Paddlesports Safety & Rescue Course

The Paddlesport Safety and Rescue Course PSRC – (formerly known as the FSRT Foundation Safety and Rescue Course) is designed to provide paddlers with the key safety and rescue skills to be able to deal with common problems when on the water and when coaching in a sheltered water environment.  It is designed to inform paddlers safe ways to operate and deal with common emergencies/paddling issues and rescues either of themselves and others. The PSRC course lasts for 1 day and will feature indoor theory, outdoor practical, in and out the water.

Before booking on to the Paddlesport Safety & Rescue Course please ensure you meet the pre-requisites.  A valid BCU or SCA membership is required. You should be able to swim in normal paddle clothing, it is recommended (but not required) to have a first aid course certificate and you must be a minimum of a paddle explore award standard of ability (do not need to hold the actual certificate you just need to be of the standard so as to be able to successfully control your boat).

The course is suitable for all ages and great for individuals, aspirant Paddlesport Instructors and groups wanting to expand their safety practices when on the water. The course content focuses on rescuing from the paddlers specific craft and covers equipment, safety frameworks, as well as a range of rescues including contact and towing rescues, self-rescues and deep water rescues.

We would normally meet at 09:00 in the morning at the venue discussed. One example would be Loch Insh Church car park. The Paddlesport Safety and Rescue course is a 6-hour programme that consists of 6 modules. This takes place in a sheltered water environment like Lochan Uvie or weather depending Loch Insh.

• Clothing and Equipment
• Safety frameworks
• Contact and Towing rescues
• Self-rescues
• Deep water rescues
• Reflection and development

You can present for the Paddlesport Safety & Rescue course in many different craft – normal options are as below:

• Canoe
• Sit on Top Kayak
• Sup
• Closed Cockpit Kayak

We are proud to recommend local accommodation options within the area for people when you are up for your Paddlesports Safety & Rescue Course:

Aviemore:

Youth Hostel A budget friendly option for people.

Coylumbridge Hotel Aviemroe – good for groups and families alike.

Premier Inn – always a good shout.

Rothiemurchus Campsite – situated in the stunning forest, this is a beautiful budget friendly option.

Glenmore Campsite – situated at Scotland’s highest beach, Loch Morlich has phenomenal views across to Cairngorm Mountain.

Newtonmore & Surrounding Areas:

https://www.wherestagsroar.co.uk/ award winning accommodation in the Highlands – perfect to stay at while up on an outdoor adventure.

Invernahavon Caravan Park – a bit quieter than the others as it is a little further away from the hustle and bustle of Aviemore.

Dalraddy Holiday Park – a family and dog friendly campsite.

The course is suitable for all ages and great for individuals, aspirant Paddlesport Instructors and groups wanting to expand their safety practices when on the water. The course content focuses on rescuing from the paddlers specific craft and covers equipment, safety frameworks, as well as a range of rescues including contact and towing rescues, self-rescues and deep water rescues. If you are interested in learning how to rescue people from the water in a multitude of different craft as well as from the bank then this could well be the award for you.

We pride ourselves on providing as much kit as possible for you.  However, the list below is what we recommend you should bring to your Paddlesports Safety & Rescue Course:

• Something to go underneath a wetsuit – swimwear or a spare pair of underwear. (We do provide swimshorts to wear over the top of the wetsuit for greater style and modesty.)
• Travel insurance. (We are insured for all our trips, but we recommend everyone has their own travel insurance as well.)
• Transportation to the venue. (We may be able to help with this though – if you need transportation please drop us an enquiry and we can see what we can do to help.)
• Lunch, water.
• Personal medication
• Everything that you wish to bring kit & boat wise as most people prefer to use their own.

Here at Highland Outdoor Adventures, we pride ourselves on providing as much as we can but you are welcome to bring your own equipment if you do prefer. The list below is what we provide you with on the day.

It is expected normally when sitting awards like this people would come with at least their own personal equipment but we appreciate this is an entry level safety award and not everyone may have things yet so we can still supply equipment if needed. We do find that people prefer to use their own.

• Hala SUP’s -The world’s best Stand up Paddleboards – perfect for our Paddlesports Safety & Rescue Course – if you need
• Silverbirch Canoes the worlds best canoes – if you need
• Zet kayaks – if you need
• Paddles – if you need
• Wetsuits – if you need
• Buoyancy aids – if you need
• Helmets – if you need
• SUP leashes on a quick release belt.
• Neoprene wetsuit boots – if you need
• Swimshorts to go over the top of wetsuits – if you need
• All instruction & administration fees included.
• All first aid and safety equipment.
• Photographs of the day provided for you at no extra cost! If the weather is good we will have a DSLR professional camera  so we can take photos and videos of your adventure and you can look back at the day for years to come. If the weather is less favourable we will bring a GoPro (as it is waterproof) so we will still be able to take photos for you.