sea rescue operations and is designed to accommodate one, two, or three survivors at a time; however, one at a time is best for entrance into the helicopter. During land rescue, the forest penetrator is lowered to the survivor with the three seats in the retracted position; during sea rescue, it is lowered with the flotation collar installed, a safety strap hanging free, and the three seats in the retracted position. In this configuration, the penetrator will float with its top 6 inches above the surface of the water.

The following is a step-by-step procedure for the survivor to safely use the forest penetrator:

1. Lower the visor on your helmet as you wait for the rescue device to enter the water.

2. Swim to the forest penetrator and lower one of the three seats. Sit on the lowered seat facing the flotation collar.

3. Grasp the free end of the safety strap and pass it around your body. Attach the adjustable quick-ejector snap to the forest penetrator and tighten the strap as shown in figure 5-32.

4. Give a thumbs-up signal to the hoist operator. As you are lifted from the water, put your arms around the penetrator and tuck your head down.

Forest Penetrator With Flotation Collar (Swimmer-Assisted Rescue)

During swimmer-assisted rescues using the forest penetrator with flotation collar, the swimmer uses the following procedure to attach the survivor to the hoist cable:

Figure 5-32. - Attaching the forest penetrator.

1. After the penetrator is in the water, pulls down a seat for the survivor to sit on, facing the penetrator.

2. Disconnects a safety strap, passes it under the survivor's arm, around the back, and under the other arm. Reconnects the strap and tightens it.

3. Has the survivor wrap his arms around the penetrator.

4. Signals the aircraft "ready for hoist."

5. After the survivor is hoisted to the helicopter, the crewman assists the survivor into the helicopter.

Rescue Seat

The rescue seat can be used to lower and hoist personnel performing rescue operations from a helicopter over land or water. The rescue seat is designed to accommodate one survivor at a time. It is a buoyant aluminum device consisting of a hollow flotation chamber, a three-pronged seat, and a safety strap (fig. 5-33).

Figure 5-33. - Rescue seat.