Whitewater Safety
ACA L4 SWIFTWATER RESCUE COURSE
Get Trained and Certified
The Swiftwater Rescue workshop 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. Fundamental and more advanced 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.
ACA L4 Swiftwater Rescue Course
$250.00
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Course Details
TOPICS COVERED
Hydrology
Rescue Organization
Communication
Entrapment/Extrication
Stranded swimmers
Self-Rescue Techniques
Mechanical Advantage
LOCATION
The ACA L4 Swiftwater Rescue course will be held at Lock 5, C&O Canal in Brookmont, MD
2024 DATES
June 14-15
TIME
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
DURATION
16 hours
PRICE
$250.00
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Photo Gallery
Check out some photos and video from past swiftwater rescue training sessions!
What To Bring
The following list of things to bring are mandatory for your comfort, safety, and enjoyment of your on-water (and in-water) experience with us.
Please message or chat with us if you have any additional questions.
Minimum Required Gear
- PFD (a rescue PFD is advised but not mandatory)
- Whitewater helmet
- Protective clothing suitable for extended swimming in cold water
- Protective footwear
- Boat
- Paddle
- Whistle
- Throw rope (50 foot minimum)
- 15+ feet of one-inch tubular nylon webbing
- 2 locking carabiners
- River knife (with blunt tip)
- Kayaker’s nose plugs
- Performance base layer or rash guard that dries fast (for wicking)
- Surf trunks (can be worn over neoprene pants or shorts and without)
- Simple and low profile wet shoes or booties without laces or straps
- One liter of water
- Waterproof snack (Clif Bar, etc.)
- Allergy medication (we require medications for all severe reactions such as bee stings, peanuts, asthma, etc.) and small dry bag to store it
- Sunglasses with strap
- Hide-A-Key and/or small dry bag. Please stash your own key and belongings on your car or person during events.
- Sunscreen
- Towel and change of clothes
REQUIRED Kayaking Equipment
- Kayak
- PFD (Rescue PFD recommended after Swiftwater Rescue training)
- Helmet (Less than 5 years old)
- Spray skirt
- Paddle
- Float bags (2-3 minimum https://tinyurl.com/ejjjc3bt)
- Knife /whistle (with your pfd)
- Throwbag (50ft minimum)
- Dry top- all 3 gaskets
- Drysuit
- Warm layers for underneath drygear
- Dry bag or 2 for extra warm gear lunch ect. Minumum 1 preferable 2 (check out the Watershed Ocoee bag- solid for lunch and personal supplies)
Glasses or Contact Wearers
If you wear eyeglasses or contact lenses, make sure to also be prepared with the following items:
- Eyeglass strap (so you don’t lose your expensive prescription lenses).
- Note to those who wear contacts: Bring extra. You will need to close your eyes while underwater. (Swim goggles don’t work that well. A well-fitting dive mask is ok while learning to roll.)
Optional Items
We recommend bringing the following items, though they are optional:
- Tip for instructors (always appreciated)
- Q-Tips
- Ear wash
FAQs
Safety Considerations
Because of the risk inherent in any whitewater or river activity, we want to make sure you are aware of these risks and acknowledge them prior to the class. We may be walking along slippery rocky shorelines, swimming in cold whitewater, and working with ropes and rescue equipment in very realistic scenarios. If a river rescue or safety class is to be effective and give students whitewater experience and hands-on training, it is not going to be safe. In order for our instructors to provide realistic training with challenges that simulate actual rescue conditions, we recognize there is always the chance that someone is going to get injured. All of this involves risk, and we will try our best to manage risk in a way that creates a balance between the risk students are exposed to and the levels of challenge presented during the training.
This is a skills class where will be expected to demonstrate the ability to perform some specific skills we cover in the course, such as defensive and aggressive swimming, throw bagging, live bait, z-drags, etc. .
We encourage you to chat or message us if you have any questions concerning safety. We are proud of our safety record and know that our instructors do not achieve this alone, it takes the help of our students.
What Others Are Saying
Reviews from others are the highest compliment that we can receive. Check out what others in the Washington, DC area have said about our kayaking lessons and adventures!
Get Trained and Certified!
Level up your whitewater qualifications with this ACA L4 swiftwater rescue course at Kayak DC!
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