After training how to attend to victims in the remote wilderness, Leadership Semester students headed to the Río Pejibaye to train for their Whitewater Rescue Technician (WRT) certification.

Spring 2013 Leadership Semester students train to attend to victims in remote wilderness settings.

The WRT certification is issued by Rescue 3 International and is a necessary introduction to the river for this semester’s industry hopefuls. The training commenced on the Pejibaye and finished up along the Río Sarapiquí. Instructed by OBCR leader Phil Perez, topics for WRT included rescue introduction philosophy, size-up at a water rescue, the rules of swiftwater rescue, search in a water rescue incident, self-rescue and personal safety, hydrology and river dynamics, personal and team equipment, water rescue skills and techniques overview, rope rescue skills and techniques, advanced techniques and high risk scenarios, and medical considerations.

We’re happy to report back that all our Leadership students completed and successfully earned their Wilderness First Responder certification! Felicidades, chicos! Going forward, the group will continue on to train for two other outdoor certifications essential to their training to becoming river professionals: Technical Rope Rescue: Operations Level (TRRO) and Whitewater Raft Guide License.

Photos from their previous phases have been uploaded to our Facebook page. Check them out!