Swiftwater Rescue Technician Course
Course Summary:
This 2-day, 18-hour swiftwater rescue course is designed specifically for Public Safety and Rescue personnel and provides the knowledge and skills necessary to safely and effectively respond to incidents in and around moving water.
Dates:
For current Swiftwater Rescue Technician course schedule, please visit our Course Registration page.
Location:
Village Fire Station (Kennebunkport, Maine)
Additional Course Information:
On day 1, candidates will participate in 4.5-hours classroom & 4.5-hours practical session focusing on Water Rescue Technician training, with the practical session conducted in a static water environment.
On day 2, candidates will participate in 9-hours practical session focusing on Swiftwater Rescue, with the practical session conducted in a moving water environment.
This course meets and/or exceeds NFPA 1670 Standard for Technical Rescue.
Course Day Schedule:
Classes are scheduled both days from 08:00 – 18:00 hrs. with sign-in from 07:30 – 07:50 hrs. On day 1.
The classroom session on Saturday morning will be conducted at the Village Fire Station (32 North Street) in Kennebunkport, Maine from 08:00 – 12:30 PM. Lunch will be provided from 12:30 PM – 13:00, at which time we will transfer to Colony Beach in Kennebunkport for the afternoon practical session in the ocean from 13:30 – 17:30 hrs.
The prerequisite swim test will be administered at the completion of day 1 from 17:00 – 17:30 hrs.
Participants will continue on the second day for the swift water skills practical to be conducted from 09:00 – 18:00 hrs. in the Saco River, off Water Street in Saco. On day 2, the entire day will be dedicated to swiftwater evolutions and will be conducted in, on and around the moving water.
Lunch will be provided.
Prerequisite:
Participants must be:
- strong swimmers
- comfortable in both static and moving water environments
- good physical condition
Swiftwater Rescue course candidates must pass a swimming prerequisite consisting of the following:
- Swim continuously 100 yards while wearing a Personal Flotation Device (PFD)
- While in deep water, remove the PFD, surface dive to a depth of 9′, and recover a 10 lbs. brick and bring it to the surface
- Support a 10 lbs. brick at the surface of the water for 1 minute
- Surface dive and swim a distance of 35 feet underwater
Required Equipment:
PFDs and helmets will be provided by Lifesaving Resources. To participate in this program, participants must provide:
- their own wetsuit or drysuit
- tennis shoes or wetsuit booties
- water gloves
Participants are also encouraged to bring:
- fins (short)
- boogey board (if available)
Course Completion:
Upon successful completion of the course, participants are awarded a Swiftwater Course Completion Certificate and Insignia. Successful completion is based on successfully completing all course objectives including participation in all classroom sessions and all practical skill evolutions.
Continuing Education Credit:
CEUs are typically available through state and/or national professional associations for participation in this course. If CEUs are desired, please bring the appropriate form to class. Meanwhile, the course completion certificate will indicate the number of hours of participation for each class.
Instructor:
Gerald M. Dworkin (Gerry) is a professional Aquatics Safety & Water Rescue Consultant for Lifesaving Resources, LLC and is the author of publications including “Lifeguard Competition Guidebook” and “Ice Rescue Course Guidebook” (published by Lifesaving Resources).
Gerry has an extensive background in Aquatics Safety, Water Rescue, Ice Rescue, EMS, and Public Safety and Rescue. Along with his textbooks, he has written and published over 40 articles, and has consulted in over 350 drowning and aquatic injury litigation cases as a Forensics Expert.
Gerry has appeared as an expert on such national media broadcasts as CNN; MSNBC; CBS’ Early Show; ABC’s Good Morning America; NBC’s Today Show; and The Weather Channel. He is frequently contacted for interviews by publications throughout the U.S. on matters pertaining to submersion incidents; Lifeguard operations and management; submerged vehicle incidents; aquatics safety; water rescue; and ice rescue.
A Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician for over 40 years, Gerry was a career Firefighter/EMT with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department in Virginia. He is currently a Firefighter/EMT with the Kennebunkport Fire Department in Maine.
Tuition
The fee for the 2-day swiftwater training program is $395 per person.
Fees include:
- all books and materials
- insignia
- certificates
- lunch each day
Course Cancellation and Refunds:
Please visit our cancellations and refunds page for our complete policy.
Course Host and Sponsorship Opportunities:
Any agency, organization, company, or association may host or sponsor any of our training programs. For details, contact Lifesaving Resources at 207/967-8614 or e-mail [email protected].