R 291351Z MAR 12

ALCOAST 151/12
COMDTNOTE 3710
SUBJ: POLICY CHANGE TO COAST GUARD HELICOPTER RESCUE SWIMMER MANUAL
A. NAVY SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR) MANUAL, NTTP 3-50.1
B. COAST GUARD HELICOPTER RESCUE SWIMMER MANUAL, COMDTINST M3710.4
(SERIES)
C. THE COAST GUARD DIRECTIVES SYSTEM, COMDTINST M5215.6 (SERIES)
1. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO UPDATE POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR
PERFORMING PARACHUTE DISENTANGLEMENT. BASED ON CURRENT PROCEDURES
PUBLISHED IN REF A, COAST GUARD PARACHUTE DISENTANGLEMENT PROCEDURES
ARE UPDATED IMMEDIATELY AS OUTLINED BELOW.
2. A COPY OF THIS POLICY CHANGE MESSAGE SHALL BE PLACED AFTER THE
RECORD OF CHANGES PAGE AS A PERMANENT REFERENCE UNTIL THE NEXT
REVISION OF REF B IS PUBLISHED.  IAW REFERENCE C, A CHANGE NOTICE
WILL BE FORTHCOMING.
3. THE FOLLOWING CHANGES SHALL BE MADE:
    A. PG 2-54, PARA 2.E.1, DELETE THE WORD PROCEDURES IN THE TITLE.
REPLACE WITH INTRODUCTION.
    B. PG-2-54, PARA 2.E.1, DELETE- REFER TO TABLE 2-29 AND ADD
VERBIAGE- DUE TO THE VIOLENT NATURE OF AN AVIATOR BEING EJECTED FROM
AN AIRCRAFT, THE POSSIBILITY OF SUSTAINING A BACK INJURY IS VERY
LIKELY. FOR THIS REASON AN AVIATOR WHO HAS BEEN EJECTED FROM AN
AIRCRAFT WILL ALWAYS BE SUSPECTED OF HAVING A BACK INJURY. THE SIDE
CONTROL METHOD IS USED TO HELP LESSEN THE POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER
INJURING A DOWNED AVIATOR DURING PARACHUTE DISENTANGLEMENT
PROCEDURES. THE SIDE CONTROL METHOD, UNLIKE THE SPINAL HIGHWAY,
ALLOWS FOR PROPER BACK AND LEG INSPECTION WITHOUT THE MANIPULATION OF
THE AVIATORS SPINE. DUE TO THE LIKELIHOOD OF A SPINAL INJURY OF AN
EJECTED AVIATOR THE LITTER SHOULD BE CONSIDERED THE PRIMARY RESCUE
DEVICE.
    C. PG 2-54, ADD PARA 2-E.2 TO READ- PARACHUTE DISENTANGLEMENT
PROCEDURES. THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF MILITARY PARACHUTE
HARNESSES THAT A RESCUE SWIMMER MIGHT ENCOUNTER. WITH THE EXCEPTION
OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FITTINGS, INFLATION OF THE FLOTATION
DEVICE, OR REMOVAL OF THE PARACHUTE HARNESS, THE BASIC
DISENTANGLEMENT PROCEDURES REMAIN THE SAME. REFER TO TABLE 2-29.
    D. PG 2-54, PARA 2.E.1, DELETE SECOND WARNING
    E. PG 2-55, DELETE DROGUE LINE FROM CAUTION
    F. PG 2-55, DELETE FIRST NOTE
    G. PG 2-55, ADD CAUTION BEFORE NOTE TO READ- IF POSSIBLE, THE RS
SHOULD POSITION THEMSELVES PREVENTING THE PARACHUTE FROM COMING
BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND THE SURVIVOR. FAILURE TO DO SO COULD RESULT IN
ENTANGLEMENT WITH SUBMERGED SHROUD LINES AND IMPAIR SURVIVOR
VISIBILITY.
    H. PG 2-55, TABLE 2-29, STEP 2, CHANGE TO READ- REMOVE OXYGEN
MASK, (IF APPLICABLE).
    I. PG 2-55, TABLE 2-29, STEP 3, DELETE THE WORD SUSPENSION AND
REPLACE WITH SHROUD.
