Swiftwater Rescue Course….

Well done to the lads for the SRT course completed over the weekend in cold wet, and on Sunday, very very high water levels on the River Avonmore in Laragh, Co. Wicklow. Here are a few shots:

The Huddle

Here’s one group trying the huddle technique to cross a shallow stretch of river, along withthe wedge technique.

The Wedge

Along with crossing in lines, such as line astern and line abreast, and going back to the wedge to ‘float’ a casualty across in the eddy created by the group.

Line Abreast

Floating a casualty across behind a wedge

Using a Throw Line

Nearly over to the safety of the group

One of the key fundamentals of SRT courses is the principle of being proactive and self rescuing; this is part of the rescue principal of Rescue of yourself first, followed by backing up the team and then resuce of the casualty, with gear recovery being last. To use the name of a famous helmeted individual from Top Gear: STIG we resce Self, Team, Individual, Gear. Swiftwater swimming in a proactive manner is a key skill to be practiced…

Ferrying across the river in a defensive posture

Looking happy and warm!

Swimming on the back in a defensive position is the safest and in most circumstances, the best, position to be in, making sure to look ahead for the best line and the best place to get out of the river. In some circumstances there is a need to turn on to your front and swim aggressively, for example to an eddy, across an eddy fence, chasing a casualty, approaching a strainer etc…shallow water dives help in heading aggressively across the river or chasing down a casualty and in live bait rescues..

Launching across the river below Little Jackson's

…to be continued…