This 40 hour technician program is a comprehensive River & Flood Rescue Technician course meeting the most current NFPA 1670 and 1006 standards for Technician level. During the course, students will begin with the fundamentals of hydrology, river classification and assessment, size up and management of a scene, and theory of rescue systems and techniques. The course then focuses on swiftwater swimming skills and maneuvers, self-rescue techniques and practical evolutions, and introduction to rescue system setup and deployment for shore, swimmer, and boat-based rescue. Students will participate in multiple scenario evolutions to demonstrate and develop these fundamental swiftwater rescue skills. Basic boat handling skills and an introduction to rope systems, including mechanical advantage and anchoring and deploying a boat on Tyrolean, for the swiftwater environment will also be covered. After mastering the fundamental water rescue skill sets, students will progress into more involved and challenging SAR evolutions, including a night search and rescue simulation, that allow the students to integrate their newly developed skills in realistic rescue situations. This is an intensive program which will provide extensive time in the water and the ability for a novice to acclimate to the swiftwater environment, while also pushing experienced rescuers to challenge themselves in new ways.
Students will receive the CA State Fire Training 40 hour River and Flood Rescue Technician certificate upon completion.
Prerequisites: Basic Swimming Ability
Required PPE:
* Helmet
* Live Bait Type V PFD
* Wetsuit or Drysuit
* Water Shoes
* Gloves