Event Overview
Orientation to Cave Rescue is an awareness-level course providing introduction to topics critical to cave rescue operations. Topics covered include: cave environment, hypothermia, medical considerations, patient packaging, water problems, and patient/rescuer psychology. Elements of the Incident Command System, as it relates to cave rescue, will be discussed as well as: leadership/followership, logistics, communications, media interaction, search, and more. There will be both classroom and hands-on components on Saturday. On Sunday, students will participate in a mock cave rescue incident. Students should expect to be in class from 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM on Saturday and from 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM on Sunday.
This class is highly encouraged for cavers, emergency service personnel, and rescue management personnel.
Registration will open June 30th, 2025. Cost is $75.
Camping is available at the Great Saltpetre Cave Preserve at $10/night.
Registration opens Monday, June 30th, 2025 @ 12:00 EDT
Event Details
No personal caving equipment will be provided by Central Region.
Students are required to have the following items available for inspection at check-in:
• UIAA- or CE-approved climbing helmet with a three or four-point suspension system with nonelastic chinstrap
• Three sources of light - At least two must be electric, one helmet-mounted and an additional source capable of being
helmet-mounted while in the cave. All must be sufficient to allow safe exit from the cave. Carbide will NOT be allowed
when working near patients or in close quarters with groups of people, but is acceptable for use in other conditions.
• Rugged clothing and sturdy, lugged-sole boots, gloves, and a small heavy-duty pack for carrying necessary personal
gear underground.
• Water bottle (at least one quart) and high-energy snacks; you will burn more calories during cave operations than is
typical during a similar period of time on the surface.
Note: All cave gear/clothing must be cleaned in accordance with current local, state or federal White Nose Syndrome
decontamination standards, whichever is more stringent, before being allowed to enter the cave environment.
• Kneepads/elbow pads
• 20' of 1" tubular webbing
• Plastic garbage bag (contractor size works best)
• Wrist watch to be worn underground (cell phones for time
keeping aren’t recommended)
• Paper/pencil for underground use (e.g. small notebook
with golf pencil
• Container(s) for in-cave personal waste collection
• Read: A Guide to Responsible Caving (from the NSS)
The Great Saltpetre Cave Preserve ample tent camping space on the well-maintained grass around the facility.
Restrooms are available for all utilizing the property and showers and kitchen facilities are available for those
staying on the property overnight. A $10.00 per person per night fee is required for anyone staying on the
property overnight.
More information about the site is available here: https://gsp.caves.org/index.shtml
Camping dues may be paid onsite in cash or via donation through the link above.
