Rescues from Vehicles in Water

The Rescue from Vehicles in Water (RVW) is a specialist course for Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technicians that explores the skills required to deal with rescues from vehicles in water. The course looks at vehicle behaviour and stabilisation in water as well as access techniques and casualty extrication. 

Rescues from vehicles in water are a growing hazard faced by Fire and Rescue services. Whilst generic Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician skills and techniques can be utilised for these rescues, current training does not provide realistic and specific exposure to these incidents.

Since 2004 there has been continued development of this specialist course to its present format.

Attending an RVW course is an alternative pathway to recertifying an SRT qualification.

Course length

2 days

Course content includes

• Vehicle behaviour in water
• Pre-planning and size-up
• Vehicle and incident management
• Glass management
• PPE
• Medical considerations
• Scene assessment and rescuer safety
• Vehicle familiarisation
• Communications
• Anchors - vehicle and bank
• Vehicle stabilisation
• Casualty extraction
• Shallow water crossings
• Pendulum crossing
• Tension diagonal
• Tethered swim
• Two- and four-point system
• Single bank extended platform

Prerequisites

• Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician

Qualification valid for

3 years

Taught by

• Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician Instructor or Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician Advanced Instructor who have successfully undertaken a Rescue From Vehicles in Water course or workshop themselves