Trip Highlights
- Taught by Mark Hirst
- Courses Based in Hood River, Oregon
- Learning Alongside Other River Professionals
Pro Whitewater Rescue Training
Rescue3 WRT Courses
- Season: April
- Minimum Age: 18
- Prerequisites: Commercial Guiding Experience and Ability to Swim
- Meeting Place: Hood River, OR
These advanced whitewater rescue courses follow Rescue3 curriculum and are designed for whitewater professionals with previous rescue training and experience.
Whitewater Rescue Technician – Professional (WRT-PRO)
Prerequisites: Professional Guiding Experience
Length: 3 Days
This course is designed for professional river guides with experience working as a guide. Recreational paddlers (private boaters) should take the Class III Safety & Rescue Course.
The course will include:
- Best practice guidelines
- River hydrology and hazards
- Personal equipment
- Technical and group equipment
- River running considerations
- Assessing risk
- Managing an incident
- Communication
- Whitewater swimming techniques
- Throw bag rescues
- Shallow water techniques
- Foot and body entrapments
- Knots and anchor systems
- Mechanical advantage
- Boat Pins and Wraps
- Raft Flips
Whitewater Rescue Technician Advanced (WRTA)
Prerequisites: Rescue3 WRT-PRO Training
Length: 4 Days
This course is the continuation of the WRT-PRO course listed above. It is designed for outdoor professionals working on rivers where vertical access may be required.
The content for this course includes:
- Rescue planning and incident management
- Technical rescue equipment
- Advanced water rescue techniques
- Rope-based raising and lowering systems
- Initial search operations and management
- Night rescue operations
- Casualty care and packaging
- Low angle casualty evacuation
These courses are taught by Mark Hirst, an international rafting and safety instructor. He teaches courses for both Rescue 3 Europe and the International Rafting Federation. Mark is originally from Manchester, England and currently teaches courses in Bosnia, Russia, Nepal, India, and Morocco. Learn more about Mark’s philosophy on his Lapin Koskikoulu Blog.