Please come join us for the annual CHOTA Swift Water Rescue Clinic held in mid-July 2012. The two day course is proposed to be based out of Gee Creek Campground with training taking place on the Hiawassee and Ocoee Rivers. The clinic is open to CHOTA members and non-members and for all skill levels. No prior experience is necessary or required for the course. All instruction will be shore based. The skill level to paddle the Hiwassee or Ocoee is not be required.
The clinic is intended for whitewater paddlers and will follow the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1670
Standard for Water Rescue. Both the “Awareness” and “Operations” segments of
this standard will be covered in the clinic. Optional SWR certification will be
available for those desiring certification at the Operations level. Course
completion cards will be available for all students.
Please be aware that a skills test is required for Operations certification and will require two to three hours of addition course work on Sunday afternoon/evening.
Russ Miller from Wilderness Safety Consultants will be the lead instructor for
the clinic. Information regarding his experience and credentials can be found
on his web site: www.wsc2.com.
Please feel free to contact Russ if you have any questions concerning course
content or additional courses and certifications.
Cost of the clinic is $35 with an additional $15 fee for those wanting the Operations level certification. Camping in the overflow area at Gee Creek is included.
To sign up for this clinic, please contact Randy Bigbee:
rbigbee@bellsouth.net
Where (tentative): Gee Creek Campground overflow area. www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/Hiwassee/
Time and place (tentative): An informal check-in / meet and greet will take place at
the Gee Creek Campground Friday night at 8:00. Students may also check in at
What to Bring: Throw rope, warm river clothes (you’ll be in the water a
lot and will get cold if not dressed properly. A wetsuit or drysuit
will make you happy), life jacket / safety vest if you have one, paddle,
whistle, and helmet. Bring rope for prussics (A 4 or
5 foot piece of kernmantel rope with a diameter of
6-8 mm works great) and locking carabineers if you have them.
Pickup trips after the clinic are possible, so bring your boat.
Student Fees: $35.00 for attendance, $50.00 for SWR certification.
Please forward your payment to reserve your place in the class.
In addition, Mr. Miller requires a liability waiver for this class to be
taught.
Please print and sign
the waiver and include with your payment.
Make checks made out to: CHOTA.
CHOTA
c/o Randy Bigbee
Please include your email address and phone number with your registration.
For those of
you who asked:
One of the things you can do to prepare yourself for the course is to go to www.animatedknots.com and learn how to tie these Knots:
You might
want to familiarize yourself with the Z-drag. We will be covering it in the
course.
As for
reading, I highly recommend Slim Ray’s River Rescue: A Manual for Whitewater
Safety 4th addition. There is lots of good information here. Don’t
worry about the more complicated lifts and rope systems as they are beyond the
scope of the course. It is available on Amazon.