Swiftwater Rescue Technician (SRT)

Pre-course prep and swimming requirements

Pre-course prep

• For private courses, you can choose* whether you want your group to do the pre-course prep before the course, or have it included as class time as part of the course. Either way, it must be completed before participants go in the river.
  *For 'public' courses, pre-course prep is mandatory
• If you choose pre-course prep, we'll send each participant a link to our online learning platform once they're registered so they can access the Preparation Guide with full instructions and resources. Budget 4 - 6 hours to complete the work online.
• By learning the pre-course material first, we can spend more time practicing where it matters: on and around the river.

Swimming

• Candidates for this certification must pass the Rescue Technician Swim Test (RTST-9)
• For private groups, swim instruction and testing can be incorporated into the course

Course format and overview

Course length

• Course length is 40 hours over 4 to 5 days
• 4 hours can be removed if all of the candidates have current Rope Rescue Operations or Rope Rescue Technician certification
• 4 to 6 hours can be replaced by the online pre-course prep learning component

Mandatory attendance

• Participants must attend 100% of all classes, including pre-course prep. Participants who miss a section of the course without pre-approval may be asked to leave the course.

Assessment and certification

SRT certification from Boreal River Rescue is internationally recognized as a standard of excellence because we set a higher bar.

To achieve the SRT certification, participants must:

• attend all sessions and participate throughout the course
• demonstrate competence in river safety and river rescue concepts
• pass the practical evaluation which takes place in the river

Recertification

• Certification is valid for 3 years from the date of issue and can be renewed by taking a 3-day recertification course
• Organizations wishing to update skills more frequently can opt for an annual 1-day recertification course.

Customized training

• We can customize the instruction to accommodate any relevent scenarios, sites, or other needs of your group
• Get information on group training to learn about customizing courses and combining swiftwater rescue courses with other training.

1. Learn from river and whitewater experts with real-life rescue experience

• All our instructors are certified and have extensive teaching and rescue backgrounds as well as hundreds of hours of river experience.

2. Small group sizes

• The 5:1 ratio of participants to instructor means everyone in your group will get individual attention.
• We provide NFPA 1521 qualified Safety Officers if your department doesn't have personnel available to perform that role during the course.

3. Learn. Do. Repeat. Retain.

• After learning the theory, everyone in your group will put it into action through simulations and real-life scenario-based exercises that build in intensity.
• Our proven technique of repetitive drills leads to "memory searing" — so you learn how to read the river, the situation, and know what to do.

4. Keep your skills sharp

• For 3 years after training, participants have access to our online learning platform with videos and practice modules to stay up to date with evolving techniques and industry standards.
• We can also provide skill maintenance programs including schedules and training plans upon request.

Swiftwater rescue basics

Introduction to swiftwater rescue

• Overview of swiftwater rescue operations as outlined in NFPA 1006 and 2500
• Understanding the role of the swiftwater rescue technician within technical rescue incidents

General concepts of swiftwater rescue

• How to approach a rescue
• Risk management in swiftwater environments
• Swiftwater rescue safety principles

Water dynamics and hazards

• Identifying and assessing hydrological features (NFPA 1006, Chapter 11.2)
• Recognizing natural and human-made hazards in moving water
• Managing risk in swiftwater environments
• Identifying hazards and the need for additional training for rescues that involve helicopters or scuba

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Selecting and using NFPA 1983-compliant life safety equipment
• Donning and doffing personal flotation devices (PFDs), helmets, and thermal protection
• Maintaining and inspecting swiftwater PPE

Technical rescue gear

• Maintaining NFPA 1983-compliant rope and technical rescue equipment for swiftwater rescue

River signals and communications

• Hand signals
• Whistle signals
• Terminology

Incident command and scene management

• Integrating with the Incident Command System (ICS) during swiftwater rescues (NFPA 2500)
• Establishing control zones and ensuring scene safety
• Communicating effectively between rescuers and incident commanders

Medical considerations in swiftwater rescue

• Treating and managing hypothermia, drowning, and trauma (NFPA 1006, 11.3.2)
• Packaging and patient care in swiftwater environments
• Evacuating injured patients from the water

Night operations and limited visibility rescues

• Conducting swiftwater rescues in low-light conditions (NFPA 1006, 11.5.4)
• Using lights, signals, and other equipment
• Adjusting rescue strategies for limited visibility conditions

Post incident documentation and debriefing

• Documenting rescue activities and lessons learned (NFPA 2500)
• Conducting debriefings and critiques to improve future rescue operations
• Addressing psychological and emotional stress post-incident

Skills

• Self-rescue maneuvers (NFPA 1006, 11.3.1)
• Swiftwater swimming maneuvers (eddy swimming, ferrying)
• Throw bags and other shore-based rescue tools
• Contact rescues
• Quick release chest harness and tethered rescuer ("live bait") techniques
• Rescue of panicked subjects
• Shallow water crossing techniques
• Knots, anchors, and mechanical advantage systems (NFPA 1006, 11.5.1)
• Handling rescue boats and inflatable watercraft in swiftwater conditions (NFPA 1006, 11.5.2)
• Navigating and positioning watercraft for rescue
• Strainer swim

Rescue problems and scenarios

• Line-crossings
• Transportation system: Tethered boat systems (2- and 4-point boat/RDC/Fortuna on tether)
• Transportation system: Tensioned diagonal
• Extrication techniques for subjects pinned by debris or submerged vehicles (NFPA 1006, 11.4.2)
• Rescues involving vehicles or other structures in moving water
• Boat pins and wraps
• Safety and teamwork in watercraft operations
• Rescue simulations

Elective topics (based on your needs and course length)

• Low head dam rescue
• Highline boat on tether
• Canal rescue

Pricing

Group of 10* candidates with two instructors: $959 CAD per person for 4 days, $1159 per person for 5 days, plus:

• Instructor travel costs
• PPE rental and shipping costs (if necessary)

*The price per person is higher for groups smaller than 10.

What’s included?

• Full days of professional instruction 
• Rescue training equipment (throw ropes, hardware, mock strainer, etc.) and safety equipment (first aid kits, inflatable kayak, cell or sat phone)
• Online resources
• Ongoing training support

What you provide

• Indoor classroom space and access to an outdoor practice area and river sites
• Classroom equipment: tables, chairs, projector or television, whiteboard
• Agency-specific rescue and extrication equipment
• Communicating with students and providing pre-course information

What you or students provide

• Transportation to course sites
• Meals and snacks

Participant takeaways

• Swiftwater Rescue Technician (SRT) certification (valid for three years upon successful completion of the course) with course records maintained in our database
• Digital certification card and reflective helmet sticker
• Practical evaluation record sheet—list of skills and knowledge components keyed to NFPA standards, signed by your instructor
• Waterproof pocket-manual: Whitewater Rescue Field Guide, by Boreal River Rescue

For the river:

• *Rescue PFD with quick-release harness, knife and whistle
• *Water sports helmet
• *Drysuit or wetsuit  
• River shoes – closed toe running shoes or whitewater-specific shoes with sturdy sole
• Base layers and insulation – layers of socks, pants, and tops made of synthetic material to wear in addition to the drysuit or wetsuit
• Neoprene gloves
• Neoprene head warmer (optional)
• Sunglasses or prescription glasses with strap (optional)
• Sun and bug protection
• Personal medications
• Meals, snacks and drinking water
• Gear bag for transport

For on land

• Personal indoor and outdoor clothing
• Rain gear
• Indoor and outdoor footwear
• Backpack, pens, notebook

*Rental equipment available from Boreal River Rescue