According to Gerry Dworkin, "this is a unique opportunity for Public Safety and Rescue personnel to become trained as Water/Swiftwater Rescue Instructors who, upon successful completion of the Academy, will be authorized to conduct an internationally-standardized curriculum and to certify their own personnel who successfully complete the training." Graduates will be authorized to conduct Water Rescue Awareness, Operations and Technician level, as well as Swiftwater Rescue Technician courses. These curriculums meet/exceed NFPA 1670 and NFPA 1006 standards.
The 4-day Academy will include 30-contact hours of instruction, including classroom and practical training. The practical sessions will be conducted in a combination of venues, including an indoor swimming pool, two rivers, and training in the Atlantic Ocean. The instructor candidates will also participate in a Night Operations Exercise conducted in a river.
This Academy provides First Responder agencies the opportunity to have representatives of their own departments trained and authorized as Water Rescue Instructors who are then able to conduct an internationally standardized curriculum to train and certify their own personnel.
Instructor candidates must be in good physical conditions and proficient swimmers in order to participate. And, they must have approval to participate from their department. For information/registration, please access the Lifesaving Resources' website at www.lifesaving.com, or call 207/967-8614.
Lifesaving Resources (www.lifesaving.com) is a private company dedicated to drowning and aquatic injury prevention and emergency management. Located in Kennebunkport, Maine, Lifesaving Resources is recognized both nationally and internationally as a leader in Ice and Water Rescue training programs for First Responders. The company develops educational programs in Water Rescue, Swiftwater Rescue, Ice Rescue, Lifeguarding, Drowning Prevention and Aquatics Safety, and conducts this training throughout North America as well as Internationally. The company conducts an annual INTERNATIONAL ICE RESCUE TRAIN-THE-TRAINER ACADEMY, as well as an INTERNATIONAL WATER RESCUE TRAIN-THE-TRAINER ACADEMY. The purpose of these internationally-recognized Academies is to train and authorize Ice and Water Rescue Instructors for Fire, Rescue, EMS, and Law Enforcement agencies. For information on any of their programs, please access their website at www.lifesaving.com.