River rescue clinic offered in West Glacier Fork of Flathead

A Swiftwater and Flood Rescue class will be offered on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River near West Glacier from June 7-9.

West Glacier rafting outfitter Wild River Adventures is hosting the two-and-a-half day class, which is designed and taught by the Whitewater Rescue Institute for novice river runners, guides and professional rescuers who want to be better prepared to respond to river emergencies. With higher river flows and flooding expected this spring and summer these classes are an opportunity for boaters to develop rescue skills and be better prepared for more challenging river conditions and accidents.

The Friday evening lecture and discussion portion of the class is free and open to the public.

“The initial emphasis of the class is to teach students how to recognize and avoid hazards so they don’t become victims,” says Mike Johnston, an instructor at the Whitewater Rescue Institute.

Students learn how to prepare for and prevent accidents, how to swim defensively and aggressively in whitewater, simple shore-based rescues and technical rope systems.

Students practice their skills while responding in small teams to a series of realistic scenarios that allow them to size up a scene and make rescue decisions in real-time. By practicing in the river students learn what equipment and techniques work and which ones are less effective. Students get hands-on practice with the most likely rescue scenarios Montana rivers offer such as rescuing conscious and unconscious swimmers, hypothermic victims, people stranded or entrapped, boat flips and pins, and situations with multiple victims who need help.

The three-hour lecture portion of this class is free to attend at Wild River Adventures in West Glacier Friday, June 7 at 6 p.m. The entire class is open to the public and no experience is necessary.

The course is certified through the Whitewater Rescue Institute which teaches river rescue and safety classes all over Montana and as far away as India and Costa Rica. Tuition is $335.

For more information or to register contact Montana River Guides at 406-214-0245 or visit www.montanariverguides.com.