opening it discover a mystifying Products of Bothell, Washington, US, bundle of vials, bandages and and have made a bewildering packages. selection of "butt bag" throw lines, the Like the office worker and the first idea being that the thrower can aid kit, most rescuers note the them an idea of the weight, the arc thrower should have more than needed to get the back the distance, one bag. I suggest a series of and the point in the arc at which they bags, tied to trees or posts, so should release the bag. I don't make that one thrower can run along a big deal about stance, which foot to the bank, throwing bags as go forward, whether to hold on to the necessary. strap or the bag, or whether to throw 4. Accuracy is the key. The rope sidearm, underhand, or overhand. should be thrown UPSTREAM of The idea is simply to get the back the thrower but IMMEDIATELY accurately from here to there. IN FRONT of the intended Once everyone is comfortable, and victim, with the bag beyond the simply undo the buckle, take out the presence of the rescue bag, but never with the caveat that there are victim. If the rope is upstream of end of the rope and throw the whole take it off the truck. After all, its approximately 200 ways that have a victim in panic, it is unlikely he rig. Some of these arrangements are there, its full of rope, its use is been suggested as to how to do this, I will look around for it, and even obvious. Whitewater guides, recommend as follows: it drifts downstream and around canoeists and kayakers are equally 1. The end of the rope should be the swimmer's neck, such a sanguine, generally not taking the held in the offside hand, and the victim is unlikely to even realize time to practice with this most basic bag should be thrown with the the rope is there. If it thrown too of rescue tools, resulting in poor strong arm. far downstream it is unlikely the performance when needed most.
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