Least Resistance Training Concepts (LRTC) Volunteers Training for Emergencies

LRTC Technical Large Animal Rescue Team Technical Information Water Rescue Practices Part Four Typical view on arrival. Civilians attempting to assist a horse bogged in relatively shallow water. This sheet is a continuation from Part One in which the context of the information being provided and safety issues are discussed. Note: These suggested procedures are not intended to be applicable for swift water incidents.   Standard Equipment Jetting Wands One extreme difficulty commonly encountered when a large animal becomes bogged in mud or a soft lake bottom is that the animal's legs are similar to fence posts. Once they plunge into the soft material, suction often prevents them from self-extricating. Livestock and even people have died because they could not overcome the resistance caused by suction. Often, attempts to dig out the animal (or person) have resulted in the victim sinking even deeper, exacerbating the situation. Mechanical attempts to pull an animal or person free can result in fatal injuries. One simple and effective approach to freeing such victims involves the use of jetting wands. Jetting wands are simple lengths of pipe through which water or air can be injected. Jetting wands can be supplied by a fire apparatus, a mobile water supply, or an SCBA or SCUBA cylinder equipped with an appropriate regulator. Their purpose is to inject water or air alongside the stuck victim's legs to eliminate the suction produced during extrication. Jetting wands can also be used to "hydraulically mine," or jet away silt and mud when large animals or people are semi-bogged and can't be freed through conventional means. In this rescue, water for the jetting wands was supplied by a State Parks brush engine at 100 p.s.i. Air Boom The air boom (60 feet of 5" large diameter hose) can be deployed and secured by lines at both ends to control drift, act as a barrier between operations and snags, to act as a brace for rescuers, and for tying off tools that would otherwise sink and get lost. Care should be taken to prevent the horse being rescued from swimming into the boom and inadvertently getting a leg over in an attempt to step over the boom. Typical deployment of the air boom. The air boom can be used to keep a horse's head above water but care should be taken to avoid front leg entanglement. Nikopoulos Needle The Nikopoulos Needle is basically a U-shaped bent pipe with small holes drilled along the edge and a jet hole in the cap at the end. It can be used to jet through mud under a bogged animal so that a sling or recovery strap can be pulled back under the animal. A view of a Nikopoulos Needle. Inserting the needle during training. A Nikopoulos Needle is used to safely pull recovery straps under a bogged wild horse. Bogged horses and horses stranded in water can pose risks to rescuers and bystanders. Responders should train on best safe practices and use of proper equipment before attempting these kinds of rescues. RELATED PROCEDURE GUIDES: Flexible Strap Guide Nikopoulos Needle and Jetting Wands Rescue Glide Water Rescue Harness Extricating a Bogged or Mud Trapped Horse Lifting a Bogged Horse Preparing a Downed Horse for Transport "Packaging" a Horse for Transport Return to Part Three Return to Part One Return to Information Sheets and Resource Guides Return to Sample Incident Responses Return to LRTC TLAR / EVAC Page The training information presented in these information sheets and guides is offered for illustrative and volunteer refresher purposes only. It is not a substitute for actual hands-on training. Press Back to return to the page which brought you here Return to LRTC Wild Horse Mentors Return to KBR Training Page Go To KBR Horse Net