REC-I Swiftwater Rescue
Practical swiftwater safety, leadership and on-water rescue skills for private boaters and river enthusiasts.
Build confidence before things go sideways.
REC-I is designed for private whitewater boaters and river enthusiasts who want stronger safety awareness, better judgment and dependable hands-on rescue skills.
Whether you are new to moving water or have years of river experience, the course develops practical habits that prevent accidents and prepare you to respond decisively. Training is adapted to the group’s experience and goals, with an emphasis on communication, leadership and effective problem solving with limited equipment.
Practical skills for safer days on the river.
01
Hazard Recognition
Read water, anticipate hazards and make better decisions before small problems become emergencies.
02
Swimming & Self Rescue
Develop comfort in moving water and apply effective swimming and self-rescue techniques.
03
Throw Bag & Contact Rescue
Practice shore-based and in-water rescues with clear communication and sound rescue priorities.
04
Group Communication
Improve team awareness, leadership and coordination during stressful river incidents.
05
Entrapment, Crossings & Basic Systems
Work through foot-entrapment response, shallow-water crossings, basic knots and vector pulls.
06
Limited-Gear Problem Solving
Coordinate impromptu rescues, boat recovery and overall emergency assessment using available resources.
Come ready to participate.
- Proficient swimmer and physically capable participant
- Minimum age 16 with parental consent, or age 15 with a participating parent
- Desire to learn and participate in moving-water training
- All required Personal Protective Equipment
- Meet SSI’s Essential Eligibility Criteria
Use the online modules to get a running start.
Registration includes immediate access to approximately two hours of optional online training. Practice questions follow each video, but students are not required to pass the modules before attending.
The online material introduces core concepts so field time can focus on hands-on learning. Students may start and stop as needed, and progress is saved automatically.
Prepare at your pace. Learn by doing.
Before the Course
Optional Online Foundation
Review approximately two hours of self-paced material covering river safety, rescue concepts and course preparation.
Day 01
Awareness & Core Rescue Skills
Review key concepts, assess hazards and build swimming, self-rescue, throw-bag and communication skills in moving water.
Day 02
Integrated River Problems
Strengthen team coordination, rescue priorities, crossings, contact rescue and limited-resource problem solving through practical evolutions.
Immersive training without unnecessary complexity.
Practical education for recreational boaters.
REC-I is action-driven, immersive and suitable for a wide range of whitewater experience levels.
Successful participants receive SSI’s Verification of Training for the Recreational Boater with no expiration. There is no formal testing. Experienced recreational boaters seeking a more technical professional course should consider PRO-I Swiftwater Rescue.
Make your next river day safer.
View upcoming REC-I dates or contact SSI about training for your paddling club, organization or group.