SWIFT WATER SEARCH AND RESCUE
MASTERING MOVING WATER
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El Dorado County's diverse waterways of fast flowing rivers, deep mountain lakes, and reservoirs have worldwide popularity among rafters, kayakers, fishing enthusiasts, and other recreational water users. Every season brings accidents, injuries, and fatalities that trigger a call for El Dorado Search and Rescue's Swift Water Team. Typical call-outs during the day or night include:
Swift Water Entrapments where individuals are caught in fast-moving currents.
Watercraft Accidents involving one or more boats that collide, capsize, or become separated from their operator.
Drownings Incidents to recover individuals who have fallen into the water.
Flood Rescue to assist individuals stranded in floodwaters.
Frequent water rescues happen in the dark when water adventurers realize they are in trouble and need help when the sun goes down
Navigating El Dorado County's high-flow rapids requires advanced training and techniques to extract individuals in perilous situations
EDSAR's Swift Water Team consists of Rescue Swimmers and Shore Support. Rescue Swimmers must hold at least an SRT-1, SRT-A, or equivalent certification. Shore Support personnel require Swift Water Awareness Training. Team training includes:
Swift Water Rescue Techniques: Advanced skills in swift water rescue, including self-rescue and swift water swimming.
Watercraft Operation: Proficiency in operating various types of watercraft, including rafts, kayaks, and motorboats.
Technical Rope Rescue: Advanced rope skills in swift water environments, including anchoring, belaying, hauling, and complex rigging systems.
First Aid and CPR: Advanced first aid skills, including trauma care and hypothermia treatment.
By training on the same waterways as rescue operations, EDSAR's Swift Water Rescue Team can sharpen their skills, test equipment, and fine-tune their tactics. The Team also actively engages in Swift Water and Flood Rescue operations, collaborating with other SAR, County, and State resources to provide a coordinated and effective response to water-related emergencies.
Swift water rescues require proficiency in technical rope water rescue techniques
Rescues can turn quickly into recovery operations when every second matters
Searching for clues in the water is sometimes necessary for persons lost in the water
Swift water rescues are inherently dangerous and demand specialized skills and equipment. Thanks to the generous support of our community, EDSAR's Swift Water team has:
two rafts with paddles and one flood boat with a motorized engine
two trailers to transport the boats and a trailer to store and transport gear
dry suits, helmets, personal protective equipment, floatation devices and other essential gear needed for water rescue
Every second counts in a water emergency.
Your generous support will enable our Swift Water Team to continue their life-saving missions. We rely on your donations to fund essential training, certifications, and critical equipment like rescue water crafts and specialized gear.
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