Some truly dedicated acting made for an especially compelling Practical Rescue Management course for Sub C Divers . Chris Heywood reports
LEARNINGCURVE
The rescue manager gives instructions
Real world challenges
Some truly dedicated acting made for an especially compelling Practical Rescue Management course for Sub C Divers . Chris Heywood reports
Sub C Divers , based in Atherton near Wigan , recently held a Practical Rescue Management ( PRM ) course . Seven Sports Divers attended , allowing them to complete four parts of their Dive Leader training . The course was split over two days , with theory lessons on Saturday held in a room at the Lancashire Powerboat Racing Club . Sub-C has a great relationship with the powerboat club , as some of our members have become trained powerboat rescue divers with them . The practical parts of the PRM course took place at Mackenzie Pier , Holyhead Harbour , a great venue for training due to its shallow and gentle shelving beach and quiet surroundings .
We had two newly qualified Ocean Divers assisting us , which meant we could form three teams of three . Three scenarios had been devised , enabling each of the students to manage at least one scenario . As the Ocean Divers didn ’ t yet have the training or skills required to manage a rescue , two of the Sports Divers were able to lead two scenarios .
I created three scenarios for the teams to manage . Other club members served as ‘ actors ’ to support the event . All the actors received an outline and a script for the scenario they were assigned to , which would help them get into character a couple of weeks before the event . They were given their full scripts and directions printed on laminated cards on the day .
Our actors then set themselves up with their equipment and took their starting positions .
At this point , the three students were given their direction cards , one as the rescue leader and the other two as rescuers . All script and direction cards included the instruction : ‘ Do not discuss your instructions with fellow team members ’.
Other helpers were given scripts with instructions such as ‘ Get in the student ’ s way ’... ‘ Tell them they are doing it wrong ’... ‘ Where is the telephone ?’ What should I say ?”... and ‘ Take photographs of the victims ’.
Quick ! There ’ s a diver in trouble !
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