Rescue College
Rescue College Classes & Info
Swift Water Rescue Awareness and Swiftwater Rescue I - CLASS IS FULL NO REGISTRATIONS ACCEPTED
Date: 5/4/2018 through 5/6/2018
Location: Ocoee, TN
Price for TARS Members: $100.00
Price for Associate Members: $165.00
Price for Non-Members: $215.00
Description: The Swiftwater Rescue Awareness course teaches river dynamics, river hazards, and overviews Swiftwater search and rescue methods and tactics. This course is held as the initial module of the Swiftwater Rescue I course. Swiftwater Rescue I provides students with instruction in swift water dynamics, self-rescue/swimming techniques, ropes and knots, rescue equipment, rescue wading techniques, and technical rope rigging in swift water environments. These courses are combined into 24 contact hours of training that is EXTREMELY PHYSICALLY DEMANDING. It is recommended that the students should be comfortable in the water, should have at least good swimming ability, and should be in good physical condition. These courses meet the applicable NFPA Awareness and Operations/Level I objectives
Course Hours: 24
CEU's: 1
Minimum Enrollment: 20
Prequisites: While not mandatory for the 2018 calendar year, it is highly recommended that students take the Basic Low Angle Ropes Class prior to attending Swiftwater I.
Please make sure you have a valid and legible personal email address on your application. Several forms will be emailed to you to complete and bring with you to class in order to conserve time and give each student a more positive learning experience. Communications of location and time changes dependent on river conditions will be communicated via email.
Reference Material:
Swiftwater Rescue: A Manual for the Rescue Professional by Slim Ray.
Directions: Friday class:
Ocoee Whitewater Inn
120 Whitewater Drive
Ocoee, TN 37361
Saturday and Sunday:
Thunder Rock Campground
Highway 64, Polk County, TN
Food & Lodging:
Lodging and meals are the responsibility of the student and are not provided by TARS.
Camping sites may be available at the Thunder Rock site. For more information contact the USFS Ocoee Ranger District at 423-338-3300 or visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/cherokee/recreation. Close motel is WHITEWATER INN AT OCOEE TN,120 Whitewater Drive, Ocoee TN 37361, 855-716-2630.
Notes:
COURSE SCHEDULE
CLASSROOM SESSIONS - Held at WHITEWATER INN 120 Whitewater Drive Ocoee TN 37361 Starting at 1:00 PM EST on Friday afternoon. Bring PPE with you to classroom.
SKILLS SESSIONS - Held at the Thunder Rock Campground Highway 64 Polk County TN beginning Friday evening after classroom and ending at approximately 1 PM on Sunday.
REQUIRED EQUIPMENT FOR STUDENTS
PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE - Swiftwater Rescue Type V or Type III/V hybrid with a quick-release tether belt.
HELMET - Water Rescue Helmet or Lightweight Technical Rescue Helmet. Must drain water and must have a 4-point chin strap. Helmet colors should be any color EXCEPT white. White helmets are reserved to identify the instructors and safety personnel.
GLOVES- Leather palms must stay on when swimming. Whitewater gloves competition water ski gloves or mechanic~s gloves with Velcro wrist straps are acceptable.
FOOTWEAR - River work boots are preferred. No open-toed river sandals can be worn unless worn over dive boots. Dive boots do not provide adequate sole thickness or ankle support. Lace-up sneakers may be worn as a last resort. Socks are preferred but AVOID COTTON SOCKS.
THERMAL PROTECTION - Two-piece Farmer John wetsuits are preferred. Artificial fabric t-shirts or paddling undershirts are recommended as a base layer under the wetsuit. Full-body water rescue or dive wetsuits are acceptable but wetsuit thickness should not exceed 3.5 mils. Students wearing thick dive wetsuits or drysuits will be vulnerable to heat stress so these are discouraged. Whitewater splash tops or dry tops may be worn over a Farmer John wetsuit. Cotton underclothing is discouraged.
ACCESSORIES - Two or more locking aluminum carabiners and a 7-foot length of 1-inch nylon webbing or 7 mm Prusik cord.
THROW BAG - Each student should bring a swiftwater rescue throw bag containing at least 55 feet of water rescue throw rope. 70 foot rope bags are preferred.
PERSONAL ITEMS - Students must provide their own food water and any other desired non-alcoholic drinks along with coolers and ice. Electrical service is not available at Thunder Rock. Students should also bring their own sunblock personal medications raincoat etc.
PROHIBITED ITEMS
Students are prohibited from wearing knives or whistles in the river.
Alcoholic beverages are prohibited by U.S. Forest Service regulations at the Thunder Rock Campground or anywhere else in the Cherokee National Forest.
The instructors are in charge at all times. If a student becomes ill injured exhausted or otherwise unable to complete a required course element the student may be restricted from further activities by the Chief Instructor after consulting with the student~s team instructor and/or medical personnel.
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