Swift Water Rescue Course July 17 and 18

The annual CHOTA Swift Water Rescue Clinic will be held on Saturday July 17 and Sunday July 18. The two day course will be base out of Gee Creek Campground near the Hiawassee River with river segments taking place on the Hiawassee and Ocoee River. The clinic is open to CHOTA members and non-members and all skill levels. No prior experience is necessary or required for the course.

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 completed in the clinic. Course completion cards will be available for all students. SWR certification will be available for those desiring certification. A skills test will be required for certification and will require two to three hours of addition course work on Sunday afternoon/evening.

 

All instruction will be shore based. This year’s clinic will not include a river trip as part of the course. Informal river trips after class are a possibility, so bring your boat!


Russ Miller from Wilderness Safety Consultants (WSC) 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.


To sign up for this clinic, please contact Randy Bigbee: rbigbee@bellsouth.net

Where: Gee Creek Campground

Time and place: 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 8:45 Saturday Morning. Dry training will start Saturday and Sunday morning at 9:00.

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.

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
5532 Woodburn Drive
Knoxville, TN 37919

 

Please include your email address and phone number with your registration.

 

For those of you who asked:

 

One of the best things you can do to prepare yourself for the course is to go to www.animatedknots.com and learn how to tie these Knots:

  1. Waterknot (or the double fisherman’s if your feeling ambitious)
  2. Figure 8
  3. Figure 8 follow thru
  4. Bowline
  5. Prusik
  6. Munter Mule (thru step 6 only)

 

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.