UK ISAR team including our USAR Medical Team (UMT) recently completed DEFRA Module 3 Water & Flood Rescue 5 day Technician Course in Gwynedd. The course was supported and funded by FCDO and combined classroom theory with practical exercises in moving water to enhance team readiness for flood and swiftwater incidents.
Course Overview
The Module 3 qualification is the UK standard for personnel operating in or near moving water. The five-day programme covered:
- Water dynamics, flood hazards and river hydraulics
- Rescuer safety and correct use of PPE
- Throw-line, contact rescue, and in-water techniques
- Boat and raft handling in moving water
- Rope systems and anchoring for water rescue
- Search techniques, scene management, and multi-agency communication
- Medical considerations for water casualties, including hypothermia management and evacuation
Through this FCDO-funded training, our team gained DEFRA Module 3 qualification, ensuring operational readiness for water and flood incidents. The team practiced cross-disciplinary teamwork with medical staff integrated into rescue scenarios and they enahnced capabilities in casualty extraction, hypothermia care, and river-based operations.
