Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

DEFSU010B Mapping and Delivery Guide
Locate, treat and manage water in a survival situation

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency DEFSU010B - Locate, treat and manage water in a survival situation
Description This unit covers the competency required to locate, treat (for human consumption) and manage, water in a survival situation.This unit also includes extracting water directly through evaporation, transpiration and desalination; filtering techniques; and treating foul water to render it potable.Of equal importance to optimising the input of water, is minimising the expenditure of water. Individuals will need to protect and ration their water assets and to implement measures to minimise water loss in order to enhance their chances of survival.
Employability Skills This unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application The application of this unit in the workplace - the environments, complexities and situations involved - will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.This text will be useful for the purposes of job descriptions, recruitment advice or job analysis; where possible, it will not be too job specific to allow other industries to import it into other Training Packages, where feasible.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites Prerequisite Unit/sNil
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities 		Slides
PPT 		Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Locate and extract water
  • Water is discovered through recognising and investigating the indicators of and likely locations of water
  • Water is acquired using collection methods during periods of rain and high atmospheric water content
  • Water is extracted from the ground through evaporation
  • Water is extracted from vegetation using transpiration
       
Element: Prepare water for consumption
  • Water is filtered using improvised filtration methods to clarify content and remove debris and large contaminants
  • Unpotable water is made potable using improvised desalinator system
  • Water is confirmed as potable through testing procedures
       
Element: Manage water resources
  • Water is stored using improvised storage receptacles
  • Water loss reduction management techniques are implemented to minimise loss of water
  • Water is rationed strictly in accordance with minimum daily requirements as per the survival situation
       


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessment must confirm the ability to extract water through:

evaporation - a minimum of 20millilitres of water in 24hours through the use of a desert still

transpiration - a minimum of 200millilitres of water in solar day using a plastic (transpirator) bag (0.6m x 0.4m)

desalination - a minimum of five litres of potable water in 24hours using the following:

a 10litre metal drum

plastic (transpirator) bag (0.6m x 0.4m)

pipe section (10-20cm) (e.g. empty drinking can/bottle, clean radiator hose, hollowed tree limb)

The desalinator is to provide the only source of water for a minimum of two days unless safety/health reasons require additional supplementation.

Consistency in performance

Competency must be demonstrated once in the evaporation and transpiration of water.

Competency must be demonstrated in the desalination and management of water, and minimisation of water loss, over a minimum of two days.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency must be assessed in a simulated workplace environment.

While a person can demonstrate the technical ability to locate and treat water, the aspect of longer-term survival i.e. management of water (including care of the desalinator), is crucial; consequently it is strongly recommended that holistic assessment be conducted with other associated survival units.

Assessment under simulated survival conditions should include:

food restrictions (food should be restricted to half the recommended daily caloric intake)

the absence of normal living conditions and amenities such as showers, beds and bedding (warmth to be provided by fire), kitchens etc. with the attendant levels of personal discomfort and fatigue

a significant period of time - the recommendation is four days.

Specific resources for assessment

Access to a suitable assessment area and improvised desalinator kits.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required Skills

assemble basic improvised equipment

extreme care in handling critical survival items (e.g. transpirator bags)

Required Knowledge

desalinator construction:

drum

condensing tube

collecting device

connections of the following to each other

cooling options for the condensing device

desalinator non-compliant liquids (e.g. radiator fluid)

fire safety

transpirator non-compliant vegetation (e.g. leadwood)

The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.

Indicators of water may include

Animal indicators:

animal pads

birds

insects

Geographic indicators:

creek lines

lay of land

Vegetable indicators:

stands of melaleuca

reeds and comparatively lusher areas

Likely locations of water may include

Between 1-2 sand dune (adjacent to coast)

Between the stems of some plants

Deep areas and outside corners of a river bed

Inside cracks in rocks and stone formations

Unusually rich/lush vegetation in area

Water collection methods may include

Digging a pit to the water table

Laying out plastic sheeting to catch moisture/rain

Lowering an improvised sponge into a crack

Soaking dew off damp grass using clothing

Evaporation may include

Using a desert still

Filtration methods may include

Charcoal filtration

Doubled trouser legs, sleeves or socks

Sand filtration

Unpotable water may include

Sea/estuarine water

Stagnant/fouled water (e.g. dead animal, faeces)

Urine

Improvised desalinator system includes

Boiler (e.g. drum)

Collector (e.g. bag)

Condenser (e.g. tube/pipe)

Testing procedures may include

Smell

Effect on sensitive skin (e.g. lips)

Effect upon 'rolling' in mouth

Effect upon consumption of a sip

Effect upon consumption of a draught

Improvised storage receptacles may include

Condom

Plastic bag

Plastic sheet and hole in ground

Water loss reduction management techniques may include

Keeping cool enough whether resting or working to avoid perspiration

Loosening clothing and enabling air flow but avoiding sunburn

Minimal talking

Minimising physical effort during heat of the day and maximising physical effort during cool of night

No smoking

Optimising cooling effect of shelter (e.g. through opening to breezes)

Rule of thumb: no eating if there is no water

Slow and deliberate nasal breathing

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Water is discovered through recognising and investigating the indicators of and likely locations of water 
Water is acquired using collection methods during periods of rain and high atmospheric water content 
Water is extracted from the ground through evaporation 
Water is extracted from vegetation using transpiration 
Water is filtered using improvised filtration methods to clarify content and remove debris and large contaminants 
Unpotable water is made potable using improvised desalinator system 
Water is confirmed as potable through testing procedures 
Water is stored using improvised storage receptacles 
Water loss reduction management techniques are implemented to minimise loss of water 
Water is rationed strictly in accordance with minimum daily requirements as per the survival situation 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

DEFSU010B - Locate, treat and manage water in a survival situation
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

DEFSU010B - Locate, treat and manage water in a survival situation

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: