Swift Water Rescue Awareness and Swift Water Rescue I 

The Swift Water Rescue Awareness course teaches river dynamics, river hazards, and overviews Swift Water search and rescue methods and tactics.  This course is held as the initial module of the Swift Water Rescue I course.  Swift Water Rescue I provides students with instruction in swift water dynamics, self-rescue/swimming techniques, ropes and knots, rescue equipment, rescue wading techniques, and technical rope rigging in swift water environments. These courses meet the applicable NFPA Awareness and Operations/Level I objectives

These courses are combined into 24 contact hours of training that is EXTREMELY PHYSICALLY DEMANDING. It is recommended that the students should be comfortable in the water, should have at least good swimming ability, and should be in good physical condition.  It is recommended that any student with prior medical history of musculoskeletal injury or open heart surgery consult with a physician prior to registering and/or taking this course.

Course Length: 24 hours

CEHs: 10

Pre-requisites: While not mandatory, it is highly recommended that students take the Basic Low Angle Ropes Class or have rescue knot tying experience prior to attending Swift Water I. Please make sure you have a valid and legible personal email address on your application. Several forms will be emailed to you to complete and bring with you to class in order to conserve time and give each student a more positive learning experience. Communications of location and time changes dependent on river conditions will be communicated via email.

Required PPE: 

PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE – Swift Water Rescue Type V or Type III/V hybrid with a quick-release tether belt.

HELMET - Water Rescue Helmet or Lightweight Technical Rescue Helmet. Must drain water and must have a 4-point chin strap. 

GLOVES- Leather palms must stay on when swimming. Whitewater gloves, competition water ski gloves or mechanics gloves with Velcro wrist straps are acceptable. 

FOOTWEAR - River work boots are preferred. No open-toed river sandals can be worn unless worn over dive boots. Dive boots do not provide adequate sole thickness or ankle support. Lace-up sneakers may be worn as a last resort. Socks are preferred but AVOID COTTON SOCKS. 

THERMAL PROTECTION - Two-piece Farmer John wetsuits are preferred. Artificial fabric t-shirts or paddling undershirts are recommended as a base layer under the wetsuit. Full-body water rescue or dive wetsuits are acceptable but wetsuit thickness should not exceed 3.5 mils. Students wearing thick dive wetsuits or drysuits will be vulnerable to heat stress so these are discouraged. Whitewater splash tops or dry tops may be worn over a Farmer John wetsuit. Cotton underclothing is discouraged. 

ACCESSORIES - Two or more locking aluminum carabiners and a 7-foot length of 1-inch nylon webbing or 7 mm Prusik cord. 

THROW BAG - Each student should bring a swift water rescue throw bag containing at least 55 feet of water rescue throw rope. 70-foot rope bags are preferred. 

PERSONAL ITEMS - Students must provide their own food water and any other desired non-alcoholic drinks along with coolers and ice. Electrical service is not available at Thunder Rock. Students should also bring their own sunblock personal medications raincoat etc. 

PROHIBITED ITEMS - Students are prohibited from wearing knives or whistles in the river. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited by U.S. Forest Service regulations at the Thunder Rock Campground or anywhere else in the Cherokee National Forest. The instructors are in charge at all times. If a student becomes ill injured exhausted or otherwise unable to complete a required course element the student may be restricted from further activities by the Chief Instructor after consulting with the student’s team instructor and/or medical personnel.

Location: Hampton Inn, Cleveland, TN / Thunder Rock Campground, 4355 Frontage Road, Cleveland, TN 37312

Date(s): July 22-24, 2020

Times: Wednesday 1:00 pm-6:00 pm EST, Thursday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm EST, Friday 8 am-12 pm EST

Cost: 

TARS Full Unit Member: $100 per student

TARS Associate Member: $165 per student

Non-TARS Member: $215 per student

Note: All registrations received up to two weeks prior to the start date of the class will be at the normal pricing. Any registration received during the period two-week period prior to the start date of the course will incur an additional $20 processing fee regardless of member, associate member, or non-member registration.