Swift Water Rescue
Multiple course offerings
Level 2: Get your feet wet. Learn basic rescue techniques and hazard assessment in moving water.
Level 3: Dive deeper. Master advanced skills, including rope systems and in-water rescues, for more challenging environments.
Level 4: Become a leader. Develop expert-level proficiency in complex rescues, team leadership, and incident management in swiftwater.
Level 5: Push your limits. Refine elite-level decision-making, manage complex rescue scenarios, and execute advanced, high-risk operations in a dynamic environment.
SWR Instructor Training & Wilderness Educator: Share your passion! Gain the skills and credentials to teach swiftwater rescue courses, incorporating wilderness education principles for a comprehensive learning experience.
ACA Swiftwater Courses offered
Level 2
Course Overview:
Essentials of River Safety and Rescue workshop teaches recognition and avoidance of common
river hazards, execution of self-rescue techniques, and simple rescues of paddlers in distress. Emphasis is placed both on
personal safety and on simple, commonly used skills. Fundamental techniques for dealing with hazards that carry greater
risks for both victim and rescuer, such as entrapments, and pins, also are taught. This course is aimed primarily at new
boaters, or boaters who anticipate paddling in moving water but not whitewater.
Course Objectives:
- Promote proactive prevention of river accidents and injuries.
- Develop and practice key self-rescue skills.
- Identify and avoid river hazards by understanding hydrology, hazards, and river features.
- Focus on fast, low-risk strategies for early management of river accidents
- Practice methods for recovering swimmers, and loose boats and equipment
Level 3
Course Overview:
The River Safety and Rescue workshop teaches recognition and avoidance of common river
hazards, execution of self-rescue techniques, and simple rescues of paddlers in distress. Emphasis is placed both on
personal safety and on simple, commonly used skills. Fundamental techniques for dealing with hazards that carry greater
risks for both victim and rescuer, such as entrapments, and pins, also are taught. This course is aimed at whitewater boaters
interested in learning fundamental river rescue skills.
Course Objectives:
- Promote proactive prevention of river accidents and injuries.
- Develop and practice key self-rescue skills.
- Identify and avoid river hazards by understanding hydrology, hazards, and river features.
- Focus on fast, low-risk strategies for early management of river accidents
- Practice methods for recovering swimmers, and loose boats and equipment
Level 4
Course Overview:
The Swiftwater Rescue workshop teaches recognition and avoidance of common river hazards,
execution of self-rescue techniques, and rescue techniques for paddlers in distress. Emphasis is placed both on personal
safety and on simple, commonly used skills. Fundamental and more advanced techniques for dealing with hazards that
carry greater risks for both victim and rescuer, such as strainers, rescue vest applications, entrapments, and pins, also are
practiced. Scenarios will provide an opportunity for participants to practice their skills both individually and within a team/group context.
Course Objectives:
- Promote proactive prevention of river accidents and injuries.
- Develop and practice key self-rescue skills.
- Identify and avoid river hazards by understanding hydrology, hazards, and river features.
- Focus on fast, low-risk strategies for early management of river accidents
- Develop and practice methods for recovering swimmers, and loose boats and equipment
- Develop and practice more advanced rope-based and in-water skills
- Gain experience using the rescue PFD, and understand its strengths and weaknesses
- Utilize rescue scene management principles needed within a paddling group
Level 5
Course Overview:
The Advanced Swiftwater Rescue workshop is aimed at trip leaders, boaters paddling on more challenging whitewater, and anyone desiring opportunities to develop their rescue skills. Critical judgment and rescue awareness, impacting both personal and group safety, are emphasized throughout the course. Although new skills may be taught, this class focuses on developing judgment and applying skills in rescue scenarios. Scope and content of the course will vary, based upon participant needs, interests and experience. Previous swiftwater rescue and whitewater paddling experience is required.
This course is also well-suited for organized teams—including swiftwater rescue teams, fire departments, guide services, and outdoor programs—as an advanced training option. Curriculum and scenarios can be customized to reflect your operational needs and local river environments.
Course Objectives:
- Reinforce basic rescue skills, including swimming/self-rescue, throw ropes, and boat based rescue
- Practice skills during multiple scenarios
- Refine and extend critical judgment through multiple scenarios
- Develop and practice more advanced rope-based and in-water skills
Blue Ridge Adventure Medicine is permitted by the U.S. Forest Service to operate in the Pisgah National Forest.
