ACA Safety and Rescue/Swiftwater Rescue

Fellow Members,

I have been asked to explain the difference between the different levels of ACA Safety and Rescue/Swiftwater rescue courses.  Each level of ACA Safety and Rescue can be found on the ACA website under the following link separated into skills courses and assessment courses.

https://www.americancanoe.org/page/Courses_SR

Skills courses can cover all or part of the course outline and are tailored to fit the needs of the participants.  Skills courses do not have to be taken in successive order.  At the conclusion of a skills course, participants may receive a participation card.  Most courses offered by the CCC are skills courses.  Most instructors will inform you that during their course, participation in any activity during that course is highly encouraged but is also volunteer based meaning you do not have to participate in anything you do not feel comfortable with as there is no grade or evaluation at the end of that course.

Assessment courses have been developed as a tool to allow paddlers a clear progression of skill development.  Courses provide progression in skills and paddling venues associated with specific disciplines and paddlecraft.  Upon successful completion of each Skill Assessment checklist, your instructor will submit the paperwork and you will receive official documentation of your level of skill from the ACA National Office.

For a breakdown in the differences of the 4 levels please visit the Safety Page, then the Swiftwater Rescue tab.  At the bottom I have provided a link to a PDF File that depicts all levels of ACA Safety and Rescue/Swiftwater Rescue Sample Skills Course Outlines with the differences in each level depicted by different colors each time something new is added.   https://www.carolinacanoeclub.org/content/swiftwater-rescue/

Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions in regards to these courses.

Thank You,

William Holman

Safety Chair