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Swiftwater and Basic River Rescue Clinics |
The Carolina Canoe Club offers at least one ACA Swiftwater Rescue Clinic and one Basic River Safety Clinic each year.
The following is an overview of these courses. The dates, cost and a link to registration form can be found in the CCC Calendar.
The ACA SWR course lasts 16 to 20 hours and is physically challenging. It covers accident prevention and management, hazard recognition, self-rescue, wading and swimming, basic and advanced rope rescue techniques, unpinning and extrication, entrapment rescues, and use of swiftwater rescue vests. The first day of the clinic is spent learning techniques on land; the second day is spent in the water, learning more techniques and practicing material learned on Saturday. Participants should be comfortable swimming in class II+ water and be ready to spend lots of time in the water. Participants will need a PFD, helmet, paddle, WARM CLOTHES, throw rope and minimal rescue gear (a locking carabineer, a prussic and webbing, which can be loaned to you if needed). Warm paddling clothes are essential because students will spend lots of time in the water. Many people find an SWR class to be their coldest paddling experience.
ACA Essentials of River Safety and Rescue Clinic
The Essentials of River Safety and Rescue course lasts about 12 to 15 hours and will be physically challenging. It covers accident prevention and management, hazard recognition, self-rescue, boat-based rescue, wading, swimming, and basic rope rescue techniques. The first evening of the clinic is spent learning how to recognize hazards and avoid them, group management and other topics. The second day is spent on and in the water, learning more techniques and practicing material learned the prior evening. Participants should be comfortable and in control paddling class II water and be ready to spend lots of time in the water. Participants will need a boat, skirt, PFD, helmet, paddle, WARM CLOTHES, and a throw rope (throw ropes can be loaned if needed). Warm paddling clothes are essential because students will spend lots of time in the water.
More information will follow as we approach the training date. In the meantime, if you are considering taking this training, please email me. This class is very effective in helping us all reduce the risky behaviors that can lead to an injury. I strongly recommend this course in the spirit of modeling safe behaviors on the river.
You must be a CCC member to attend any of these clinics. If you are not already a member, click on "Join the Carolina Canoe Club and/or pay your dues online" on the CCC home page to join online or by mail.
When Bobby Simpson receives your registration form, he will call or email you within 3 days. If you don't hear from him within 10 days of mailing your registration, give him a call. No more than 16 students will be enrolled in each SWR class (8 in the Essentials of River Safety and Rescue class). If the class becomes overenrolled, a wait list will be established.
Thanks to all the instructors and volunteers that give their time to make these much needed classes happen, it wouldn’t be possible without their help.
If you have any questions concerning the Safety Clinics you may contact Bobby Simpson at safety.chair@carolinacanoeclub.org or by phone (919-781-0381).