Rescues from Vehicles in Water Training Course

This specialist Rescue 3 course for qualified Swiftwater Rescue  Technicians, develops the skills to deal with rescues from vehicles in water. It also acts to re-validate a Rescue 3 Technician level qualification.

The course explores vehicle behaviour and stabilization in water, as well as access techniques and casualty extrication.

Rescues from vehicles in water are a growing hazard faced by rescue services and 30% of deaths from  flooding are related to vehicles in water.

Whilst generic Swiftwater & Flood Rescue Technician skills and techniques can be utilised for these rescues, current training does not provide realistic and specific exposure to these incidents.

Since 2004 there has been continued development of this specialist course to its present format which includes:

• Theory input on in-water vehicle behaviour and hazard assessment
• Hands on practical exercises using in-water training vehicle
• Night time vehicle rescue exercise may also be included if conditions are suitable

Programmes are delivered nationally at articificial whitewater venues where we can place vehicles in water.

Course pre-requisites

• Participants need to hold the Rescue 3 Swiftwater & Flood Rescue Technician award.

Course content includes

• Rescue 3 philosophy
• Training standards
• Vehicle behaviour in water
• Pre-planning
• Incident size-up
• Incident management
• Glass management
• Personal equipment
• Medical and decontamination considerations
• Considerations for night/poor visibility operations
• Communications
• Anchors – vehicle and bank
• Vehicle stabilisation
• Casualty extrication
• Shallow water techniques
• True rescues – tethered
• Pendulum extrication
• Tensioned diagonal
• Tethered boat techniques
• Single bank extended platform