Course Description
This 2-day Swiftwater Rescue Operations course is a compact, high-intensity program designed to move responders from "I know water is dangerous" to "I can safely perform shore- and limited in-water rescues without becoming victim number two."
You'll spend most of the course in and around moving water—learning how it behaves, how it punishes bad decisions, and how to use simple, proven tactics that work under stress. Classroom time is short and targeted; the priority is reps in realistic conditions.
The curriculum follows current industry best practices and aligns with operations-level water and flood rescue expectations in NFPA 1006 and NFPA 2500, but delivered in plain language with tactical, field-focused application.
Core Skills & Objectives
Scene Size-Up & Safety
- Perform swiftwater/flood-specific size-up (hydrology, hazards, access, downstream safety)
- Establish hot/warm/cold zones and control upstream/downstream exposure
- Integrate into ICS as a Swiftwater/Water Rescue element and communicate clearly under stress
Hydrology & Hazard Management
- Read moving water: current speed, channels, eddies, strainers, hydraulics, sieves
- Identify high-risk features (low-head dams, urban channels, culverts, debris fields)
- Make realistic 'go/no-go' decisions based on conditions, resources, and victim location
Personal Survival & Movement
- Use defensive and aggressive swimming positions in current
- Perform safe entries and exits in shallow and deep moving water
- Use ferries and eddies to move efficiently instead of fighting the current
Shore-Based & Low-Risk Tactics
- Deploy effective talk, reach, and throw rescues from shore
- Set up and run throw-bag operations with downstream backups
- Conduct simple, controlled team wades and shallow-water crossings within ops limits
Training Methods
- Focused classroom blocks (hydrology, hazards, ICS, tactics)
- High-repetition water-based skill stations: swimming, throw-bags, wading, basic contact rescues
- Compressed but realistic scenario work emphasizing communication, risk management, and clean execution
- Direct instructor feedback on both individual skills and team performance
Prerequisites & PPE
Prerequisites
This course is designed to build from the ground up. No prior swiftwater rescue experience required—we'll teach you everything you need to know.
Required PPE
- • Type V rescue PFD with whistle and knife
- • Water rescue helmet
- • Appropriate thermal protection (wetsuit or drysuit)
- • Closed-toe water footwear
Compliance & Documentation
This course is designed to align with operations-level water and flood rescue competencies in NFPA 1006 and NFPA 2500, while matching current industry practice for a 2-day format.
Students who successfully complete all practical evolutions and testing receive a Swiftwater Rescue Operations – 2 Day completion certificate documenting hours, skill blocks, and scenario participation. Final operational sign-off and deployment status remain with the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).