Swiftwater Rescue Classes Montana

 

Swiftwater Rescue Class

Learn swift water rescue in one of our upcoming swiftwater rescue technician classes on the Clark Fork River near Missoula Montana.  Right now Montana Swiftwater rescue classes include a lecture and discussion on river safety and rescue basics, equipment, hydrology, and response risk management. This is followed by two days of practicing river rescue skills on the river and applying them to a series of fun, challenging scenarios. 

Our next swift water rescue class is September 12-13 near Missoula on the Clark Fork River's Alberton Gorge.  Another Swiftwater Class will be offered  September 19-20. Our fall raft guide school will run September 19-23. For more details call Everett at 406-214-0245.

The River Hazard You Need To Recognize

Fallen trees in the current, sweepers, log Jams, debri Piles....all of them fall into the category of strainers--probably the number one hazard Montana river runners need to watch out for. Strainers are anything that current flows through that can entrap a person or a boat. As rivers rise in late spring shorelines erode and trees fall in the current and old snags from the shoreline or winter deadfall get swept downstream --creating strainers where there were none before. Experienced guides know river current is deceptively powerful are always on the lookout to avoid all wood, trees or branches in the river. Good safety talks explain strainers and describe how to recognize and avoid them by paddling or aggressively swimming away. If you are swimming and can't avoid a strainer, the best plan is to roll over on your stomach, get your arms and legs up on the surface and aggressively swim towards the strainer head and hands first to launch yourself up and over it. If you can get part or all of you body over it...hang on. The last place you ever want to be on a river is going underneath a strainer where the potential for entrapment and drowning is serious. If you're going floating, find out where the strainers, if any, are. We focus on strainers and rescue techniques for entrapment situations in our Swiftwater Rescue Classes, but your best bet is to pay attention and be aware of strainers so if you see one you are sure to avoid it!

Former Student --HEROIC RESCUE!

Miles City Firefighter/Paramedic Branden Stevens' Swiftwater Rescue Skills were tested recently when a man was trapped in a truck submerged in the Tongue River. Branden, who participated in one of our classes in 2007, sent us a couple photos of their successful rescue of a hypothermic victim who was rescued and revived. WAY TO GO BRANDEN!


Mike,

"I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE TRAINING THAT YOU PROVIDED! With out it, the patient would have died for sure, we had no water rescue training prior to me attending your course in may of 2007."

Let me know if you can use anything else!

Branden Stevens