The Swiftwater and Flood First Responder (SFR) course is designed to equip participants with essential skills for operating safely in and around swiftwater and flood environments. This course emphasizes bank-based and shallow water wading rescues, enabling responders to support rescue operations effectively.
Based on the South Coast in Swanage, Dorset. Easy access via road or train. We’ll pick you up from Wareham train station for free.
We provide transport to all training locations during your course.
Friendly, qualified Land & Wave instructors who monitor conditions before and during every session.
Palm Rescue Drysuit, Palm 850 buoyancy aid and helmet. Just bring clothes for under drysuit and trainers you don't mind getting wet.
No more getting changed in a car park plus free lockers to stores your valuables.
Are course runs in Swanage Dorset
The SFR course is tailored for individuals who work around water and may be involved in bank-based or shallow water rescues. This includes emergency responders who support Swiftwater Rescue Technicians during incidents, providing downstream safety cover and assisting with casualty handling. In major flooding scenarios, First Responders play a crucial role in evacuations and safety provisions.
Land & Wave has a longstanding history in professional outdoor instructor training. Our instructors have a wide knowledge base, and decades of experience on the crag, in rivers and out at sea.
Our friendly crew hate nothing more than a dull training course, we promise to deliver engaging, thought provoking training courses. No beige powerpoints here!
Dorset’s central position in the South of England makes it easily reachable from major cities like London, Bristol, and Southampton, offering convenient travel options for participants across the UK.
The region’s varied waterways, including rivers, provide ideal conditions for realistic training scenarios.
Additionally, Land & Wave provides transport to Dartmoor during your Rescue 3 Training, ensuring you’re well versed in a variety of locations, scenarios and states of water flow.
This accessibility and natural diversity make Dorset an excellent hub for Swiftwater training, attracting both local and national participants.
You just need to be water confident and able to swim 25 metres.
Yes, you need to be 18 to join the Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician (SRT) training.
At Land & Wave’s HQ in Swanage. It’s 35 minutes from Bournemouth and about 2.5 hours from London.
Activity clothes, layers for underneath your drysuit, a towel, and old trainers. We provide everything else.
The Swiftwater and Flood First Responder (SFR) course is an intensive 12-hour training program conducted over two days, combining theoretical instruction with hands-on practical applications.
Participants will gain a deep understanding of hydrology, floodwater dynamics, and water hazards, ensuring they can assess risks and operate safely in swiftwater and flood environments.
The course also covers Rescue 3 philosophy, best practice guidelines, and essential personal and team equipment, helping responders prepare effectively for emergency situations.
This qualification is essential for emergency responders, equipping them with the skills and confidence to support swiftwater and flood rescue operations effectively. Whether responding to natural disasters or assisting in water-based emergencies, this training ensures a higher level of safety and operational efficiency for all involved.
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