Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority

Transcription

1 Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority Swiftwater and Low Angle Rope Rescue Training

2 Swiftwater and Low Angle Ropes Rescue Training The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) will be conducting two 40 hour Swiftwater and Low Angle Rope Rescue Operations level trainings in May and June. The MRCA operates parks along the Los Angeles River, the Rio Hondo River, The San Gabriel River, Ballona Creek and the Tujunga Wash. The MRCA provides rescue patrols along their riverfront parks during storm events. Walt Young is the primary class instructor. He has 20 years of Sheriff s Department Mountain Rescue experience (including swiftwater) and is a State Fire Marshal instructor for both River & Flood Rescue and LARR-O. He has participated in searches, rescues and recoveries on the Kern and Ventura rivers, and in waterways such as irrigation and flood control channels. Mr. Young has been a Park Ranger with the MRCA for over 17 years, and is the Chief Ranger. His Federal employment included duty as an Intermittent Firefighter/Paramedic with the National Park Service and he is currently employed as an Intermittent Safety Officer and Paramedic for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Who should attend? Anyone who works around moving water should attend this training. Park rangers, firefighters, police officers, deputy sheriffs, maintenance workers, camp staff, naturalists and backcountry travelers should all possess these lifesaving and self-preservation skills. Entry Skill levels required: Students should have basic swimming skills and a reasonable comfort level while operating in water. All in-water trainings are conducted with full PPE and several layers of downstream safety, including throw-bags, safety lines, and rescue jet skis. Our training location is ideally suited with a gentle roll out downstream of the swiftwater zone. Average swimmers will have no problem with the in-water portion of the class. Students should practice the required knots BEFORE attending class. Although not a requirement, it reduces student stress levels. A list of required knots is contained in the attached student taskbook. Operations level verses Technician level differences. There is a misconception that by simply attending a three day Swiftwater Technician class that you become qualified to conduct in-water contact rescues. In-water contact rescues (live bait) can only be safely conducted by organized teams, trained in rope rescue and other disciplines at the Technician level per NFPA standards. Except for a limited group of individuals who are designated rescue swimmers or members of a typed Swiftwater Rescue team, Operations level training is the desired level of training for most students.

3 Students who successfully complete the training program will receive a skills taskbook and two skills certificates documenting demonstration of those skills required of rescue teams operating at the Operations level per NFPA 1670 for Swiftwater and Low Angle Rope Rescue. Students will also receive a California State Fire Marshal River and Flood training certificate. Unlike many Operations level classes, our program provides significant in-water training time. You will be in the water performing various rescue and survival skills. There is no substitute for this experience! After completing our program, you will have already (under training conditions) practiced survival swimming techniques, grabbed a throw bag while in the water, set a ferry angle to shore, used an eddy to your advantage, captured a downstream safety line, and been snagged by an inflated fire hose downstream safety (see the attached task book and NFPA 1670 for a list of more swiftwater and rope rescue manipulative skills). At the successful completion of the program, students will receive: California State Fire Marshal River and Flood Rescue certificate NFPA 1670 skills certificate Low Angle Rope Rescue - Operations NFPA1670 skills certificate Swiftwater Rescue Operations Swiftwater and LARR-O Rescue Operations completed skills taskbook Training location Calabasas, California and the Colorado River in Laughlin, Nevada Training dates: MAY (Early bird discount price - $275.00): Arrival Saturday night (May 14 th ) in Calabasas, California Return home from Laughlin, Nevada Thursday afternoon (May 19 th ) JUNE (regular price - $350.00) Arrival Saturday night (June 25 th ) in Calabasas, California Return home from Laughlin, Nevada Thursday afternoon (June 30 th ) Lodging Lodging on Saturday, Sunday and Monday is included in the cost of registration. Rooms are dormitory style, and you must bring your own linen. Lodging on Tuesday and Wednesday is available for apx. $25.00 per night at the local Laughlin casinos (June rates may be higher). These costs can be split between students (we can facilitate). The training locations are all within close distances from the hotels. Costs Registration Fees - Paid to the MRCA for class registration, equipment use, certificates other than the State Fire Marshal certificate, and three nights lodging. May class registration fee - $ (early bird class discount)

4 June class registration fee - $ (regular price) State Fire Marshal certificate fee $20.00 (River and Flood Rescue certificate) Training Lodging costs Around $35.00 for two Laughlin room nights (three nights in Calabasas are included in your registration), double occupancy, including taxes. Thursday night stay in Laughlin is optional. Food Students are responsible for all food costs. Wednesday night we will have a bring your own BBQ and pot luck event at a local park. We have an inflatable screen and will feature action shots of your training so far. You can choose bring your own lunch, or participate in the food run of the day. Lunch is in the field, with 30 minutes generally provided. Lecture generally accompanies the lunch break. Fluids and calories will need to be consumed throughout the day in order to maintain work productivity levels. Registration fees cover training, three nights lodging, PPE, team equipment and certificates. Many training agencies charge students more just for the certificate. Student provided equipment Swimsuit and wetsuit (rental from your local surf shop) Old tennis shoes (in water use) Boots and leather gloves (rope work) Day pack with water containers and high energy snack items Appropriate field wear including hat, sunscreen, headlamp and flashlight Rope rescue harness or hasty harness webbing (optional) River gloves and swim goggles (optional) MRCA provided equipment All River PPE (PFD, Helmet, Harness, Knife, Whistle, Hardware) All Rope rescue PPE (Helmet, Harness, Hardware) All team rescue equipment Boats, Radios, Litters, Hardware, Jet skis, etc. Training Schedule: Saturday night arrival King Gillette Ranch, Calabasas, California Sunday (Calabasas area) 0800 breakfast meeting at Cocos (directions provided in your check-in package). We leave for the training location immediately after breakfast. Training concludes at apx Monday DAY (Calabasas area) Training starts at Daytime training concludes at apx Monday NIGHT operations - Rope Rescue (Calabasas area)

5 Training starts at 1900 Night training concludes at apx.2200 Tuesday (Calabasas area) Training starts at 0800 Training concludes at apx.1330 (no lunch break during training) Travel to Laughlin, Nevada (Apx. 4.5 hours drive time) Wednesday all day on the river WET TRAINING (Colorado River) Meet at Colorado Belle parking lot at 0830 Training concludes at apx Wednesday NIGHT (Colorado River) Optional BBQ extravaganza, including training slide show on our inflatable movie screen. Thursday WET TRAINING (Colorado River) Meet at the Colorado Belle at 0800 Dismiss from the field at apx Certificate presentations Return home or stay for optional Thursday night in Laughlin Laughlin. CLASS REGISTRATION: Contact Walt Young at (310) cell (310) ex 102 office Payment methods: Cash or check Credit Cards accepted (additional 4% credit card service fee) MAY 14 th class deadlines- Registration must be paid in full by May 6 th. JUNE 25 th class deadlines- Registration must be paid in full by June 17 th.