Swift Water and Flood Rescue Technicians Course

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With the recent increase in water related incidents in DWMRT’s area of operations coupled with the essential practice of both rescuer and casualty safety, two team members underwent and successfully completed Rescue 3 Europe’s Swift Water & Flood Rescue Technicians Course in mid - December.

The course is based on the philosophy of self-protection and application of low to high risk solutions. The course provides rescuers with the fundamentals of survival in moving water and is recommended for anyone who may be called upon to assist in water rescues.

Students gain knowledge in hydrology and river classifications, size up, site control and scene management. Practical skills include self-rescue, swift water 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, although, very specific to the swift water environment and largely dissimilar to techniques to which Mountain Rescue would be normally accustomed.  

The course was conducted in various locations on the Glenmacnass, Avonmore and Glendasan rivers in Wicklow. Training sites were carefully selected to augment specific skills. Water temperatures remained a constant however and made for a challenging if not a motivating experience.

The course was provided by Swift Water Training.

http://www.swiftwatertraining.ie/