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.
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
