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Swiftwater Rescue is a subset of technical rescue that involves the use of specially trained personnel, ropes, and mechanical advantage systems often much more robust than those used in rope rescue because of the added pressure of moving water.

The main goal is to use or deflect the water’s power to assist in the rescue of the endangered person(s), as in most situations there is no easy way to overcome the power of the water.

A mnemonic device is used to rate comparative risk involved in different water rescue techniques is "Reach, Throw, Row, Go, Helo", meaning: it is safest to reach to grab someone; slightly more risky to throw a line to someone; even more risky to rescue using a boat; quite risky to actually enter the water in a rescue attempt, and finally as a last resort, involving a helicopter for water rescue combines many of the hazards of the previous four 'techniques' as well as other risks unique to 'vertical' rescues or to 'live-bait' techniques using helicopters.

In the USA and Canada, rope rescue is covered under National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1670 Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Rescue, which defines 3 increasing levels of capability: Awareness, Operational, Technician. Of these, the Swiftwater Rescue Technician (SRT) is divided into 3 sections: Swiftwater Rescue Technician I; SRT II; and SRT III. It is up to the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) to decide what level is required to operate within a technical rescue environment.

Generally, SRT1 is a qualification to perform shore-based support operations in swift water rescue. SRT2 is qualified to perform shore-based and contact rescue, and SRT3 is additionally qualified in the areas of technical rigging and to act as a Rescue Sector Officer.

Additionally there are more specialised ratings such as:

• Whitewater Rescue Technician for the River Professional (WRT1 and WRT2) for swiftwater/whitewater professionals, for whom rescue scenarios may be encountered on a daily basis
• Technical Animal Rescue (TAR), which includes specialised techniques related to animal rescue including such knowledge as 'animal behavior during rescues' and basic first aid for animals.
• Technician Level Ice Training meets the requirements for the Technician level of NFPA 1670 standard for ice incidents, teaches the properties, formation, types and hazards of ice and specialised techniques for rescues in icy and ice-covered water.

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