Rescue and Hog Rigs

[BigTuna]

Have you ever removed a classic Hog rig (no quick releases) from somebody in the water in a rescue situation? If so, how did you accomplish it (e.g., shrug 'em out, shears, knife)? Did the fact it was a Hog rig add risk to the victim or you?

How about a Hog-TYPE rig--one with a quick release: Did you notice that a QR was present, and were you able to take advantage of it?

I was wondering, because in rescue class, my "rescuers" couldn't get me out (without cutting). The rig I was using had two quick releases near the back plate, but they didn't notice them.

 

[*Floater*]

I've never had to do it, but if I did and if I had to get the person out quickly I'd cut the harness somewhere under the left shoulder d-ring (the person or next owner of the rig could put a quick-release clip there until the webbing was replaced). If more time was available I'd first try to get the person out without cutting the rig.

 

[DivingCRNA]

This has been beat to death in another thread.

I think it came down to the non-hog people saying you will die in a hog rig and the hog people saying that equipment removal is a low rescue priority in 99% of rescue situations and that it is easy to cut the harness.

Let's see where this incarnation of the thread goes

 

[TSandM]

Actually, I started an incredibly long and argumentative thread about this when I took Rescue last year.

It's not difficult to remove a Hog rig from a diver at the surface. Float the diver horizontally, pull his arms up above his head, and slide the rig off. It's amazingly easy, if you know the trick. The problem is that people who teach the class who are not familiar with this equipment don't know how it's done.

 

[LG Diver]

Actually, I started an incredibly long and argumentative thread about this when I took Rescue last year.

It's not difficult to remove a Hog rig from a diver at the surface. Float the diver horizontally, pull his arms up above his head, and slide the rig off. It's amazingly easy, if you know the trick. The problem is that people who teach the class who are not familiar with this equipment don't know how it's done.

When I took rescue last year I was told by the instructor that if I took the course in my bp/w with hog harness that I'd have to be cut out of it in the simulated rescue drills (so I rented a jacket style bcd for the course :shakehead ). I'd agree that it's easy to get someone out of a hog harness if you know how, but if most instructors don't know how, the odds that a rescuer will know how if you ever need rescuing are slim to none. Not a big deal- if I'm in a situation that I need to be rescued, the cost of 6 feet of webbing will be the least of my concerns. In fact, I always show my buddies where my knife sheath is on my harness and instruct them to cut me out of the harness if the need arises. I also have shears in a holster on the right hip (to hold the long hose since I don't carry a can light) so rescuers will have their choice of cutting implements should the need arise.

 

[jeckyll]

LG: I think it's sad that instructors can't adjust for a hog setup. I personally think anyone who takes rescue should do so in their regular setup. If you end up in a rescue situation you will be in your own gear, no?

I'm lucky as my regular dive buddies all have BP/W's. Most of them are at a minimum rescue certified. I did rescue in my hog setup, it's definitely something to adjust for.

Just my $0.02

 

[Jeff Toorish]

I use a Hog rig and I honestly don't see why people think it is so difficult to remove. First of all, it is far less cluttered. I don't wear the little chest connector between the two shoulder straps, so that is one less thing to worry about.

Secondly, there is no need to wear a Hog rig incredibly tight, as is often the case with some jacket style rigs. So, slipping it off is a matter of merely raising the the wearer's arms. Off it comes with the release of the buckle and crotch strap. As there is less clutter than with most BCDs and even many BP/W rigs, getting that Hog off should be relatively straight forward.

of course, with nearly all emergencies, if the person doing the rescuing is panicked, then it's a different ballgame. Considering the vastly different BCs, harnesses, weight systems, etc, it would seem to me that in many emergencies, a strap is getting cut no matter what.

Jeff

 

[TSandM]

Although I knew I was taking Rescue with the PADI shop where I certified, and that they did not dive BP/Ws and that at least the shop owner disapproved of my gear choices, I took the class in what I dive. I wanted to learn (and wanted my husband, who took the class with me, to learn) how to manage the gear I dive, not some other gear. I spent a lot of the class e-mailing NWGratefulDiver to ask HIM how to manage things, because my instructors didn't know. They were happy to get the information, as it turned out.

If I dove with somebody who wasn't familiar with my gear, I'd point out the knife I carry and the shears I carry. I very rarely dive with anybody who doesn't know my equipment any more, though.

 

[daniel f aleman]

The stuff that people fall in love with for no other reason than that of peer pressure and stubborn vanity. Sheesh...

Unless you're in an overhead dive: use the quick release rig - the advantages are numerous over the one-piece Hog rig in an emergency doff... Do you really want a knife that close to your body slicing into your drysuit or catching a hose?

 

[TSandM]

Daniel, if it's at the point where somebody is cutting my harness, I honestly don't care about damage to either my dry suit or my hoses.

The point is that it's NOT hard to get somebody out of a harness if you know how. Most people who are diving harnesses are diving with other people in harnesses, who know how.