Water Rescue Dummy

The Water Rescue dummies are used extensively by NATO forces, British and US Navies, 100% of UK Fire Services and all the sea rescue agencies.

Originally developed in conjunction with the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (R.N.L.I), Greater Manchester Fire Service Water Incident Support Section and the British Navy; these dummies perfectly simulate unconscious casualties in water.

Recently, the Water Rescue dummy was improved with new tapered arms with a 'wrist' that allows a rescuer to grasp the wrist as they would with a real casualty. Additionally the new style shape head not only looks more realistic but sits better on the shoulders when the dummy is on the water.

They will float at an angle of approx 45 degrees with just the head and shoulders being visible, however the overalls supplied have integral pockets to the front that enable the user to add buoyancy or weight as required, to alter the dummy's position in the water.

The Water Rescue dummies can be supplied in two forms, 'man overboard' or 'search and rescue'.

• The Man-Overboard dummy is supplied with bright orange overalls and SOLAS reflective tape on the head, and is designed to be as conspicuous as possible.
• The Search and Rescue model is supplied with black overalls, and a black mesh hood to cover the head; the idea is to make it as inconspicuous as possible to enable the rescue teams to practice their search, as well as their recovery techniques.

The construction is similar to the General Purpose Training Dummies, but utilises a heavy- duty Nylon mesh for the carcass and non-absorbent closed cell foam for buoyancy. The nylon mesh carcass allows the water to flood out of the dummy as it is being recovered, it further allows better ventilation when the dummy is hung up to dry. Strong plastic strips run from the shoulder area to the knee joint, these strips allow flexibility in and out of the water, but do not allow the dummy to bend in half when the patient is lifted from the front; this modification facilitates easier rescues using stretchers or recovery devices like a Jason's Cradle.

With the addition of the Thermal Tabard accessory and heat packs, rescuers can practice searches using their thermal imaging cameras.
For alternative rescue scenarios where the patient is basically un-injured and well, such as Man Overboard from a yacht or IRB rescues or racing, see our Conscious Casualty dummy
Both Man-Overboard and Search & Rescue models are available in adult 40kg and Youth 20kg sizes.

All water rescue training dummies are supplied complete with Wellington boots; the boots greatly protect the legs if the dummy is dragged along the round, and are user-replaceable if damaged.

The protective overalls keep the dummy clean, and greatly increases the lifespan of the dummy; they are produced using polyurethane coated polyester, coloured either in orange (to BS EN 471) for the Man-Overboard model or black for the Search and Rescue model.

The overalls are reinforced with high density polypropylene webbing in identified high stress areas. The ends of the arms have open nylon mesh to allow water draining. The overalls are machine washable and replacements are available as spare parts.
The secret to the realistic Water Rescue dummy performance is the designed balance of the weighting vs. the buoyancy - and the tough nylon mesh carcass. When the dummy enters the water the nylon mesh allows the water to rapidly penetrate the dummy. After a few minutes the legs of the dummy will drop below the surface, resting at an angle of about 45 degrees to the surface, the head and shoulder will be above the surface.

When retrieving the dummy the water will flood out; the rate at which the water drains out is directly related to the speed of the retrieval - the faster the retrieval the more water in the dummy and therefore the heavier the dummy will be. As a guide, a fast 'snatch' retrieval may almost double the dry weight of the dummy ie: 40kg dummy will weight about 70kg. A more realistic retrieval rate will result in a haul of 50-60 kg.

The buoyancy of the dummy can be varied by adding either weights or foam to the Velcro closed pockets on the front of the overall. As supplied we include a couple of extra layers of closed cell foam which can be removed to lower the level at which the dummy floats.
Note the lifting loop at the back of the head - the dummy can be lifted and hung up to dry using this.
For diver rescue training a few kilos of weight will sink the dummy to the sea floor.

In rough surf we suggest increase the buoyancy - the force of a large wave breaking over the dummy can force it a metre or more below the surface. As any diver knows foam rapidly compresses under the pressure of the water, thereby reducing the buoyancy. It is possible that the dummy may sink if forced well below the surface unless the buoyancy is increased.

The Search & Rescue dummy has an optional black nylon mesh hood that can be fitted to the head of the dummy to lower it's visibility. A simple draw string holds the hood on securely.