PUASAR002 — Undertake swiftwater and floodwater rescue and recovery

1 Prepare and respond to the rescue

• 1.1Operation and task information is obtained from communications centre or briefing from supervisor
• 1.2Rescue equipment and/or resources are identified and selected based on incident information received
• 1.3Personal protective clothing and equipment is selected based on the nature of the rescue operation
• 1.4Any further details on the nature of the rescue received en route is assessed with rescue team members
• 1.5Anticipated situational and environmental hazards are discussed with rescue team members while on approach and are used as the basis for the development of a rescue plan

2 Assess the rescue scene

• 2.1Information is collected from relevant persons at scene and observations are made to determine the location, number, condition and position of trapped casualties
• 2.2Changes in casualty condition and position are monitored and impact on rescue is assessed
• 2.3Risk assessment on situational and environmental hazards is conducted and control measures to ensure safety of self and others are developed
• 2.4Communication with team members is maintained during rescue
• 2.5Requests for additional personnel and/or specialist equipment based on risk assessment is reported to supervisor, in accordance with organisational procedures and the recognised chain of command
• 2.6Personal capabilities and limitations of self and other team members are identified and referred to supervisor

3 Develop primary and secondary rescue plans

• 3.1Rescue and recovery techniques suitable to trapped casualty and vehicles in swiftwater and floodwater conditions are identified
• 3.2Primary and secondary rescue plans are developed based on risk assessment, identification of appropriate rescue and recovery techniques and in consultation with team members and other organisations/agencies
• 3.3Equipment and resources are selected to perform rescues and recoveries, as identified in the rescue plan
• 3.4Roles and equipment are allocated to other team members, in accordance with organisational procedures
• 3.5In conjunction with the primary plan deployment of secondary rescue plan downstream is implemented

4 Use rope and mechanical advantage systems

• 4.1Rescue and recovery situations requiring the use of rope and mechanical advantage systems are identified
• 4.2Suitable rope and mechanical advantage systems are established to perform rescue and recovery
• 4.3Rope and mechanical advantage system equipment is used, in accordance with organisational policies and procedures and manufacturers’ recommendations, to ensure design limits are not exceeded
• 4.4Rope and mechanical advantage system is modified to increase efficiency, where necessary, while maintaining communication with team members

5 Gain access and perform casualty rescue

• 5.1Defensive and aggressive swimming techniques are used to gain access to casualty when water entry is required, in accordance with organisational procedures
• 5.2Isolation techniques are used to stabilise positioning of casualty and vehicle to assist in extrication
• 5.3Craft is tethered to perform a rescue or recovery, as required, in accordance with the rescue plan
• 5.4Rescue plan is implemented and trapped casualty is extricated or secured using appropriate rescue and recovery techniques and equipment

6 Remove casualty from swiftwater and floodwater

• 6.1Casualty is retrieved from swiftwater and floodwater using techniques for removal, in accordance with organisational policies and procedures
• 6.2Casualty is packaged and handled, in accordance with organisational emergency care procedures or as directed by first aid or medical personnel

7 Conclude swiftwater and floodwater rescue

• 7.1Prior to leaving the scene equipment is recovered, cleaned and maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures and manufacturers’ guidelines
• 7.2During cleaning of rescue equipment and personal protective equipment, hygiene precautions are followed, in accordance with organisational procedures
• 7.3Signs and symptoms of operational stress in self and others is recognised and reported to appropriate personnel
• 7.4Operational debriefing is participated in or conducted, in accordance with organisational procedures
• 7.5Documentation is completed, in accordance with organisational procedures

What does an assessment tool for PUASAR002 need to cover?

To satisfy the Principles of Assessment and Rules of Evidence, an assessment for PUASAR002 needs to address all 91 unit components: 7 elements with 31 performance criteria, 35 performance evidence requirements, 25 knowledge evidence requirements, and the foundation skills. A coverage matrix mapping each question and task to these components is what an auditor looks for.

How does Auditori generate an assessment tool for PUASAR002?

Auditori pulls the current release of PUASAR002 from training.gov.au and generates a complete package: candidate assessment, assessor guide with model answers and observation criteria, and a coverage matrix mapping every component. A suitably qualified person then reviews and approves the draft in a built-in workflow — consistent with ASQA's guidance on AI use in VET — before export as branded PDF and editable Word.

Is the first assessment tool really free?

Yes. Every new account includes one free credit — enough to generate the complete assessment tool for PUASAR002 — with no card and no subscription required. After that it's pay-as-you-go per unit.

Can I check my existing PUASAR002 assessment instead of generating a new one?

Yes — upload your existing assessment or learner guide and Auditori maps it against every element, performance criterion, PE and KE of PUASAR002, showing exactly what's covered and what's missing. Mapping costs a quarter of a credit.