Swiftwater Courses
In these courses, you’ll learn how the river works, and how to recognize hazards and mitigate them.
You’ll learn safety techniques for how to operate around and in the river. As well we offer training in self-rescue (if you fall in), companion rescue (if your partner falls in), and subject rescue (improvised and organized rescue response).
Courses
Courses vary depending on river environments, tasks, and responsibilities. All course have the same core fundamentals of hazard assessment and personal safety.
The courses are also designed specifically for the “zone” you operate in. From the Cold zone (away from the river) to the Hot Zone (actively swimming or working in the water).
If you send workers into the swiftwater environment or you yourself have a responsibility to respond to the swiftwater there is a course for you.
Certifications upon completion:
- Every course is certified through the IRIA
- Online awareness course (Valid for 1 Year)
- Swiftwater Safety Rescue Technician 1-4 (Valid for 3 Years)
Required Equipment:
- Water type boot
- Food/water for the day(s)
- Thermal wear for under the drysuit
- Drysuit/Wetsuit
- PFD
- Approved helmet
Equipment can be rented from Rescue Canada.
View our Equipment Rentals →
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Swiftwater Safety Awareness (Online) $100Basic Theory and Knowledge of Swiftwater Safety.
This online awareness course is the first step in your safety and rescue training.
This comprehensive course covers topics of how the river works, basic equipment needs, safety and rescue applications and more.
This is a self paced online course that takes up to 4 hrs to complete and is the prerequisite for the Swiftwater Safety Rescue Courses.
- Swiftwater Safety Rescue Level 1 – Safety $275
Basic Safety and Hazard Assessment
This is the first practical course in the swiftwater environment which is geared for the student to understand and avoid the hazards associated in the swiftwater.
The students experience how to mitigate hazards and develop personal safety skills in a practical river environment.
This course is designed for those that would work up to the river’s edge.
- Swiftwater Safety Rescue Level 2 – Operations $425
Level 1 plus Safety, Self Rescue, and Companion Rescue
The industry standard for Occupational workers and Resource Management and the start for many Emergency Responders is the SSRT Level 2 – Operations course.
This course is designed to give the student the practical knowledge and skills to operate safely in a low risk and shore based environment.
Basic safety and self rescue, entrapments, swimming, wading, and the simple systems are all performed in this course.
- Swiftwater Safety Rescue Level 3 – Technician $525
Level 2 plus Subject Rescue, Rescue Swimming and Rescue Systems
Need to perform in water rescues or work in medium to high risk environment, then this is your course.
Working from simple to complex systems and focusing on third party rescues are all performed beyond the skills previously taught in the other courses.
Swimming in Class 2-3 whitewater, contact rescues and scenarios are the focus of this training course.
- Swiftwater Safety Rescue Level 4 – Advanced $650
Level 3 plus Team Leadership, Advanced Systems and High Risk Scenarios
All previous performed skills are put to the test along with the introduction of high risk and complex systems and scenarios.
Canyons, Class 4 whitewater, flooding, Swiftwater Ropes and vehicles are introduced in this intense course.
We focus on building Team Leadership and advanced problem solving.
Swiftwater Rescue Training Benefits:
- Learn how to save others
- Meets/Exceeds worksafe/employer requirements
- Learn how to use the right equipment
- Learn how to survive in the Swiftwater
- Gain knowledge of how the river works & how to use it
- Learn how to assess risk
