Technical Rescue Training
Specific Technical Rescue Training Examples
Awareness
- Capability
- Understand hazards; scene staging; safe working in non-hazardous areas
- Hazard Zone(s)
- Cold zone (support zone)
- Equipment / PPE Requirements
- Basic protective clothing; hazard recognition gear
Operations
- Capability
- Identify hazards; use rescue equipment; apply limited rescue techniques; support role
- Hazard Zone(s)
- Cold & Warm zones (transition zone)
- Equipment / PPE Requirements
- Appropriate protective clothing & equipment for warm zone operations
Technician
- Capability
- Perform, supervise, coordinate complex rescue operations using advanced technical method
- Hazard Zone(s)
- Warm & Hot zones (exclusion zone)
- Equipment / PPE Requirements
- Full PPE, specialised rescue and safety equipment
Discipline-Specific Training Examples
Here are sample training curricula for several rescue disciplines illustrating how the levels may be applied. Duration estimates are indicative and may be adapted to local needs and hazards.
Rope Rescue
- Awareness Level
- ~1 day: basic rope properties, knots, anchor concept, safety, rope hazards
- Operations Level
- ~2 days: rigging, belaying, patient packaging, low-angle evacuations
- Technician Level / Specialist
- ~1 week: advanced rigging, anchors, high-angle, Tyrolean/telpher systems, stokes basket extrication, helicopter-tie-ups
Confined Space Rescue
- Awareness Level
- Few hours: regulation awareness, hazard recognition, what precludes entry
- Operations Level
- Several days: atmospheric monitoring, safe entry, basic retrieval systems
- Technician Level / Specialist
- ~40 hours+: advanced retrieval, command & communication, ventilation, complex retrieval in varied confined spaces
Trench Rescue
- Awareness Level
- ~2 hours: hazards, scene security, initial actions
- Operations Level
- Several days: shoring techniques, safe entry, support operations
- Technician Level / Specialist
- ~10 days: advanced victim removal, long-duration operations, utility controls
Structural Collapse
- Awareness Level
- ~8 hours: collapse types, initial size-up, incident command
- Operations Level
- 2-3 days: debris search, utility controls, basic stabilisation
- Technician Level / Specialist
- ~5 days: heavy equipment use, tunnelling / excavation, advanced hazard stabilisation
Water Rescue
- Awareness Level
- Few hours: water hazards, shore-based rescue, safety and basic rescue tools
- Operations Level
- ~1 week: swift-water, ice rescue, hypothermia management, boat/shore-based rescue techniques
- Technician Level / Specialist
- ~1 week or more: all water rescue modalities, helicopter / boat operations, contaminated water, full victim retrieval
Sources of Training
- National authorities
- Accredited rescue training institutions
- Private specialist providers
- Inter-agency or mutual aid partnerships
Developing a Training Plan
Key components for a robust training plan include:
- Hazard-Driven Design
- Base training curricula on local target hazards (e.g. floods, cliffs, industrial sites)
- Include realistic scenario training in environments similar to those the team will face
- Discipline & Level Allocation
- Decide which personnel will train to what level in each discipline (Awareness / Operations / Technician)
- Identify potential instructors / trainers early
- Recertification & Skill Maintenance
- Regular refresher training
- Skills practice at set intervals to avoid degradation
- Periodic assessment of competence
- Documentation & Evaluation
- Maintain individual training records: level, hours, skills demonstrated
- Team-level documentation: curricula delivered, costs, lessons learned
- Incident reviews to feed back into training improvement
- Teamwork & Interoperability
- Joint exercises combining multiple disciplines
- Training on command & control, communications, safety overlap