Swiftwater Rescue
Southwest Rescue offers a variety of swiftwater rescue courses tailored to the professional rescuer to the recreational boater. Most courses are certified through Rescue 3 International, the largest accrediting body for Technical Rescue programs in the world. Rescue 3 International develops curriculum and accredits training programs across various Technical Rescue Disciplines, including water, technical rope and rigging, ice, boat, confined space, and medical.
To learn more about Rescue 3 International, click on this link.
Swiftwater Rescue Technician Instructor
4 days (32 hours)
The Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician Instructor (SRTI) pathway is designed for teaching personnel with a swiftwater and flood capability up to Technician level.
Whitewater Rescue Technician – Recreational
2 days (16 hours)
The Rescue 3 International Whitewater Rescue Technician – Recreational (WRT-Rec) course is for people who find themselves on or around the river for recreational purposes. This two day course consists of intensive training using techniques and simple equipment to assess and perform river rescues. The emphasis of the class is on fast, low-tech and improvised rescue techniques.
Fire and rescue personnel should take the NFPA-compliant Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician (SRT) course.
Prerequisites:
- 18 years of age or older
- adequate health insurance coverage
- basic swimming ability
- in good physical condition
**This course does NOT meet the requirements for NFPA 1670 Standard and does NOT qualify as a prerequisite for Swiftwater Rescue Technician Advanced (SRTA).
Whitewater Rescue Technician – Professional
3 days (24 hours)
| Course Name | Date(s) | Location | Duration | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitewater Rescue Technician – Professional | 03/24/25 – 03/26/25 | Bangkok, Thailand | 3 days (24 hours) | Course Details | Register ($0) | |
The Rescue 3 International Whitewater Rescue Technician – Professional (WRT-Pro) course is designed for professional river users who require a rescue capability in a whitewater environment (e.g. raft guides, safety kayakers, etc.). Fast, low-tech, and improvised rescue techniques are the focus of this course, combined with the emphasis on scene size-up and management. This three-day course is the standard for many professional river operations around the world.
Fire and rescue personnel should take the NFPA-compliant Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician (SRT) course.
Prerequisites:
- 18 years of age or older
- adequate health insurance coverage
- basic swimming ability
- in good physical condition
**This course does NOT meet the requirements for NFPA 1670 Standard and does NOT qualify as a prerequisite for Swiftwater Rescue Technician Advanced (SRTA).
Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician
3 days (24 hours)
| Course Name | Date(s) | Location | Duration | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician | 04/27/25 – 04/29/25 | Sandoval County FD | 3 days (24 hours) | Course Details | Register ($600) | |
| Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician | 05/09/25 – 05/11/25 | Pine River, CO | 3 days (24 hours) | Course Details | Register ($450) | |
| Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician | 05/17/25 – 05/19/25 | Sandoval County FD | 3 days (24 hours) | Course Details | Register ($600) | |
| Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician | 05/26/25 – 05/28/25 | Montrose, CO | 3 days (24 hours) | Course Details | Register ($0) | |
| Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician | 05/30/25 – 06/01/25 | Evergreen Fire/Rescue | 3 days (24 hours) | Course Details | Register ($0) | |
| Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician | 06/13/25 – 06/15/25 | Grand Junction, CO | 3 days (24 hours) | Course Details | Register ($0) | |
The Rescue 3 International Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician (SRT) is an intensive three-day class. The initial emphasis is on self-rescue skills, but other objectives include an in-depth look at water dynamics, handling hazards and obstacles, using basic rescue equipment, setting up technical rope systems, controlling in-water contact rescues, scene management, and much more.
This course is the first of three classes needed for personnel to meet the requirements for the Technician level NFPA 1670 Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Rescue Incidents and the NFPA 1006 Standard for Rescue Technician Professional Qualifications in the area of water.
