STANDARD COMPETENCIES:

 

 I.      To develop a sense of confidence and necessary skills for rescue personnel in dealing with swiftwater situations.

 II.     To train the student in utilization and adaptation of standard rescue gear in swiftwater situations.

 III.    To train the student in usage of innovative rescue equipment in swiftwater situations.

 IV.     Behavioral Objectives:

         A.      Have a sound working knowledge of swiftwater dynamics and water-related physiology.

         B.      Be able to recognize and treat the signs and symptoms of significant medical problems related to water accidents.

         C.      Have a working knowledge of all equipment used including: climbing gear, lights, boats, signaling devices, specialized gear and vehicles.

         D.      Be able to function with helicopters as a rescue asset and understand their characteristics, capabilities, and limitations, and be safety conscious while working around helicopters.

         E.      Be able to rescue and extricate the accident victim from the water.

         F.      Be able to safely swim swiftwater and be able to maneuver so as to negotiate river hazards and obstacles at various water levels.

         G.      Be able to handle small inflatable boats by paddle, oar and by tether

         H.      Have a good knowledge of applicable communications systems.

         I.      Have knowledge of law-enforcement responsibilities and on-scene leadership

         J.      Understand swiftwater rescue team organization and response of the victim.

         K.      Be able to utilize climbing and technical rescue gear applicable to swiftwater rescue.

         L.      Be able to ford shallow and fast-moving water utilizing various techniques.

         M.      Be able to cross deep, slow moving and fast-moving water utilizing basic climbing gear, small boats, and combinations of the two

 TOPICAL OUTLINE:

 

 I.      rescuer safety, training & equipment

 II.     swiftwater dynamics

 III.    medical considerations

 IV.     panic and survival

 V.      dealing with family and bystanders

 VI.     helicopter familiarization

 VII.    communications

 VIII.   management, organization and preplanning

 IX.     boats - handling and types

 X       introduction to ropes, knots and technical gear

 XI.     on-scene safety orientations

 XII.    basic swimming position

 XIII.   swimming ferry, backstroke

 XIV.    swimming ferry, crawl upstream

 XV.     eddy catching

 XVI.    upstream eddy hopping, swimming

 XVII.   body surfing in upstream waves

 XVIII.  supervised swimming in `hole`

 XIX.    shallow water crossing, one man

         A.      with paddle

         B.      line astern

         C.      line abreast

         D.      triangle

         E.      the `wedge`

         F.      carrying a Stokes litter

 XX      continuous loop crossing

 XXI.    foot and body entrapment drill

 XXII.   forward swimming over obstacles

 XXIII.  throw bags, twice within 20 seconds

 XXIV.   throw coils, twice within 20 seconds

 XXV.    rescue board swimming, ferry angle

 XXVI.   rescue board, downstream swim

 XXVII.  rescue board, surfing

 XXVIII. rescue board, towed victim swim

 XXIX.   swimming a line across river

 XXX     line crossing options

 XXXI.   inflated fire hose

 XXXII.  contact rescues

         A.      self protection drill

         B.      towed swimming

         C.      combat swim

         D.      Swiftwater Rescue C-spine roll

         E.      U.S. Lifeguard C-spine roll

         F.      Canadian C-spine roll

         G.      `live bait rescue`

 XXXIII. anchors and tensioning systems

 XXXIV.  tyroleans

 XXXV.   unwrapping boats

 XXXVI.  2 point boat and rope system

 XXXVII. 4 point boat and rope system

 XXXVIII.tyrolean with boat on tether

 XXXIX.  paddle boat basic handling

 XL      personal watercraft

 XLI.    I.R.B. basic handling

 XLII.   other boat

 XLIII.  rescue problem