Swiftwater Rescue Techniques (SRT)
Swiftwater Rescue Techniques Overview
The 3-day Swiftwater Rescue Techniques course provides recreational boaters, trip leaders and rescue practitioners with the necessary skills to respond to emergencies in swiftwater settings. You will learn the most recent river rescue techniques through this dynamic, fast-paced and hands-on curriculum. Skills will be explained, demonstrated and practiced in several river locations to illustrate their adaptability and limitations.
The progression begins with a focus on swimming in white water and using throw bags. As we develop our foundational proficiency, we begin to focus on advanced techniques such as tension diagonals, live bait rescues and heads-up and heads-down entrapment rescues. Scenarios will be used throughout the course to emphasize real world application. The underlying themes throughout the course will be accident prevention, rescuer safety, and scene assessment and management.
Course Focus
- Developing solid fundamental river rescue skills
- Practicing and applying advanced skills in varied circumstances
- Understanding patient care challenges and techniques appropriate to the swiftwater environment
Prerequisites
- Basic river/swiftwater experience and swimming ability
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Must have adequate health insurance
- Recommended but not required: Wilderness First Aid or higher medical certification
Certification
Swiftwater Rescue Techniques certification will be issued to students upon successful completion of the course.
Download the waiver form and read it very carefully as it affects your legal rights.
Bring the two-page signed document to the first day of the course. Failure to provide a completely filled out and signed document will result in you not being able to participate in the course. Any activities during unsupervised free time throughout the course are not part of the RRT program and are at the sole risk of the participant.
Course fee payment in full is required to reserve your spot in the course. Course fees are payable by credit card on the Umarket website which can be found by clicking on the dates of the course you are interested at RemoteRescueTraining.com.
The course fee covers:
- Syllabus
- Group equipment
- Instruction
RRT is not obligated to allow any student to attend a course until all RRT paperwork has been received, reviewed and approved by RRT. A full refund will be given if we are forced to cancel the course for any reason.
- Pets are NOT ALLOWED at the course. This Includes leashing them outside. No exceptions will be made and any student that brings a pet to class will be asked to leave until the pet is safely situated in a kennel or other facility.
- NO ALCOHOL is allowed on site.
- Attendance is required at all sessions. Students who miss any sessions may not be permitted to continue with the course.
We hope this information is helpful. Please contact us with any questions or concerns you may have.
If a student cancels or withdraws from a course:
- Greater than or equal to 30 days prior to the course starting date, RRT will retain a $35.00 administrative fee.
- Within 30 days of the course start date and once the course has begun, course fees are non-refundable for the Swiftwater Rescue Fundamentals Course
Logistics
The first day the course will meet either in the Stewart building at the University of Utah (270 S 1400 E), or at Utah Whitewater Gear in Midvale (7307 S. State Street). As we get closer to the course, an instructor will contact you with location information and directions.
The afternoon of the first day and the entirety of the remaining days are all field time, which will take place within a 1-hour drive of Salt Lake City. The exact locations will be announced on the first day, as it will be dependent on water levels and weather. The course will run each day from approximately 8:30am-5:00pm. You are responsible for your own transportation to field locations and for lunch during the day.
Gear List
The first day will begin with a half-day of classroom and dry land practice. Bring a notebook, camera, or whatever helps you learn. In the afternoon of the first day we will head out to the river, so come prepared with all the items listed for being outside in cold and wet conditions, as there will be extensive practice time in the river.
Required Items
- Insulation for swimming in cold whitewater: A full river drysuit is ideal. Other options are a dry top and bottom, or a full wetsuit. At a minimum a farmer john wetsuit, synthetic upper layers and a splash top. SCUBA drysuits WILL NOT work.
- Synthetic long underwear and other insulating layers to wear under drysuit.
- Lightweight water or kayak helmet. NO climbing, cycling helmets, etc.
- PFD- USCG approved Type III or V with river boating intended use. If you have access to a type V PFD with a releasable rescue harness, please bring it.
- Thick-soled water booties or tennis shoes. Must be closed-toe.
Optional Items
- Neoprene gloves and skullcap or balaclava
- Whistle
- River knife
- Throw bag
- Flip line
- Spray pants
- Carabiners and prusiks, etc.
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- The University of Utah Outdoor Recreation Program has many rental items available.
- There are several local stores in Salt Lake City which have equipment for rent and sale. Check out Wasatch Touring or Utah Whitewater Gear (they are also now renting dry suits).
Spring is the busy season for dry suit rentals, so don’t wait until the last second
Shops that have had drysuits available for rent in the past:
Sample Schedule
Day 1
AM: Introductions; River rescue philosophy; Equipment; throw bags; Depart for field
PM: Safety talk; Swimming; Live-bait rescues; Strainer drill; Scenarios
Day 2
AM: Hypothermia; Shore-based anchors; Boat-based anchors; Mechanical advantage systems
PM: Tension diagonals; Wading; Spinal precautions; Scenarios
Day 3
AM: Submersion; Entrapment- 1 shore; Panic swimmer
PM: Entrapment-2 shore; Scenarios
Contact Us
Remote Rescue Training
rescue@utah.edu | 801-581-3785
290 S 1850 E, Room 121
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Center for Emergency Program
UUCEP@utah.edu | 801-581-4512
250 S 1850 E, Room 234
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Related Remote Rescue Training Links