    J. PG 2-55, TABLE 2-29 WARNING BEFORE STEP 4, CHANGE TO READ- TO
PREVENT POSSIBLE CHEST CRUSHING INJURIES, THE RS SHALL DISCONNECT THE
CHEST FITTING PRIOR TO INFLATING SURVIVORS FLOATATION DEVICE.
    K. PG 2-56, TABLE 2-29 WARNING BEFORE STEP 5, DELETE THE WORD
SUSPENSION (TWO PLACES) AND REPLACE WITH SHROUD.
    L. PG 2-56, TABLE 2-29, STEP 6, DELETE VERBIAGE AND REPLACE WITH-
SIDE CONTROL METHOD: A. USING EITHER SIDE OF THE SURVIVOR AS A
REFERENCE, PROCEED HAND OVER HAND TOWARDS THE LEGS REMOVING ANY
SHROUD LINES ALONG THE WAY. B. RELEASE THE OXYGEN HOSE (IF
APPLICABLE) FROM THE RIGID SEAT SURVIVAL KIT (RSSK), AND THEN
DISCONNECT THE MINI-KOCH FITTING AT THE LAP OR OTHER LEG FITTING AS
APPLICABLE. C. REPEAT PROCEDURES FOR OPPOSING SIDE.
    M. PG 2-56, TABLE 2-29, STEP 7- DELETE VERBIAGE AND REPLACE WITH-
PERFORM A FINAL CHECK FROM HEAD TO TOE ENSURING HARNESS, PARACHUTE,
AND ALL SHROUD LINES ARE CLEAR OF SURVIVOR.
    N. PG 2-56, TABLE 2-29, STEP 8- DELETE VERBIAGE AND REPLACE WITH-
TOW SURVIVOR CLEAR OF PARACHUTE, PUNCTURE AND DISCARD LIFE RAFT, (IF
APPLICABLE).
    O. PG 2-56, TABLE 2-29, ADD WARNING BEFORE STEP 9 TO READ-
WARNING, DUE TO THE LIKELIHOOD OF A SPINAL INJURY OF AN EJECTED
AVIATOR THE LITTER SHOULD BE CONSIDERED THE PRIMARY RESCUE DEVICE.
    P. PG 2-56, TABLE 2-29, STEP 9, DELETE VERBIAGE AND REPLACE WITH-
SIGNAL THE HELICOPTER FOR APPROPRIATE RESCUE DEVICE.
    Q. PG 2-56, TABLE 2-29, DELETE WARNING AND NOTE BEFORE STEP 10.
    R. PG 2-56, TABLE 2-29, STEP 10, DELETE VERBIAGE AND REPLACE
WITH-
SIGNAL HELICOPTER READY FOR PICKUP.
    S. PG 2-56, TABLE 2-29, DELETE WARNING BEFORE STEP 11.
    T. PG 2-56, TABLE 2-29, STEP 11- DELETE VERBIAGE AND REPLACE
WITH-
ONCE SURVIVOR IS PLACED IN RESCUE DEVICE, SIGNAL THE HELICOPTER READY
TO BE HOISTED.
    U. PG 2-56, TABLE 2-29, DELETE STEP 12.
    V. PG 2-57, PARA 2.E.2- RENUMBER TO NUMBER 3.
    W. PG 2-57, PARA 2.E.3- RENUMBER TO NUMBER 4.
    X. PG 2-57, TABLE 2-30, STEP 2, DELETE THE WORD SUSPENSION (2
PLACES) AND REPLACE WITH SHROUD.
    Y. PG 2-58, TABLE 2-30, STEP 5, DELETE VERBIAGE AND REPLACE WITH-
COMPLETE PARACHUTE DISENTANGLEMENT PROCEDURES IAW TABLE 2-29.
4. DIRECT QUESTIONS AND/OR INFORMATION REQUESTS TO ASTCM CHRISTOPHER
S. WALKER, HELICOPTER RESCUE SWIMMER PROGRAM MANAGER, COMDT (CG-711),
AT (202) 372-2219 OR BY EMAIL AT CHRISTOPHER.S.WALKER (AT) USCG.MIL.
5. RELEASED BY RDML MARK E. BUTT, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR
CAPABILITY.
6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.