IADRS swim test questions

[dittrimd]

Ok,

So I have been thinking about working to improve the overall fitness or my fellow firefighters and PS Divers. In my department I have been talking to the chief trying to get him to make a fitness test mandatory for all interior firefighters. The state has a standard test called the CPAT test which all paid firefighters have to pass in order to apply for a paid position. For someone who is in shape it is not too bad but for our department there would be more who would fail vs. pass. We are looking into a boiled down version but the chief who is no Mr. Fitness is less than enthusiastic.

As for the dive team our command staff is very receptive to the IADRS annual swim test although the feel that it would be a challenge for several of our more active divers. After reviewing the test I had a couple quesitons.

For exercise #1 the 500 yard swim would swimming goggles be allowed (I knowit says no aid like a mask) particularly in pool. Our training pool is treated very heavily and I know many people myself included get some pretty strong eye irriataiton. I would hate to have someone be unable to complete the test just becuase their eyes were bothering them. Ultimately our team could set its own requirements and allow goggles but I was just curious what everyone else thought.

For Exercise #4 the 100 yard inert rescue tow I guess I am not seeing this station. My assumption is that the person being tested has no swimming aid similar to Exercise #1 but the victim is wearing appropriat PPE, is this just a life jacket or is it a diver fully dressed? I would like some clarificaiton for this station.

Also anybody who has tried this test or tried to implement this at the team leve I would love to hear about it.

Thanks again to all for your help.

Mark D.

 

[Kug]

I just took the IADRS Swim test with our team last week. I was prepared to swim withought googles, so I was relieved when our captain allowed us to wear them. I think the 500 yd swim is to test endurance and swim ability, so not allowing goggles is pointless.
We did the 100 yd tow in full dive gear and our's and our victim's BC was full of air. Here's a hint, pushing a stiff victim is a lot easier than pulling...if they allow that. The victim was only allowed to help on the "lap turn" in the pool.
I would consider myself pretty fit (although I'm no awesome lap swimmer) and I thought this test was pretty tough, so all should prepare for it.
Also, laying back while treading water is much easier for those with less body fat, that's the only way I could keep my hands out of the water for the last 2 minutes.
Kug

 

[tc]

We let our folks wear goggles too.

For the 100 yard rescue tow you might try to run a more rectangular course around the pool if the pool is big enough- doing a 180 at the end of a lane kills all your momentum. The rescuer is in full gear and the victim should be in most of their gear too.

 

[Jorbar1551]

We did 500 yard swim, 15 minute water tread with the last 2 with your hands above the water. then an 800 yard mask, snorkel and fin test(no using arms) and then a 100 tired diver tow/push.

Everything we did was timed, and everyone did pretty well on the 500/800 yd test, as well as the water tread.

NFPA/IADRS wants the 100rd tired diver swim to be under 2 minutes. When you have to turn around 3 times with a buddy in the pool, it becomes very very diffiult to even get 3 minutes. i came in second place with 3:06

 

[Yotsie]

We just implemented the IADRS standards this past January. We too, had a couple of divers who we thought were going to have trouble with the swim. All passed and in the end, the team like the idea of being able to perform to standards recognized by the likes of IADRS.

As to your question of goggles, I say go for it. The 500 yard swim is an endurance test. Goggles do not make you swim further. We also pulled/pushed on the rescue tow. Again, key being making the rescue and performing to the standard.

It's hard convincing a bunch of cops that change is good, but once they saw it was achievable, they were all for it. Even the one who yelled about grieving the standards with the union.

 

[BladesRobinson]

The International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists (IADRS) Watermanship Test was designed to meet the same metabolic fitness level as firefighters (13 M.E.T.).

It was also designed to be "job specific" ... to assure that those working around the water had a certain level of fitness and could potentially "save themselves." In that regard. the purpose to eliminate the use of a mask/goggles was because most people who fall into the water and require rescue do not carry a mask or goggles with them. As it relates to "appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)" the divers who are taking the test should tow a fellow diver wearing their typical department mandated ensemble.

I hope this helps!

The forms can be downloaded online at:
http://www.iadrs.org/
Click on the DOWNLOAD section to access the watermanship test and annual skills review.

Fraternally,

Blades Robinson

 

[BladesRobinson]

The International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists (IADRS) sponsors Fred Jackson as our representative on the NFPA 1670 and 1006 committees. The NFPA has authored two consensus standards which serve to enhance the safety of Public Safety Divers nationwide.

Fred Jackson and his dive partner, John Carney, worked in conjunction with the University of Akron to establish the IADRS Watermanship Test. Both of these guys are incredibly smart so when a tough question comes up, I refer to them for answers.

In the past week, there has been some discussion on this forum regarding the IADRS Watermanship Test and Fred Jackson’s answer is simplistic.

“The AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) is responsible for defining the level of service each team member is expected to perform.”

NFPA 1006 paragraph A.13.2.4 reads “The committee’s opinion is that candidates should have the ability to swim a designated watercourse similar to conditions that will be encountered in the AHJ’s territory in order to determine the candidate’s ability to perform self-rescue. … An example … would be a concurrent 400 yard swim, 15-minute water tread, a 800-yard swim using mask, fins and snorkel and a 100 yard inert diver tow.

Because the IADRS Watermanship Test is a scientifically proven guide to measure physical fitness it is included in the NFPA document as a guide. The “IADRS Annual Basic SCUBA Skills Evaluation” form is also included as a guide in the NFPA 1006 standard.

The bottom line is the AHJ has the ultimate authority in determining if their divers are capable. If the AHJ chooses to wear swim goggles during the test, that is their prerogative. The IADRS offers the Skills Evaluation and Watermanship documents as a service to the Public Safety Diving community because PSD fatality data proves that poor basic SCUBA skills and poor physical fitness are contributing factors to many PSD accidents.

I hope this explanation appropriately answers the questions that have been raisedpreviously. I am also glad to hear that many have chosen to adopt the IADRS recommendations and I am confident that PSD fatality risks will be reduced because of these reommendations.

The IADRS will hold their next annual membership meeting and International PSD Conference on Sept 26-29 (2007) in Colorado Springs. On Sept 29, Fred Jackson will speak about the NFPA Standards and the changes scheduled to take effect in 2008. He will also get input from IADRS members and those in attendance for consideration in future NFPA updates.

Regards,

Blades Robinson, Executive Director
International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists
www.IADRS.org



NOTE: Information on the PSD Conference and copies of the SCUBA Skills Evaluation and Watermanship Test are available online at www.IADRS.org

 

[Yotsie]

Hey Blades,

My request to attend the conference got approved today, so I will be in Colorado!!!!

 

[dittrimd]

Blades,

Thank you for the very helpful information. I continue to be amazed how great of a resource this place is. It's crazy that you can actually get a response from a person directly involved witht he development of the NFPA codes.

Fantastic!!

Mark D.