To the Rescue

This weekend I am relishing the opportunity to get stuck into a Rescue course. It seems ages since I have instructed one but I hadn't forgotten how much fun they could be particularly when you get a really good crowd and this weekend I have that good fortune. Good news as I needed a lively bunch as I find myself not sleeping well at present.

As a bonus I am working with Colin and Graham our Assistant Instructors and it has been a shamefully long time since I had that chance.
We have ended up with six people on the course in one way or another and they are already gelling well which might explain why having returned to the centre at gone five, we left Gary to mind the store and managed to spend a considerable time in the pub discussing the days proceedings and enjoying the warm evening air.

So far we have managed to pack a lot into one day and it has to be fair that I am already putting all the students through their paces. The course always starts with a review of self rescue skills mostly taken from Open Water. It is always amazing to me how many incidents can be avoided by simply putting into practice set procedures to ensure that are eliminating risk before you get under water.


Having revised and practiced cramp removal we seemed to have sparked a couple of actual cramps as people got used to the pool temperature. Good timing I would suggest.


Colin and Graham relished their role playing and have lost none of the ability to become convincing panicked divers. A few friendly dunkings were in order and I believe that the students, one and all will be far more wary as a result.

As is often the case on the rescue course the name of the game is teamwork. We have all today seen the importance of both working as a team, trusting each other and taking time to assess and control responses to emergency situations. I always prefer to see a group stay together throughout the whole course through both Confined Water and Open Water sections because the team bonding that occurs is so beneficial and always assists learning. Try as we might this can't happen with this group and it does look like we will have to accommodate some different Open Water dates.

Tomorrow we tackle lifts and unresponsive diver situations and while I am writing this I am sure that the students are all completing their emergency plans and I am really looking forward to seeing them in the morning.

I will always remember my own rescue course a great fun alongside the course I taught for Colin and Graham. I am pleased to report we are working in the same league. What a great day.