How jet skis drivers search and rescue big wave surfers

Big wave surfing is a death-defying subdiscipline in which experienced athletes ride huge waves, typically at least 20 feet (6.2 meters) high.

Consequently, big wave surfers prepare physically and mentally for the world's largest waves in several ways.

Physical preparation often involves training the body through exercises that improve lung capacity, cardiovascular health, and oxygen efficiency.

The training can include activities such as breath training and yoga.

Mental preparation involves learning to embrace fear and rigorously preparing for the worst-case scenario so that the surfer knows what to do in difficult situations.

The psychological work can involve visualization, meditation, and other mental exercises.

Big wave surfers may also prepare by learning about the specific waves and conditions they will be surfing and practicing with smaller waves before attempting larger ones.

However, Mother Nature is sometimes way too mighty for the human spirit, and surfers find themselves in life-or-death situations.

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What is the Minimum Personal Protective Equipment for PWC Operations

 

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) requirements for PWC Rescue vary with the conditions surrounding the use of the PWC.  Requirements from Florida would differ from those in Alaska.

WETSUIT provide an excellent value for the money. They come in various thicknesses for different water temperatures, provide maximum protection from injury, work when damaged and are easy to repair.

DRYSUIT provide the best thermal protection, ease of movement, fit different sized people, provide wind protection when out of the water, and provide hazardous material protection when working in contaminated water.

PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES U.S. Coast Guard approved Type III, Type V, or Type III/V personal flotation devices (PFDs) are recommended. These jackets provide a minimum of 15 1/2 lbs. (7 kgs) of flotation. The fit is the most important feature when selecting a PFD. Try to find a jacket that provides the most flotation while fitting you properly.

HELMETS Light, ventilated helmets with foam padding or adjustable suspension systems are the preferred types. Fire helmets or helmets with fixed brims should not be used, as these can cause serious injury.

FOOTWEAR Neoprene Booties with thick soles are an excellent choice. Tennis shoes with wool or Neoprene socks are also a good combination.

HOODS Either Neoprene hoods or some type of pile cap which insulates when it is wet can be indispensable in cold conditions.

GLOVES A combination of neoprene and leather or composition-palmed gloves provide the best blend of thermal protection and manual dexterity.

EYE PROTECTION should be worn when operating boats, personal watercraft or when working under helicopters. Types include safety glasses, goggles, face shields and swimming glasses.

RIVER KNIFE one handed and accessible. a backup knife stored in PFD pocket is recommended

WHISTLE A good whistle is necessary for communication.  It should be loud and work when wet.  The whistle should be attached to the PFD.

SWIM FINS Short, stiff bladed swim fins should be carried in the event the PWC becomes disabled or you must swim into an area to retrieve the victim.

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT Consideration should also be given to additional equipment such as; strobe light, EPIRB, Marine Radio, Throw bag, etc. It all depends on where you are operating. 

Airman At Sea

 

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Garrett Stevens, 6th Security Forces Squadron marine patrolman, operates a jet ski in Tampa Bay, Florida, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, March. 7, 2022. Marine patrol Airmen utilize boats, jet skis, and all-terrain vehicles to patrol and enforce all of MacDill’s coastal restricted area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Hiram Martinez)

Extractor Pro Model PWC Rescue Sled

Special Aquatic Service (SAS) Water Safety first utilized the Extractor sleds back in 1997 and found them to be invaluable for PWC rescue operations and event support. Today, the Extractor PRO model has been an industry standard for quick rescue pick ups in the surfline, rivers and other near shore situations for the past 20 years. This model, due to its size and weight, is designed for use with PWC’s where a single rescue operator is available to operate the PWC, or may be used in situations where a rescue swimmer is used to assist the victim.

Extractor made the ‘original’ PWC rescue sled in winter of 1991 and patented the water rescue sled back in 1993.  Several revisions have been created over the years to improve durability, performance and adapt the sled to be able to connect with ever-changing hull designs of various personal watercraft.  Current sled designs have features that take into consideration the many different makes and models of personal watercraft.

Not all personal watercraft makes and models are ideal for connecting and using a rescue sled. For the models that do, the optimum connection between personal watercraft and sled differ slightly. Some pwcs already come with hard points ideal for towing, and some pwcs still require installation of hard points onto the rub rails, seat housing, transom or stern in order to provide the most stable and secure connection. 

Taking the time to properly mount your sled is critical: a sled that is too loose or too tight on the transom above the jet, can affect maneuverability and stability. In the worst-case scenario, this could damage your boat, the sled itself, or cause serious injury.

When mounting your sled, you will always want to keep three points for attaching the stern. Some connection systems utilize a solid hitch connection and others use soft rigging, like rope or webbing.  The solid hitch or the middle rope become the main tow point.  Ideally the shorter the connection is between the sled and pwc, the more the board will be stable in the water.

The Extractor Jet Ski Rescue Sled is the result of 30 years of experience, manufacturing several revisions of sleds, using different materials and construction methods along the way. Ultimately, the end users and customers have driven the demand for the current design, using the most durable materials, which can be molded into a hull shape that optimizes functionality for being towed behind a watercraft, which do not delaminate from water pressure working on glued seams, rot from sitting in the salt water or sun, and are recyclable, so they don’t end up polluting the ocean or taking up space in land-fills. The plastic is easily repaired and welded, minimizing time out of commission. 

