The British Canoeing Paddle Sport Safety and Rescue Course (PSRC) course is intended for all paddlers, coaches, and volunteers, irrespective of craft or discipline choice, and is available in either bank-based or boat-based options. This replaces the previous FSRT course.

Canoe Trail offers training on key rescue skills needed to operate safely and deal with common emergencies in a sheltered water environment. These skills form the foundations for safety and rescue throughout the British Canoeing Awarding Body awards. The Paddlesport Rescue and Safety Course (PRSC) is the replacement for the previous FSRT (Foundation Safety and Rescue Training Course).

Canoe Trail is an approved provider of the qualification and has practical experience of rescues from years of experience. Our courses provide access to our professional coaching team and tutors, the very best kit on the market with SilverBirch canoes, Red Paddle Co boards, and a wide range of craft. More than that it is Canoe Trail’s award-winning style making padding accessible with a friendly and welcoming approach keeping it safe, fun, and sharing learning. The PSRC is a prerequisite for the Paddle Sports Instructor (PSI) course and must be completed at least 2 weeks before the PSI course. More than that the PSRC  is a great intro to all things safety for paddlers taking to the water providing confidence and skills to deal with a range of scenarios and incidents. You can download and read the Syllabus here: PSRC syllabus

PSRC (Paddlesports Safety and Rescue) Course Contents

The objective of the PRSC course is to introduce simple and safe skills that can provide the tools to problem solve simple common paddling scenarios in flat/sheltered water in kayak, canoe or SUP. Participants will learn:

• Skills which will enable them to ensure the safety of themselves and others
• Appropriate rescue skills which can be used to help themselves and/or others in difficulty

Why take the Paddlesport Safety and Rescue course (PSRC)?

First of all, this award is all about keeping safe on your craft in sheltered water venues, this includes canoes, kayaks and stand up paddleboards. So, whether you are paddling with friends or your club, this practical course is packed with safe practical solutions. It doesn’t matter about your age or whether you have limited paddling experience, this course supports your knowledge and raises your awareness of your personal safety.

If you needed any more convincing, the course is completely based around training and raising awareness, with no assessment. Structured to support you, our experienced tutors will ensure you have plenty of time practising, as well as understanding how you can develop skills and experience after the course.

The course takes around 6 hours and will cover 6 modules:

• Clothing and Equipment
• Safety frameworks
• Contact and Towing rescues
• Self-rescues
• Deep water rescues
• Reflection and development

There will be opportunities to develop and progress your rescue skills and meet like-minded people during the course. Many of our course candidates develop long lasting friendships, connections and contacts.

Paddle Sports Rescue and Safety and Rescue Training Overview

Minimum age: There is no age restriction for the course. Under 18’s can complete coaching and instructor qualifications however they can not run their own sessions until over 18.

Duration: 6 hours of training time with the day scheduled to last 7.5 hours in total allowing time for working on skills, providing support and admin time.

Venue: Sheltered water, calm conditions.

Prerequisites

• Able to swim in normal paddling clothing suitable for the prevailing conditions
• Boat-based candidates must also:
  • Have paddling skills at the current Paddle Explore Award,
  • Discover / 2 Star Award, or be of equivalent ability due to the paddling environment
  • the boat control required to complete the course

A First Aid certificate is not a prerequisite. However, holding a First Aid certificate is strongly recommended for all paddlers.

Good knowledge of practical issues that paddlers may face.
Course Documents
To view the associated documents with this course, click here.

Canoe Trail can provide access to all equipment required for the course.

Equipment

The following is a list of recommended equipment required for the participant in this course to have:
-  Towline OR tow system;
-  Throwline;
-  Webbing (sewn or unsewn sling) and large karabiner;
-  Whistle;
-  Knife.

We have all this equipment available if needs be and you can talk to our coaches to hear their views on the best kit.

The course aims to allow the participants to experience a range of equipment, and to teach/coach the participant in ways to use the equipment as well as improvised systems.

Syllabus and Course content

The course will cover 6 key modules -

Clothing and Equipment - what to wear, safety equipment and best practice

Craft overview, safety considerations and features
Clothing and equipment worn
Additional safety equipment

Safety frameworks - Developing an understanding of the wider environment, staying safe, rescue protocols and summoning help

Sheltered water environment and weather considerations
Safety principles
Rescue protocols
Calling for help

Contact and Towing rescues - introduction to different towing options, top tips and more

Assisting swimmers
Towing systems
Recovering equipment

Self-rescues - different skills and techniques for self rescues

Self-rescues
Assisted self-rescues

Deep water rescues

Various craft from preferred craft
Techniques for getting swimmer out of the water
Multiple rescues
Unconscious / unresponsive rescues
Entrapped rescues

Reflections from the course

Reflections on own learning and areas for development;
Skills checklists

The Paddling environment

• Sheltered water
• calm conditions
• Not more than 50m from the bank (very sheltered water) and 200m from shore/bank (sheltered water)

*Dates may need to change at Canoe Trail's discretion; this will be notified in advance.