Water Rescue For First Responders

The Water Rescue for First Responders (WRFR) program is designed for members of public safety agencies such as police, fire, ambulance, search & rescue teams, and park wardens. The intent of the program is to train personnel, who are often first on scene, about the dangers they may face in a water rescue attempt and in safe methods of rescuing patients in aquatic environments.

In this program first responders will learn the basics of water rescue in relatively static, still water conditions such as lakes, streams and the ocean.  Water rescue in less static conditions such as ocean surf, swift water, flash floods, and ice rescue will be briefly touched upon, but are not covered in detail in this program. First responders will need further training before attempting rescues in these specialized environments.

Why Water Rescue for First Responders?

Many first responder agencies have seen the need to expand their capabilities to include training in water rescue. Statistics show that a first responder agency is most likely to see incidents involving drowning or near drowning.  The Water Rescue for First Responders program has been created to provide first responders with the first steps to approaching water rescue. The program will give first responders a strong grounding in the principles of water rescue.