Swiftwater and Flood First Responder (SFR)
Swiftwater and Flood First Responders work around the water and undertake bank-based and shallow water wading rescues as part of an SFR team. They can also support teams of Swiftwater Rescue Technicians at an incident. A First Responder will have the ability to self-rescue and perform rescues of team members and casualties at the level to which they have been trained.
A First Responder will be expected to help and support in technical rescue. This may include providing downstream safety cover or assistance with casualty handling. Flooding operations may include evacuation of people from properties using shallow water working skills. At a scene of major flooding the Technicians may be in short supply and utilised for technical rescues. Therefore it is First Responders who will be used to undertake the majority of evacuations and safety provision.
Contact hours
12 hours (2 days)
Prerequisites:
- Must be a confident swimmer
- Minimum age: 18
Course content includes
- Rescue 3 philosophy
- Training standards
- Best practice guidelines for water rescue
- Hydrology and water hazards
- Floodwater dynamics and hazards
- Flood theory
- Personal equipment
- Technical and team equipment
- Pre-planning
- Risk assessments
- Incident size-up
- Incident management and site control
- Medical and decontamination considerations
- Considerations for night/poor visibility operations
- Mud, ice and unstable surface considerations
- Introduction to searching rivers and floods
- Communications
- Swiftwater swimming techniques
- Strainer swim
- Conditional rescues – talk, reach, throw
- Shallow water techniques
- Casualty management
- People and equipment entrapments
- Tethered boat options (if used by agency)
- Inflated fire hose (if used by agency)
- Flat-water sled paddling (if used by agency)
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.
Defra level:
Module 2 – Water & Flood First Responder – To work safely near and in water using land-based and wading techniques.
View all Rescue 3 Europe Defra module courses
Qualification valid for:
3 years
Taught by:
- Swiftwater and Flood Rescue First Responder Instructor (SFRI)
- Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician Instructor (SRTI)
- Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician Advanced – Water Instructor (SRTAWI)
- Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician Advanced (Water and Rope) Instructor (SRTAI)
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.
