Swiftwater Rescue Boat Operator (SRBO)

This course is designed to introduce students to boat operation on swiftwater. During the course students gain experience reading moving water and operating boats in current. Using both a motor and paddles, students will practice such skills as use and avoidance of hydraulics, ferrying across current, and obstacle navigation will be practiced in Class I and II whitewater. Students then progress to operating both up and down stream in Class III and above whitewater. Other exercises include night operation scenarios and multiple boat operations.

Read More

Flood Rescue Boat Operator (FRBO)

Flood Rescue Boat Operator is a course designed to train rescue personnel in handling motorized boats during flood operations. Students are exposed to a number of topics including types of motorized boats suitable for water rescue, boat handling on still or slowly moving water, crew roles, boat safety and problem solving. Techniques are then put to work doing searches in flood environments, stranded victim and in-water retrieval, and rescue of conscious and unconscious persons.

Read More

Swiftwater Paddle Boat Handling (SPBH)

The Swiftwater Paddle Boat Handling (SPBH) course is designed for Rescue 3 Swiftwater Rescue Technicians (SRTs), who wish to improve and expand on their paddle boat handling ability. It follows on from the basic boat handling section in the SRT class and covers in more depth, swiftwater boat handling and rescue scenarios using the paddle boat as a rescue craft.

Read More

Personal Watercraft Surf Rescue Technician (PWC)

The Personal Watercraft Surf Rescue Technician (PWC) course is designed to be taught in a three-day format, where water rescue has already been taught. Primary emphasis is placed on rescuer safety and survival. Topics will include ocean, inlet, lake and moving water dynamics; near shore hazards and problems; transport, set up, launch and retrieval procedures for PWC; construction, maintenance and repair of PWC and rescue techniques and operations for which the PWC is used in a variety of environmental conditions.

Read More

Rescues from Vehicles in Water (RVW)

The Rescue from Vehicles in Water workshop is a specialist course for Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technicians that explores the skills required to deal with car-related rescues in Swiftwater and Floods. The course looks at vehicle behavior and stabilization in water, as well as access techniques and victim extrication. Vehicle hydrology, glass management, anchors, and weight transfer are all addressed in this two-day, hands-on clinic.

Read More

Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician Advanced (SRTA)

This course builds on the skills learned in the Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician (SRT), taking the students beyond the emphasis on self-rescue to concentrate on victim rescue. Students are exposed to more complex water rescue situations including a mock night river rescue scenario. The three day course includes 4-6 hours of classroom instruction, followed by two and one-half days of hands-on skill development.

Read More

Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician (SRT)

The SRT course provides rescuers with the fundamentals of survival in moving water and is recommended for anyone who may be called upon to effect in-water rescues. Students gain knowledge in hydrology and river classifications, size-up, site control and scene management. Practical skills include self-rescue, swiftwater swimming and the fundamentals of shore, boat and in-water rescues. Additionally students are introduced to the basics of boat handling and the fundamentals of rope rescue including mechanical advantage and anchor systems.

Read More

Operations: Swiftwater and Flood First Responder (OPS)

This course is designed to provide students with both a theoretical and practical knowledge of the basics of swiftwater rescue. The class includes one day of classroom instruction and one day of practical field exercises. As well as being prepared to work near water, undertake bank-based rescues and shallow water wading rescues, one of the main roles of a First Responder is to support Swiftwater Rescue Teams at an incident.

A First Responder may be required to evacuate people from properties or vehicles using shallow water wading skills, and will be expected to assist and support in the technical rescue, but will not be expected to undertake technical rescues themselves. This may include providing downstream safety cover or assistance with casualty handling.

Read More