2027 South-Central Regional NCRC Seminar

Event Description:

This seminar consists of extensive classroom and fieldwork in all phases of cave rescue including underground environment, vertical rescue, hauling systems, extrication techniques, medical management, communication systems, and the organization and management of cave rescue operations.  Basic and advanced course material is presented for students who typically include cavers, emergency service personnel, and emergency managers.

The Level 1 and Level 2 courses provide approximately 80 hours of instruction over eight days.  The classes are physically strenuous and participants must be in good physical health.  Students should be prepared to work in difficult situations, both above and below ground.  Each student must demonstrate his or her ability to ascend (on rope) 30 meters, change over, rappel part way down, tie off a descender, correct a jammed descender, and then rappel safely to the ground as part of initial check-in skills.

Courses Offered

LEVEL 1 teaches current cave rescue and emergency management techniques, providing instruction in caving, basic rope work, litter rigging and transport, and incident command systems.  It is specifically designed to meet the various needs of agency personnel with little or no cave related experience, and Cavers with little or no rescue or medical experience.  Level 1 prepares the student to function as a cave rescue team member.  The Level 1 class is limited to 30 students.

LEVEL 2 prepares student to function as cave rescue team leaders. Participants in Level 2 must have successfully completed a NCRC Level 1 course within the past four years.  The Level 2 curriculum assumes that students have learned, retained, and practiced the skills taught in Level 1.   Students are taught more advanced techniques in medical management, vertical and horizontal rescue, team leadership, and incident management.  The Level 2 class is limited to 16 students.

VERTICAL SYSTEM WORKSHOP (Optional): This is your opportunity to practice personal single rope technique (SRT) skills prior to entry testing, and to prepare yourself for a more productive NCRC experience. Build and adjust a safe functional climbing system, fit and fine-tune your existing system, work on ascending techniques, and practice changeovers. This optional session is open to all registered students. It will be held the evening of Friday Jan 22nd from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Any student not absolutely confident in their personal SRT skills should plan to participate in this workshop.

SPAR (Small Party Assisted Rescue) is a Four-day class (Jan. 22-26) providing the participants with the opportunity to learn rescue techniques applicable for a typical caving group.  Common techniques include: converting typical cave rigging to lower a stranded caver, counterweighted systems, traveling haul systems, SRT pick-offs, etc.  High proficiency with your personal vertical system is critical and will be evaluated on the first day.  SPAR is limited to 12 students.

Additional Instructions:

Registration will open November 9 at 08:00AM