Skills taught include use and selection of personal protective equipment (PPE), rescue gear and an understanding of personal safety, survival swimming, self-rescue and procedures to assess the situation and conditions as they relate to both victim and rescuer. Students will learn site management procedures, including activation of emergency response and management of shore-based rescue operations. Team-based skills include procedures to assist with rigging and mechanical advantage systems to technician-level personnel, procedures for operating boats, and other watercraft used by the organization.

• Course Enabling Objectives
  At the completion of this course the student will:
  
  • Learn specific rescue techniques including:
  • Surface water-based search operations
  • Victim entrapment
  • Rapid extrication of accessible victims
  • Managing heat and cold stress
  • Utilizing PPE
  • Safe and effective use of victim packaging devices that could be employed for water rescue, and transfer of victim information to emergency medical services
  • Be capable of coordinating both boat-assisted and boat-based rescues, and “go rescues”
  • Many hands-on activities, case studies, and group work
  • Meets requirements specified in NFPA 1670