The Susquehanna Valley chapter of Team River Runner will be coordinating a regional Swiftwater Rescue Basics Course (Charlie Duffy is the instructor) on the weekend of June 9-10.
This is NOT a course for certification. Rather, it is a course designed to either remind you of the skills you learned during a previous certification course or introduce you to the basic skills needed to assist in an actual rescue. If you’ve been trained, this class will refresh your skills. If you’ve not been trained, it will help make you a useful member of a rescue team.
You will learn to read rivers carefully in order to identify hazards, develop rescue and prevention strategies and build a tool kit of skills to help you and your paddle partners manage risky situations.
While using ropes, rescue vests and other tools of the trade, you and instructors will take turns swimming through rapids and practicing techniques in a controlled environment. You will learn to develop a rescue mindset.
This may be the most valuable paddling class you’ll ever take!
Particpation is free but help with food is a real plus! We will be camping at Hickory Run State Park Friday night through Sunday morning in the Group Rustic Camping Area. The class will take place just upstream of the Jim Thorpe Put-In, thus avoiding raft flotillas while taking advantage of the dam release flows.
If you need equipment, we can provide it but if you have your own, feel free to bring it along! If you bring your own, you will need the following at a minimum:
- Protection from rocks and water (river shoes or booties – NO SANDALS!, helmet, PFD)
- Thermal protection (wet suit vs. dry suit, base layer)
- Personal rescue gear (boat, paddle, tow strap, whistle, throw rope, knife, rescue PFD)
To attend, email Bill.Butler@TeamRiverRunner.org. SPACE IS LIMITED, so please reserve your spot.
PS: I imagine we could probably put together a river run or two over the weekend as well 🙂
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