Check out Extractor Sleds full line of sleds and rescue equipment

Drifting Towards Catastrophe: What Water Rescue Teams Can Learn from Air Medevac Procedures

RWC Operations Risk Management

By Mike Hudson

On a typical, nondescript summer morning, a fire department water rescue team mulled through their morning preventative maintenance and checklists for its personal watercraft (PWC), which includes confirmation of hull integrity, including the insertion of the bilge’s hull plugs. After the checklist was completed, the rookie on the team was ordered to wash and rinse the inside and outside of the primary PWC, which requires the removal of the bilge plugs. Later that day, the team was dispatched to a water rescue “job” for multiple children caught in a rip current at a neighboring beach. Normally, the unwritten rule is to check the plugs before launching the PWC, but the crew deviated from that step and the craft was hastily launched into the four-foot surf; soon after, the engine compartment flooded, rendering the craft inoperable. Read More

Secret Service Wants Jet Skis to Protect Trumps: 'The First Family is Very Active in Water Sports'

 

The United States Secret Service wants to purchase two jet skis that would be used to train agents and help protect President Donald Trump—along with his family and friends—while at vacation properties located near the water, such as his exclusive south Florida Mar-a-Lago resort, according to an order request posted Monday.

The federal agency requested two Kawaski jet skis, watercrafts that each retail from $9,999 to $15,299. The request noted security challenges that special agents face when traveling with Trump to places such as Mar-a-Lago and the Hamptons.

"President Trump and his family spend several weeks throughout the year in Mara Largo FL and Hamptons NY. The First Family is very active in water sports," the request reads, which was first highlighted by Washington-based WRC-TV reporter Scott McFarlane.

"Several family members along with their guest participate in open water activities for which USSS Special Agent Rescue Swimmers are responsible," the request continues. "SA's have rented watercraft with their own personal funds to allow them to be near our protectees in various water environments to fulfill the USSS Rescue Swimmer mission."

The Secret Service said the jet skis would primarily be used for training exercises and would be stored at a training facility in Beltsville, Maryland. They would be transported via a dual trailer, which the agency also wishes to purchase.

's unclear as to when the jet ski quotes are due, considering the posting lists Tuesday but also says September 18 as the deadline, which would be Wednesday.

Currently, the Secret Service provides rescue watercraft training in North Carolina during a one-day course. However, the agency explained in its request, a three- or four-day training course provided by agents who are rescue swimmer instructors would be "more appropriate to become a proficient operator/rescuer on a" rescue watercraft.

The jet skis will "be outfitted with rescue sleds (in a separate purchase) that will be used by USSS Rescue Swimmers as training tools, as well as assets that can be used on a variety of protective missions, as needed," the request added.

The Secret Service also noted the agency's former partnership with local officials in Hawaii for when former President Barack Obama and his family vacationed there, stating that rescue swimmers used and trained with jet skis for the same reasons.

2019 SEA-DOO SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR) IS READY TO RESPOND

Sea-Doo went all out with its 2019 Search and Rescue units (SAR). According to Sea-Doo, the SAR watercraft includes the specific features you need in order to respond to life threatening situations. The machines are ideal for rescue situations involving surf, whitewater rafting, floods, or use along rocky coasts. They are equipped with Sea-Doo’s Off-Throttle Assisted Steering to give the operator more maneuverability when laying off the throttle. This helps in aiding people in distress and will also assist in maneuverability in out of tight spaces. It also adds an additional steering effect to the steering mechanism. Read More

River Rescues With Jet Ski Legend Eric Chretien

 

When I introduce Eric Chretien to people in the river surfing community I always introduce him as Monkey and then proceed to tell them that Monkey is the world’s best jet ski support driver for any river. Eric, being the modest person that he is, corrects me and and says, ‘actually it’s Eric, and he’s just joking’. Joking or not, Monkey’s resume is world class and when talking river surfing he stands above and beyond anyone else as the man you can trust with your life.

Secret Service Agents on Jetski's as the Obamas hit the Water in Hawaii

The First Family have now officially hit the halfway point of their Hawaiian holiday and enjoyed a nice lie-in followed by an afternoon at the beach on the eighth day of their vacation.

However, while a regular bunch would just hit the sand and surf, the Obamas had their regular motorcade drop them at Bellows Air Force Station in Waimanalo, and Secret Service agents on wave runners circled them in the water.

The main task of the agents seemed to focus on stopping any other people in kayaks getting to close to the President, his wife and their two daughters. 

The officers could be seen telling different groups at the popular spot to turn around, as they sectioned off part of the water. 

There was also a strong contingent of local police on the ground. 

Sea-Doo - Search and Rescue (SAR) River

 

SEA-DOO SAR, SEARCH AND RESCUE: An easy choice for tough situations.

When you are on a rescue mission, every detail counts. The all-new Sea-Doo SAR, a Search and Rescue watercraft, seamlessly combines the features you need to respond to life threatening situations.

It is designed for breathtaking rescue performances, from surf to whitewater, during a flood or along a rocky coast.

The Sea-Doo SAR watercraft excels in rescue missions but is also ideal for evacuation, surveillance and interception.

The SAR watercraft truly goes the extra mile. Because when lives are hanging in the balance, every detail counts.