What's New
Raven Rescue Expands into Eastern Canada
Raven Rescue will begin providing courses in Eastern Canada in spring 2010.
The demand for professional, NFPA-compliant training is increasing dramatically across Canada. To serve this growing market, Rescue 3 International has named Raven Rescue as its agent for all of Canada.
Raven Rescue has been teaching technical rescue in Western Canada for 25 years, and has a dedicated client base among first responders, resource management professionals, industry and recreationists. The move will bring Rescue 3’s standard-of-care training in swiftwater, surface ice, and technical rope to a similar mix of clients in Eastern Canada. Previously, the majority of Rescue 3 courses taught in Eastern Canada were whitewater rescue courses geared toward the recreational market in Ontario and Quebec through then agent Jim Coffey of Esprit Whitewater.
“We’ve watched our client base grow as training to a high, consistent standard has become more and more important in Canada,” said Walter Bucher, Raven Rescue Executive Director. “Other individual trainers may teach great skills, but it’s really hard to be sure you’re getting high quality training without a set standard against which to measure the course content.”
“While NFPA compliance often brings departments in the door, they keep coming back because we are customer-service oriented with a professional approach and use only the best instructors in the business,” said Bucher. “In addition, Rescue 3‘s level of documentation and record-keeping is second-to-none.”
Raven Rescue provides a detailed training record for each participant that is keyed to the NFPA standards, and also registers every student in Rescue 3 International’s “Certification Database” so that if records are ever required for employment or legal reasons, they are just a phone call or email away.
In addition to providing internationally-recognized certifications through Rescue 3 that meet or exceed the NFPA 1670 standard, Raven Rescue will also offer Pro-Board stamps through its partnership with North Vancouver District Fire Department, that will fulfill the NFPA 1006 Standard.
“Some first responders value the extra “stamp of approval” of a Pro Board certification,” says Bucher. “Others prefer to spend their additional training dollars on a “maintenance program” where one of our instructors conducts guided training exercises on an annual basis, which demonstrates due diligence in skill practice. Both approaches have their merits, and departments can choose the one that works best for them.”
Raven Rescue will also target courses designed specifically for resource management professionals and industrial clients, who are not as concerned with NFPA standards, but just want to ensure their personnel are getting the training they require to do their jobs safely and efficiently.
We have a very large client base in both public and private resource management, and all types of industry from mining to hydro electric to oil and gas,” said Bucher. “We know how to ensure these clients learn all the skills required for certification, but we do it in a way that is relevant to their job descriptions and work environment. There’s no other company that tailors its delivery to the specific needs of clients as well as we do—we are told time and time again that this really sets us apart from other training providers.”
For more information about Raven Rescue’s expansion into Eastern Canada, please contact us.
Ice Rescue Incidents From Lifesaving Resources Inc.
US training and consulting company “Lifesaving Resources Inc.” urges the public to keep pets on a leash and off the ice.
During the past several years, about 85% of the ice rescue incidents were triggered by Good Samaritans venturing out onto the ice in an attempt to rescue a pet, at which time conditions deteriorated resulting in an escalation to a human, and not just an animal rescue.
We encourage pet owners to keep pets on a leash and keep them off the ice. Our principle operating philosophy is that NO ICE IS SAFE ICE!
If an animal is in danger on or through the ice, do NOT attempt to rescue the animal. Call 911 and request a response from professionals that are trained and equipped for this type of emergency.
Make Life Easier for Canadian SAR Teams
Outdoor safety educator “AdventureSmart” urges Canadians to work together this season and give the search and rescue volunteers of Canada extra support. Get informed and get outdoors!
We rarely head out for an outdoor adventure with the expectation that something will go wrong, and, most times, everything will go right. However, that one time that the unexpected happens…your investment in Trip Safety can mean the difference between a successful outcome and becoming a statistic.
We can help reduce the number and severity of search and rescue incidents by remembering the 3 T’s; Trip Planning, Training and the Ten Essentials. By taking personal responsibility you can alleviate the severity of call outs to SAR groups with simple steps before, during and after your adventure.
Click here for more info on Planning, Gear, Bear Safety, Cougar Safety, Signalling and more. Don’t just do it ... plan it first!
Canada Adopts NFPA 1600
New evidence that the NFPA is becoming the de-facto global standard for emergency preparedness is evident in the recent adoption by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) of NFPA 1600, Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs, as the foundation for its version of the standards, titled CSA Z1600.
According to the CSA, its emergency programs traditionally have focussed on preparation and response. CSA Z1600 is its frist standard that combines “emergency management and business continuity”. The standard will help organizations be more proactive, the organization said in a prepared statement.
According to the association, “CSA Z1600 outlines the requirements for a comprehensive emergency management program that incorporates a risk-based, all-hazards methodology, integrating emergency management, and business continuity programs for a total program approach. The comprehensive standard also serves as a benchmark, allowing organizations to evaluate or initiate an emergency management and business continuity program that will work for them.”
The new standard was developed in cooperation with Public Safety Canada and other stakeholders, including first responders, private-sector and nongovernmental organizations, emergency management and business continuity specialists, and various levels of government, according to CSA.
Raven Rescue feels this increases the case to be made for NFPA-compliant training and operations in Canada. Raven Rescue’s training courses are NFPA 1670 and 1006 compliant.
