The Vermont Fire Academy will offer a new 16-hour Surface Water Rescue Technician with Boat Operations Course. Surface Water Technician includes providing knowledge and skills when responding to surface water, cold water and swift-water rescues. The training is designed for shore or boat based rescuers, who may be performing rescues from those areas and/or be supporting technician-level swift-water rescuers. They will also learn to perform surface water go based rescues. In addition, students will learn to paddle and operate motorized inflatable rescue boats.
The Surface Water Technician with Boat Operations level content includes the following topics and meets the job performance requirements of NFPA 1006, Chapters 17.1, 17.2, and 17.3: hazard assessment, shore-based rescue techniques, boat-based rescue techniques, rescuer safety, risk management, incident management, hypothermia & near drowning, water rescue equipment, dynamics of moving water, flooding, water search techniques, case studies, NFPA Standards, self-rescue techniques. In addition, students will learn to paddle and operate motorized inflatable rescue boats.
Location: South Royalton Fire Department
When: July 19 & 20, 2025
Time: 0800 - 1700 each day
Application deadline: noon on July 3, 2025
Students will need to bring a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) level three or above and a water rescue helmet.
The class maximum is 20 and the minimum by the application deadline is 15. Registration is made by fair department disbursement.
Please click here for the application. Applications can be emailed to: dps.vfaapplications@vermont.gov.