Safety and Rescue: Skills Courses
Designed for the whitewater paddler and/or rescue personnel who may be called to assist in an entrapment or rescue situation.
Safety and Rescue
Flatwater Kayak Safety and Rescue: Level 2 introduces essential flatwater safety practices and rescue techniques that can be performed with a minimum of equipment, in the first few minutes of an emergency.
Essentials of River Safety and Rescue: Level 3 teaches recognition and avoidance of common river hazards, execution of self-rescue techniques, and simple rescues of paddlers in distress. Emphasis is placed both on personal safety and on simple, commonly used skills. Fundamental techniques for dealing with hazards that carry greater risks for both victim and rescuer, such as entrapments, and pins, also are taught. This course is aimed primarily at new boaters, or boaters who do not anticipate paddling in whitewater.
Swiftwater Rescue: Level 4 teaches recognition and avoidance of common river hazards, execution of self-rescue techniques, and rescue techniques for paddlers in distress. Emphasis is placed both on personal safety and on simple, commonly used skills. Techniques for dealing with hazards that carry greater risks for both victim and rescuer, such as strainers, rescue vest applications, entrapments, and pins, also are practiced. Scenarios will provide an opportunity for participants to practice their skills both individually and within a team/group context.
Advanced Swiftwater Rescue: Level 5 is aimed at trip leaders, boaters paddling on more challenging whitewater, and anyone desiring opportunities to develop their rescue skills. Critical judgment and rescue awareness, impacting both personal and group safety, are emphasized throughout the course. Although new skills may be taught, this class focuses on developing judgment and applying skills in rescue scenarios. Scope and content of the course will vary, based upon participant needs, interests and experience.
Swiftwater Rescue FAQs
Become an ACA Instructor
The American Canoe Association Safety and Rescue program offers instructor certification at 3 levels – Essentials of River Safety and Rescue, Swiftwater Rescue, and Advanced Swiftwater Rescue. Each level requires a progressively greater understanding of swiftwater rescue concepts, as well as an ability to teach and execute those concepts in progressively more difficult rapids. At this time, instructor trainer certification is offered only at the Advanced Swiftwater Rescue level.
Each level requires a more advanced understanding of:
safety awareness
general technical knowledge
on-water skills
teaching skills
Each level requires:
Completion of a course of instruction at the same skill level or higher
Successful completion of an Instructor Development Workshop (IDW)
Successful completion of an Instructor Certification Exam (ICE)
The purpose of the IDW is to help instructor candidates learn how to effectively teach safety and canoeing skills.
The purpose of the ICE is to evaluate the candidate in each of the above areas.
(For more information on IDWs and ICEs see "Instructor Criteria" and contact the Instructor Trainer / Educator of the course you are considering)
Safety and Rescue Certification
Safety and Rescue Instructor Candidate Information
The Essentials of River Safety Instructor
Swiftwater Rescue Instructor Certification
Advanced Swiftwater Rescue Instructor Certification
Other Links
Additional Resources
Instructor Resources
