CommandantUnited States Coast Guard2100 Second ST. SWCoast GuardWashington, DC 20593-000Staff Symbol: G-OCAPhone: (202) 267-0952

COMDTINST M3710.4BJUL 27 2000COMMANDANT INSTRUCTION M3710.4BSubj: COAST GUARD HELICOPTER RESCUE SWIMMER MANUAL1. PURPOSE. This Manual prescribes policy, procedures, standards and instructions pertinent toall phases of helicopter rescue swimmer operations to be used by unit commanding officersand helicopter rescue swimmers.2. ACTION. Area and district commanders, commanders of maintenance and logisticscommands and unit commanding officers with aircraft assigned shall ensure the provisions of this Manual are followed. No paper distribution will be made of this Manual. Officialdistribution will be via the Coast Guard Directives System CD-ROM.For users on theInternet, the address is http://isddc.dot.gov.3. DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue Swimmer Manual,COMDTINST 3710.4A is cancelled.4. SUMMARY. The changes to this Manual are primarily formatting and content reorganization.Salient policy and content changes are summarized below; however, due to the significantrevision of this Manual, a careful review is recommended:a. Chapter 1- Removes air station staffing levels. Changed reference to the LPU-28P to RSHarness. b. Chapter 2- Addition of trail line hoisting of the rescue swimmer. Warning addedconcerning not to disconnect the hoist hook from the RS Harness during vertical surfacedeployments.Warning the potential of blackout during quick strop recovery and the use of the crotch strap during recovery of an unconscious victim. Added new rear surfaceapproach procedures. Changed aircraft vectoring procedures to reflect the use of theH11940 radio.c. Chapter 3- Changed the 50 yd. Cross Chest Buddy Tow and 50 yd. Equipment tow to a 200yd. Buddy Tow. Changed rest time between 25 yd. underwater swims to 60 seconds. Addednote for Commanding Officers minimum deployment discretion.1

COMDTINST M3710.4Bd. ANNEX's- Added new stretches. Updated RS Flight Syllabus.Updated the RS PT and deployment clothing listing. Replacedthe RS Minimum Training Record and Physical Training ScreeningExam Forms.TERRY M. CROSSAssistant Commandant for Operations2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1 POLICIES AND REQUIREMENTSSection A. General Helicopter Rescue Swimmer Policies 1-2Section B. Minimum Equipment Requirements 1-5Section C. Rescue Swimmer Training Requirements 1-6CHAPTER 2 RESCUE SWIMMER PROCEDURESSection A. Helicopter Rescue Swimmer Procedures 2-3Section B. Rescue Swimmer Deployments 2-4Section C. Survivor Approaches, Carries, and Releases 2-14Section D. Military Aviator Equipment Release 2-29Section E. Parachute Disentanglement 2-33Section F. Survivors Without Flotation Procedures 2-43Section G. Recovery Procedures 2-45Section H. Aircraft Radio Vectoring 2-53CHAPTER 3 RESCUE SWIMMER TRAINING REQUIREMENTSSection A. Training Requirements Introduction 3-2Section B. Training Requirements 3-3ANNEX A STANDARD RESCUE SWIMMER DEPLOYMENT MESSAGEFORMATANNEX B STANDARD USCG HELICOPTER RESCUE SWIMMER HANDSIGNALSANNEX C RESCUE SWIMMER TRAINING HEART RATEANNEX D STRETCH AND EXERCISE DESCRIPTIONANNEX E RESCUE SWIMMER TRAINING "SURVIVOR" SYLLABUSANNEX F RESCUE SWIMMER FLIGHT SYLLABUSANNEX G RESCUE SWIMMER PT AND DEPLOYMENT CLOTHINGANNEX H RESCUE SWIMMER AUTHORIZED EQUIPMENT LISTANNEX I RESCUE SWIMMER TRAINING RECORD AND SCREENING EXAMANNEX J RESCUE SWIMMER SDAP CERTIFICATION