Prerequisites:
- 18 years of age or older
- adequate health insurance coverage
- basic swimming ability
- in good physical condition
Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician Advanced
3 days (24 hours)
This Rescue 3 International Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician Advanced (SRTA) course builds on the skills learned in the Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician (SRT), taking the students beyond the emphasis on self-rescue to concentrate on victim rescue. Students are exposed to more complex water rescue situations including a mock night river rescue scenario. The three-day course includes 4-6 hours of classroom instruction, followed by two and one-half days of hands-on skill development.
Students are introduced to the role and utilization of various skills in river and flood rescue, including:
- rope systems
- management of litter & patient raising systems
- highline systems
- advanced river search concepts
- performing rescues at night or in low visibility
- and basic flood disaster management
Prerequisites:
- Minimum age: 18
- Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician (SRT)
- Rope Rescue Operator (RRO) or Technical Rope Rescue Technician Level (TRRTL)
Rescue From Vehicles In Water
2 days (16 hours)
The Rescue from Vehicles in Water workshop is a specialist course for Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technicians that explores the skills required to deal with car related rescues in Swiftwater and Floods. The course looks at vehicle behavior and stabilization in water, as well as access techniques and victim extrication. Vehicle hydrology, glass management, anchors, and weight transfer are all addressed in this two day, hands on clinic.
Swiftwater Rescue Technician-Advanced (Water)
2 days (16 hours)
| Course Name | Date(s) | Location | Duration | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swiftwater Rescue Technician-Advanced (Water) | 05/01/25 – 05/02/25 | Sandoval County FD | 2 days (16 hours) | Course Details | Register ($450) | |
| Swiftwater Rescue Technician-Advanced (Water) | 05/21/25 – 05/22/25 | Sandoval County FD | 2 days (16 hours) | Course Details | Register ($450) | |
The Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician Advanced – Water course is for existing Rescue 3 Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technicians looking at advanced rescue situations both in and over water including search management in a swiftwater and flood environment.
This is the water module, which can be taken separately, or combined with the rope module into a single course ( Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician – Advanced – Water and Rope (SRTA W&R) ). Current Rescue 3 Technicians wanting an advanced rescue capability in water can do the SRTA-W. Those wanting to add rope rescue including steep and vertical banks and over water technical rescue capability can do the SRTAW&R.
Swiftwater Rescue Technician-Advanced Rope Day
1 days (8 hours)
| Course Name | Date(s) | Location | Duration | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swiftwater Rescue Technician-Advanced Rope Day | 05/03/25 – 05/03/25 | Sandoval County FD | 1 days (8 hours) | Course Details | Register ($200) | |
| Swiftwater Rescue Technician-Advanced Rope Day | 05/23/25 – 05/23/25 | Sandoval County FD | 1 days (8 hours) | Course Details | Register ($300) | |
An additional day to add on to the Swiftwater Rescue Technician-Advanced (Water) Course. Completion of this day will advance a participants Swiftwater Rescue Technician certificate to the standards set by NFPA 1006.
Content will focus on Vertical Operations over moving water. Prerequisites include Rope Rescue Operations and Swiftwater Rescue Operations level training consistent with NFPA 1006.
Swiftwater Rescue Technician (Professional Qualification)
1 days (8 hours)
| Course Name | Date(s) | Location | Duration | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swiftwater Rescue Technician (Professional Qualification) | 04/30/25 – 04/30/25 | Sandoval County FD | 1 days (8 hours) | Course Details | Register ($200) | |
| Swiftwater Rescue Technician (Professional Qualification) | 05/12/25 – 05/14/25 | Durango Area | 1 days (8 hours) | Course Details | Register ($0) | |
| Swiftwater Rescue Technician (Professional Qualification) | 05/20/25 – 05/20/25 | Sandoval County FD | 1 days (8 hours) | Course Details | Register ($300) | |
Professional Qualification certifications are for those who want to qualify certifications to avoid re-taking certifications.
A pre-requisite day for those looking to take the Swiftwater Advanced course work who have NOT completed a Swiftwater Rescue Technician course.