Conscious Casualty

This dummy was developed with the co-operation of Surf Life Saving Australia as a water rescue dummy for IRB Racing, IRB driver training & Tube Rescue practice. After two years of development, several prototypes and extensive testing we are delighted with the result.

During the testing the dummy was also found to be suitable for Jet Ski rescue training and other general rescues scenarios.

Compared to the standard water rescue dummy this new style dummy has been modified as follows:

* Shortened to 1.5m
* Dry weight reduced to 20kg, which increases to about 40+kg when pulled from the water
* Weighting lowered from the torso to the hips to improve stability in a moving sea
* Boots removed and replaced with durable PVC sleeves on lower leg.
* Arms aloft to simulate a volunteer ‘patient’.

The problem for many SLS clubs is to find enough willing volunteers to act as a patient for the IRB rescue teams for practice, especially during the colder months – consequently, skill development suffers.

Now you can train year round and practice those fast pick ups as many times as you like.

This dummy never complains about the cold water, the aching arms and the sore shoulder or jaw from when the rescuer slightly misjudged the pick up.

For IRB driver training you can now train in the roughest surf, close to the reef and in the coldest weather.

The dummy weighs 20kgs when dry. After a few minutes in the water the dummy takes on the water and assumes an upright posture with arms aloft.

For IRB Racing, the dummy attaches to the ‘can’ using a spring clip which grips the webbing strap secured to the neck of the dummy. As you grab the dummy with your arm through the dummies arms the clip releases and you drag it into the IRB. The weight you are hauling is the dry weight of the dummy plus the water that has ingressed into the dummy, ~ 40+ kg

Once in the IRB, the water runs out of the dummy and quickly returns to about 20kg which makes for reasonably easy weight management.

The coloured band band at the top of the arms can be supplied in a number of different team ‘racing’ colours to enable easier recognition when multiple dummies are deployed. They simply velcro to the overall.

The orange overall is made of polyurethane coated polyester which is resistant to salt water. Polypropylene webbing is stitched to the overall in all high stress points.

Beneath the overall the carcass is a tough nylon mesh, as used in our standard water rescue dummy which has been used by NATO military rescue dummies for years. (see standard water rescue dummy for more info)

A strong webbing loop behind the head helps position and retrieve the dummy, and hang up the dummy to dry after use.

This is a tough and durable dummy which, with reasonable care, will last and give years of productive training service.
It opens up a wealth of new training scenarios previously impossible with volunteer patients.