Rescue Course

Lesson 1 • Rescue System Overview

Defines rescue as a discipline and maps its operational scope. Connects terminology to real-world incident types students will encounter throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Legal and Ethical Foundations

Covers duty of care, consent, and responder liability within rescue contexts. Grounds students in ethical decision-making before field skill training begins.

Lesson 3 • Personal Protective Equipment

Introduces PPE selection, donning, and inspection for rescue environments. Proper PPE use is a prerequisite for all hands-on practical sessions.

Lesson 4 • Situational Awareness and Scene Safety

Trains responders to assess hazards before committing to a rescue. Scene safety evaluation is the first action in every operational scenario covered later.

Lesson 1 • Human Physiology Under Stress

Explains cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological responses to trauma and entrapment. This physiological baseline informs all victim assessment decisions in the chapter.

Lesson 2 • Secondary Assessment and History

Covers head-to-toe physical examination and patient history gathering. Connects detailed findings to packaging and transport decisions made later in the course.

Lesson 3 • Triage in Multi-Victim Scenarios

Introduces triage systems for prioritizing multiple victims with limited resources. Triage skills are applied directly in mass-casualty simulation exercises.

Lesson 4 • Primary Victim Assessment

Teaches rapid life-threat identification using a structured primary survey. Students apply this sequence in every simulated rescue scenario throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Anchor Systems and Load Distribution

Covers natural, artificial, and structural anchors and how to equalize them. Anchor integrity is the critical control point for all rope rescue systems built later.

Lesson 2 • Rope Types and Load Ratings

Compares static and dynamic ropes, materials, and rated capacities for rescue use. Correct rope selection directly affects system safety in all subsequent rigging exercises.

Lesson 3 • Essential Rescue Knots

Teaches the knots most critical to rescue rigging, including bends, hitches, and loops. Knot proficiency is assessed before students progress to anchor and system building.

Lesson 4 • Belay and Safety Systems

Introduces belay devices, techniques, and redundant safety lines for rescue operations. Belay competency is a prerequisite for all lowering and raising practical sessions.

Lesson 1 • Raising Operations and Haul Systems

Applies mechanical advantage systems to raise victims from below to a safe level. Raising evolutions integrate anchor, belay, and haul skills from all prior sections.

Lesson 2 • Lowering Operations

Develops skills for controlled lowering of a packaged victim down a vertical face. Students practice lowering evolutions with live loads under instructor supervision.

Lesson 3 • Ascending and Self-Rescue on Rope

Covers mechanical and friction-hitch methods for ascending a fixed rope. Self-rescue ascending is a mandatory safety skill before students operate in vertical environments.

Lesson 4 • Rappelling and Descending Systems

Trains responders to descend safely on rope using rescue-rated devices and techniques. Controlled descent is the entry skill for all vertical rescue access scenarios.

Lesson 1 • Entry Procedures and Attendant Duties

Establishes the entry permit process and the critical role of the space attendant. Attendant duties form the external safety net for all confined space rescue entries.

Lesson 2 • Victim Extraction from Confined Spaces

Covers packaging, rigging, and extracting victims through restricted openings. Extraction integrates rope systems from Chapter 3 with confined space entry protocols.

Lesson 3 • Atmospheric Monitoring and Air Management

Covers gas detector use, alarm interpretation, and ventilation strategies for confined spaces. Atmospheric control is the primary life-safety measure before any entry is made.

Lesson 4 • Rescue Entry and Victim Access

Trains responders to enter confined spaces safely and reach an incapacitated victim. Entry techniques are adapted to space geometry and atmospheric conditions encountered.

Lesson 1 • Search Techniques in Collapse Environments

Covers systematic search methods including visual, acoustic, and technical detection. Search sector management ensures complete coverage without duplicating effort.

Lesson 2 • Shoring and Stabilization

Teaches timber and pneumatic shoring to stabilize collapse voids before entry. Shoring is the primary structural safety measure protecting rescuers and victims alike.

Lesson 3 • Breaching and Breaking Techniques

Develops skills for creating access openings through concrete, masonry, and wood. Controlled breaching minimizes vibration and secondary collapse risk during victim access.

Lesson 4 • Collapse Mechanics and Hazard Recognition

Explains how structures fail and the void spaces that result from collapse. Understanding collapse patterns guides safe approach routes and search sector assignments.

Lesson 1 • Rescuer Water Safety and Self-Rescue

Builds defensive swimming, flotation use, and self-rescue skills for responders. Rescuer self-rescue competency is verified before any in-water victim contact training.

Lesson 2 • Shore-Based Rescue Techniques

Covers reach, throw, and rope-based rescue methods performed from the bank. Shore-based techniques are the safest intervention tier and are always attempted first.

Lesson 3 • Watercraft Rescue Operations

Introduces inflatable rescue boat handling, victim approach, and recovery techniques. Watercraft operations extend rescue reach beyond shore-based methods in wide channels.

Lesson 4 • Water Hazard Recognition

Identifies hydraulic features, strainers, and current dynamics that endanger rescuers. Hazard recognition determines the appropriate rescue technique and entry point selection.

Lesson 1 • Interagency Coordination and Communication

Develops skills for coordinating with fire, EMS, law enforcement, and specialized teams. Effective interagency communication prevents duplication and gaps in rescue coverage.

Lesson 2 • After-Action Review and Improvement

Structures the post-incident review process to capture lessons and drive improvement. Systematic review closes the training loop and prepares teams for future rescue operations.

Lesson 3 • Rescue Scene Rehabilitation

Covers responder rest, hydration, medical monitoring, and rotation during extended operations. Rehabilitation prevents rescuer incapacitation and sustains operational effectiveness.

Lesson 4 • Rescue Incident Action Planning

Teaches the development of written and verbal incident action plans for rescue operations. Action plans synchronize tactical objectives, resources, and safety measures across all teams.