Swiftwater Technician Course

June 15-18, 2024 (FULL 4-DAY CLASS)

Join us for this immersive experience in the beautiful north woods of Wisconsin!

 THE BREAKDOWN:

Awareness/Operations Level Rescue – First Two Days

The first two days of the June course fulfills operations level requirements for swift water rescue.  Our main focus will be on shore-based and tethered boat rescues.  Students will familiarize themselves with the river and learn self-rescue techniques and defensive swimming.

Day One: The day is spent in the classroom covering:

• Essential knots and rigging, including basic highlines
• How to read the river and assess hazards
• Patient handling techniques
  
• Water Rescue Incident Management
• Throw bag techniques including vectoring lines
• Up-stream spotters and down-stream safety back-ups
• Use of floating hose lines
• Whistle commands and hand signals for communications

Day Two: The day is spent on the river for hands-on training:

• Defensive and offensive survival swimming techniques
• Wading drills & Low Water Crossing
• Throw bag rescues
• Utilizing the power of the current
• Methods to avoid and confront “strainers”. (The number one killer of victims and rescuers who end up being swept down-stream)
• Tethered boat rescues
• Highline boat rescues & rigging systems

Our 16 hour class is NFPA compliant.
Lunch is provided on-site each day.
Lodging is available in either Iron Mountain, MI. or Norway MI.

Technician Level Swiftwater Rescue – Second Two Days

This physically demanding two-day class builds on the skills learned in the operations level class.

Completion of a 1000′ endurance swim is required. (Swim will be completed on the evening before class, unless previously arranged with Pioneer Rescue)

• Each morning starts with offensive and defensive swims
• Throw bag drills
• Diagonal high-lines
• Ropes rigging
• Snow fence drills, for single and multiple victims
• Tethered rescue swimmer “GO” rescues
• Zip-line patient transfers

A practical skills test completes the 16 hour class at the end of the second day.

Students are required to supply their own PPE. (see below for a gear list)

Pre-requisite: NFPA Operations level certification

Lunch is provided on-site each day.
Lodging is available in either Iron Mountain, MI. or Norway MI.

Each student is required to bring along the following list of PPE:

• Technical Rescue style helmet. No bunker helmets allowed.
• Vest-style Personal Flotation Device with crotch straps.  We recommend a swift water vest with chest panel and pockets
• Shoes or boots with soles and ankle protection
• Whistle
• Throw bag with floating water rescue rope. 50′-70′
• Wet suit or dry suit
• Trauma shears or swift water knife (optional)

Cost Per Student (for all four days): $800.00

All required equipment is available for purchase prior to the class.