Water
Swiftwater Rescue Technician - Level 1
This comprehensive swiftwater course puts the emphasis on identifying risks, self rescue and low-risk options for rescuing others. SRT 1 is the “standard-of-care” or recommended training for those who work in or on moving water. It is highly-valued training for anyone who works in this high risk environment including firefighters, resource management personnel and outdoor guides. This course is compliant with the NFPA 1670 Standard for technical swiftwater rescue incidents.
Details
Duration: 3 days
Format: 1 day classroom, 2 days on the river
Cost: $429
Pre-requisites
- 18+ years of age (16-17 with parental permission)
- Basic swimming ability
- In good physical condition
Required Equipment
- Drysuit or wetsuit*
- Personal flotation device (Type III or IV)*
- Water-sports helmet*
- Neoprene gloves (optional)
- Neoprene footwear with a good walking sole, wading boots, or running shoes
- Layers of wool or fleece clothing for under the drysuit/wetsuit including sweater, pants, gloves, socks
(* rentals available - see our online registration form for details)
FAQ
More details about swiftwater courses including what to expect and how to prepare. Click here for our Swiftwater FAQ.
General Objectives
- To develop a sense of confidence and necessary skills for those who work in a swiftwater environment.
- Develop ability to self rescue and rescue others in moving water situations
- Familiarize and train the student in utilization of standard river rescue gear.
Behavioural Objectives
- Have a sound working knowledge of swiftwater dynamics and water-related physiology.
- Recognize the signs and symptoms of significant medical problems related to water accidents.
- Have a working knowledge of equipment including: climbing gear, lights, boats, signaling devices, specialized gear and vehicles.
- Function with helicopters as a rescue asset and understand their characteristics, capabilities, and limitations.
- Rescue and extricate an accident victim from the water.
- Safely swim swiftwater and maneuver so as to negotiate river hazards and obstacles at various water levels.
- Handle small inflatable boats by paddle, oar and tether.
- Have a good knowledge of applicable communications systems.
- Have knowledge of law-enforcement responsibilities and on-scene leadership.
- Understand swiftwater rescue team organization and victim responses.
- Utilize climbing and technical rescue gear applicable to swiftwater.
- Ford shallow and fast-moving water utilizing various techniques.
- Cross deep, slow-moving and fast-moving water utilizing basic climbing gear, small boats and in combination.
Course Outline
Day 1: Classroom Session
- Rescue 3’s philosophy
- Swiftwater dynamics
- Personal equipment
- Risk management
- Drowning and medical conditions related to swiftwater
- Introduction to ropes, knots and gear
- Dryland rope work
Day 2: River Session
- A review of key concepts
- Site safety assessment
- Basic river signals
- Throw bagging
- Shallow water crossings
- Swimming skills
- Hazard avoidance
- Combat swim
- Rope work
Day 3: River Session
- Review of key concepts
- Site safety assessment
- Tension diagonals
- Technical problem (swiftwater rescue scenario)
- Written examination
- Debrief
Take Aways
- Rescue 3’s Swiftwater Rescue Technician - Level One manual
- Personalized skill sheet (training record) signed by the instructor (valuable document for risk management)
- Registration of training record in Rescue 3’s international database
- Wallet card with personal Rescue 3 registration number and date of certification
- Certificate of Completion
