Instruction Philosophy

Rescue 3 International is an organization focused on providing practical, real world experience. To this end, all of Rescue 3's instructors are professionals working in the disciplines they teach. They include paramedics, firefighters, law enforcement officers, Search and Rescue team members, as well as river guides and military personnel. While Rescue 3's instructors come from a wide variety of fields, they all share the drive to save lives and teach others life saving techniques. The following few pages outline Rescue 3's philosophical viewpoint concerning rescue and rescue instruction, which applies equally to instructors, staff and students alike.

INTERRELATEDNESS OF DISCIPLINES

There are a number of rescue disciplines. These include dive rescue and recovery, tower rescue, trench rescue, cliff rescue, cave and mine rescue, swiftwater rescue, just to name a few. It is important to remember that none of these disciplines stands on its own. Rather, each has its own unique aspects while borrowing applicable techniques from other disciplines. For instance, both high rise and high angle rescue contain skills developed for vertical wall rescue, high rise firefighting, structural engineering, heavy rescue, dirt cliff rescue and many more.

INSTRUCTORS AND STUDENTS

A. Rescue instructors must be actively involved in what they teach. The old adage which says "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach" cannot be applied to a field where things are certain not to go by the book. Rescue is something that requires a combination of knowledge and experience, and therefore must be taught by someone who has actually experienced what he or she is teaching. Additionally, instructors must continually research and develop their skills, both through their own initiative and by exchanging information with other knowledgeable professionals. Active involvement is the first key in being a competent rescue instructor.

B. It is essential that rescue instructors impress upon their students that successful rescues are a mixture of four things:

1. Experience
2. Judgment
3. Practice
4. Training

Because rescue instructors only provide training, students must continue to practice their skills and refresh their training if they expect to be proficient following training. Therefore, after an instructor has trained a student in a particular skill, the rescue instructor no longer has responsibility for that student's knowledge if the student agrees that they understand the skill. To assure that both the instructor and student agree that the student comprehends the skill, Rescue 3 utilizes a mutually signed skill sheet, similar to that used by pilots, SCUBA divers and paramedics.

Rescuers are advised to maintain a record of their training and experience, as time-consuming as that may be. A bound volume, with proper narratives and maps, will serve as a memory refresher in the event of legal problems, as well as proof of ongoing training and expertise. This proof can be instrumental during litigation, and the rescue instructor may request to see it before contributing to the defense. The bottom line is that training in and of itself is not enough. Practice and experience are vital to being a proficient and competent rescuer.

C. Both students and instructors should always be open to constructive criticism and new techniques. Even seasoned instructors always have room for improvement and many valuable rescue methods have been developed by students during rescue classes. The idea is to share ideas constructively in a forum where everyone feels safe to share ideas.

D. There is no one way to do any kind of rescue. Rescuers should avoid the dogmatic approach, and instructors are obliged to expose and train students in as many different skills and possible scenarios as they can. Protocols are acceptable only if they allow rescuers the discretion to use their best judgment at the scene.

E. The nature of rescue training is such that when a student completes rescue training he/she is not considered to be a proficient rescuer. Like a rookie cop or fireman, a rookie rescuer should acknowledge the need for further experience and training. If a student completes a rescue class and then considers himself a competent rescuer, that student is in for a rude awakening and the rescue instructor has done him a disservice. Rescue is not something that can be seen once and then done. It requires a professional attitude and dedication to self improvement and consistent practice.