Safe Operating Near Water for SAR Teams (SONWSAR)
The SONWSAR course is designed for Search and Rescue team members (eg Mountain Rescue and Lowland Rescue). It gives them an awareness of the hazards of operating near water, and gives them experiential understanding of how to self-rescue in the event of accidental immersion. This course does not provide an operational response for in-water operations or a professional water rescue capability.
SAR teams who will be undertaking intentional entry into water should take the Safe Operating In Water for SAR Teams course. If they require a professional rescue capability for flooding events, then they should take either
the Swiftwater and Flood First Responder (SFR), or Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician (SRT) course.
Course length:
- 8 hours (1 day)
Prerequisites:
- Minimum age: 18
Accredited by:
Rescue 3 Europe
Course content includes
- Rescue 3 philosophy
- Training standards
- Best practice guidelines
- Hydrology and water hazards
- Additional hazards beyond the training scope
- Personal protective equipment for operating near water
- Assessing risk
- Medical and decontamination considerations
- Communications
- Strainer considerations
- Foot/body entrapment considerations
- Introduction to bank-based search considerations
- Swimming techniques for self-rescue
- Conditional rescues of team members
- Shallow water techniques for self-rescue
Course standard, learning outcomes and key teaching points
Rescue 3 Europe course standards, learning outcomes and key teaching points
The course standards, learning outcomes and key teaching points are provided as pre- and post-course reference for people involved in the delivery of Rescue 3 courses (eg Rescue 3 training providers, instructors and students). They are not to be used for any other purpose without the express written permission of Rescue 3 Europe.
Qualification valid for:
- 3 years
Taught by:
- Safe Operating In Water for SAR Teams Instructor (SOIWSARI)
Recertification options
Instructor to student ratios
Student resources
Student resources for Rescue 3 courses can be accessed here.
Instructor resources
Instructor resources for Rescue 3 courses can be accessed here.
