Safety & Rescue

Safety & Rescue Training

All participants in paddle sport need to be aware of Safety and Rescue skills. However it is recognised that individual’s knowledge, skill and expertise will differ in this field depending on their level of competence and previous experience.

Programmes on offer cater for these differing skill levels and requirements, ranging from basic awareness level, to the more in depth knowledge and practical applications of the technician level.

The programmes we have on offer are tailored to meet the individuals needs, with courses for professional emergency services, recreational paddlers  and more specifically the open canoeist.


At present we are able to offer the following BCU training courses:

BCU Safety & Rescue Training
BCU Foundation Safety & Rescue Training

This one day training course aims to provide the participant with the key safety and rescue skills required to operate safely in a sheltered water environment, and to be able to deal with common emergencies. It is designed for all paddlers and coaches irrespective of their chosen craft, or as may be the case for coaches, as either a boat based or bank based coach. The objective is to teach simple and safe skills that can be applied appropriately. These skills will then form the basis of all safety and rescue training throughout the BCU scheme. Foundation safety and rescue training is a prerequisite for the BCU/UKCC level 1 and 2 coach awards.

Course content includes:

•    General theory and planning
•    Assessing Risk
•    Equipment
•    Bank based rescues
•    Boat based rescues
•    Scenarios



Foundation Safety & Rescue pdf

Dates/Venue: TBC
Price per person: £65.00


Please note all prices exclude BCU certification fee and any water access fees where applicable.

BCU White Water Safety & Rescue Training

This course is designed for all white water paddlers. The objective is to teach simple, safe skills that can be applied appropriately. Its philosophy is to teach practical skills in a very practical manner. By its nature the course is very ‘hands on’ and will not contain much classroom work. Any theory will be limited to short riverside sessions, the duration of which will be naturally limited.

As with the Foundation Safety and rescue training this course is not craft specific and is aimed at both canoe and kayak.

Voyageur Coaching recognises that the needs of the open canoeist differ from that of the Kayaker and will therefore be offering this course to both disciplines but with an option that some courses will be canoe specific only.

There is also a bank-based alternative for anyone operating in, on or near white water and who is not necessarily a paddler. This includes coaches, paddlers and parents.

Course content includes:

• Safe paddling strategies

• Recovery of a swimmer

• Shouting rescues

• Reaching rescues

• Throwline rescues

• Boat based swimmer rescues

• Live bate rescues

• Knots 

• Entrapment rescues

• Shallow water wading techniques

• Equipment recovery

• Scenarios

White Water Safety & Rescue pdf

Dates/Venue:

6-7 August 2011 - North East
20-21 August 2011 - North Wales
29-30 October 2011 - North Wales
30 Nov-1 Dec 2011 - Nottingham


Price per person £150.00


Please note all prices exclude BCU certification fee and any water access fees where applicable.



BCU Advanced White Water Safety & Rescue

The Advanced WWS&R training course is designed for all paddlers operating in advanced white water environments. In addition, the training is required for those seeking their 5 star leader (white water) award.

The objective is to provide the underpinning knowledge and teach safe practical skills that can be applied appropriately in grade 3-4 whitewater. The course will, in the main,be delivered as part of a journey on grade 3-4 whitewater. The equipment and resources used will therefore be limited to those normally available to a paddler journeying in this environment. The course is based round the needs of the whitewater kayaker.

Course Aims

• To develop the principles and techniques taught at WWS&R and consider their application in an advanced environment
• To introduce the concept of the “Team approach” in order to provide structure in an emergency situation
• To move on from a “set piece” approach to safety and rescue to one where “core skills” are combined creatively to provide safety and rescue

Prerequisites

Due to the paddling environment and the boat control required the candidate should be:
• Confident in their ability to kayak on grade 3-4 white water
• Confident swimmers in normal canoe clothing suitable for a moving water environment
• Have attended a BCU WWS&R course (ideally in the previous 3 years)
• Be a minimum of 16 years of age
A first aid certificate is not a pre-requisite; however the holding of a first aid certificate is strongly recommended for all paddlers.

 

Dates/Venue:
TBC

Price per person £150

Please note all prices exclude BCU certification fee and any water access fees where applicable.

BCU Safety & Rescue Training - Reduced rates for clubs, students and groups.

Voyageur Coaching is a recognised provider of BCU Safety & Rescue Training and is currently offering courses at a reduced rate to students, clubs and groups.

We are able to provide the following closed courses for up to a maximum of 6 people, at a venue of your choice:

  • 1 day BCU Foundation Safety & Rescue Training £250
  • 2 day BCU White Water Safety & Rescue Training £450

Please note all prices exclude BCU certification fee and any water access fees where applicable

Please contact us for more details on our reduced rates.

Safety & Rescue Workshops
Canoe Rescues Workshop

A day spent looking specifically at rescue techniques for the open canoeist on both open water and white water.

Key elements include:


* Fitting out an open canoe

* Self rescues

* Rafted boats
* Bank/boat based rescues

* Group rescues

* Unpinning boats

Dates/Venue

21 September 2010 - North Wales
26 October 2020 - Derbyshire/Nottingham
16 November 2010 - North Wales

Price per person £50-00

Sea Kayak Safety & Rescue

This will be a one day workshop designed to help padddlers both to prevent and deal with situations that may arise whilst enjoying the sea environment, and can be tailored for any level of ability.  Our aim is to create safer, more confident paddlers by visiting the various sections covered in the safety of  sheltered water and then applying them in more challenging conditions according to the individuals needs, maintaining a challenging environment but with low consequences. A very useful day all round. These courses will be based in and around the Anglesey area.
Key elements include:

  • Safety equipment
  • Safe paddling/planning
  • Self rescues
  • Group Rescues
  • Tows & tow sytems
  • Incident management

Dates/Venue TBC
Price per person £50-00



Flood & Swiftwater Rescue

Rescue Training International's Flood And Swiftwater Technician (FAST) courses are designed to give the people attending the knowledge necessary to make sound decisions in water emergencies. Internationally recognized curriculum addresses the safest means to rescue and/or evacuate persons caught or trapped in flood and swift moving water emergencies. The RTI FAST program will help the individuals and organisations in achieving NFPA standards.

Voyageur Coaching is the sole European provider of RTI's FAST programme.

This is only a small selection of RTI classes we are able to provide. For more information please contact us or visit www.rescue-training-international.com

RTI Flood And Swiftwater Technician - First Responder (FAST-1st Responder)

The FAST-1st Responder course is 1 day lecture and field practical. The target audience is Non Rescue Emergency Personnel and Emergency Service Personnel that may respond to water incidents prior to the arrival of a trained rescue team.

The course will cover planning, logistics, dangers, communication in water environments, ICS, equipment, hydrology, and shore based techniques along with self survival skills. The person attending should leave with the knowledge of what could be expected in a flood or swift water incident and some rescue techniques.

Equipment requirements:
Full wetsuit or drysuit (recommended)
CE approved PFD (With chest harness if possible)
Lightweight canoe helmet
Suitable footwear 
Gloves optional
Throwbag
Knife
Whistle

Prerequisites: reasonable physical condition and a strong desire to learn.

Course dates & venues: TBC

Cost per person:£50-00

RTI Flood And Swiftwater Technician - Operations (FAST-Operations)

NEW The FAST Operations is run concurrent with FAST Rescue 1  and River Guide course. It is RTI's belief that the person that is on the shore should have the same knowledge as the technician in the water. FAST Operations graduates will experience the same skills and information as Technicians.

Target Audience: Whitewater Enthusiast, Emergency services personnel,  General public that want a base knowledge of survival and rescue skills.

Equipment requirements:
Full wetsuit or drysuit (recommended)
CE approved PFD (With chest harness if possible)
Lightweight canoe helmet 
Suitable footwear 
Gloves optional
Throwbag
Knife
Whistle

Prerequisites: reasonable physical condition and a strong desire to learn.

Course dates & venues: TBC

Cost per person: TBC

RTI Flood And Swiftwater Technician - River Guide (FAST-RG)

This three day  course covers in depth topics starting with boating and swiftwater rescues. Recognised standards, training, incident organisation, communication, rescue equipment, safety concerns, search elements, physical and technical risks, hydrology, medical considerations for victim(s) and rescuer(s), Anchor and rope systems, Throw lines, belay techniques, survival swim, rescue swims, rope crossing techniques, shallow and deep water techniques, wall/abutment rescues, shallow water crossing, weir rescues, entrapment and boat recovery, self defence and practical exercises allowing the student a chance to put it all together.

 

Target Audience: Whitewater Enthusiast

Equipment requirements:
Full wetsuit or drysuit (recommended)
CE approved PFD (With chest harness if possible)
Lightweight canoe helmet 
Suitable footwear 
Gloves optional
Throwbag
Knife
Whistle
2 x HMS crabs
3-5m of un-knoted webbing tape
Personal boat (Canoe/Kayak)

Prerequisites: reasonable physical condition and a strong desire to learn.

Course dates & venues:

2-4 April 2010 - North Wales - Full
17-19 May 2010 - North Wales

Cost per person: £150-00

RTI Flood And Swiftwater Technician - Rescue 1 (FAST-R1)

This is a three day / 1 night course. It covers in depth topics starting with background and history of flood and swiftwater rescues. Recognised standards, training, Incident Command, communication, rescue equipment, safety concerns, search elements, physical and technical risks, hydrology, medical considerations for victim(s) and rescuer(s), Anchor and rope systems, Throw lines, belay techniques, survival swim, rescue swims, rope crossing techniques, shallow and deep water techniques, wall/abutment rescues, low water crossing/low head dams, fire hose, entrapment recovery, boats, vehicle rescues, self defence and practical exercises allowing the student a chance to put it all together.

Target Audience: Emergency services personnel, Whitewater Enthusiast, General public that want an in depth knowledge and practical application of survival and rescue skills.

Equipment requirements:
Full wetsuit or drysuit (recommended)
CE approved PFD (With chest harness if possible)
Lightweight canoe helmet 
Suitable footwear 
Gloves optional
Throwbag
Knife
Whistle
2 x HMS crabs
3-5m of un-knoted webbing tape
Helmet mounted or hand held waterproof torch/light

Prerequisites: reasonable physical condition and a strong desire to learn.

Course dates & venues:
8-15 January 2011 (FAST 1&2) - Llangollen North Wales

Cost per person: £380-00

Bespoke Swiftwater Rescue Training

If you have specific needs and feel the courses on offer do not meet your needs then contact us and we will be happy to design a course that meets with your requirements.