Date/Time
Date(s): 03/07/2020 - 03/08/2020
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Location
Trinity River
Barn Hill Road
Shepherd, TX 77371

Instructor(s)
Wes Meyer

Contact Email: lynn.may@texsar.org

RTI is conducting a Rescue Training International (RTI) FRBT 1 Course (FAST Rescue Boat Technician 1) for TEXSAR members needing to get certified in FRBT, for those who took RBO/FRBT 1 within the last three years and need to recertify, and those who are currently certified and who wish to audit. It will be a 2-day, 16-hour course covering operations, safety, boat construction and orientation, maintenance and care, start-up procedures, boat crew assignments, equipment, command and control driving skills, rescue and recovery concepts including alongside, throw lines, drag lines, deployed swimmer and advanced tethered swimmer. Boat handling skills to bring the boat and crew within safe approach under stressful situations in static or slow-moving floodwaters. You must attend all segments to get a complete certification, but lower level certifications are available if you do not complete all of it.

This certification is required of all TEXSAR personnel to do any operations in a boat. FAST 1 is a prerequisite for RBO/FRBT. If you have accrued scholarship funds by assisting with fundraisers or other extra TEXSAR work, you have the opportunity to apply those funds to this class (you can check your scholarship fund balance in your SIMS profile).

The normal cost of the class is $250, but the price is variable depending on certain factors:

• $212.50 – New certifications for TEXSAR members
• $125.00 – Recertifications (must have a current RBO/FRBT 1 cert)

If you’re not needing to recertify and have already completed the course within the last three years, you may audit for free, but you will still need to register for the class.

IMPORTANT – If you cannot make the class and do not cancel your registration before materials have been ordered (usually within two weeks of the class), the cost of the class is non-refundable.

Schedule:

• The FRBT 1 course is normally taught in a two-day format, 0800-1700. There is no night training.
• Day 1 Morning – Lecture and boat orientation, mechanics, and prepping for launch
• Day 1 Afternoon – In water driving and intro to skills
• Day 2 – All skills day in water

Required PPE:

• USCG Approved PFD Type III or Type V (Preferred Type V Rescue with Tethered Swimmer belt)
• Water or vertical rescue helmet (we suggest vertical helmets) – bicycle helmet will suffice
• Hard sole wetsuit boot or tennis shoes. NO open toes, open heels, open sides, open middle or sandals of any sort. Feet must be completely covered. The only opening should be the one your foot enters the shoe through.
• Swimsuit appropriate for professional training in public

Suggested Items:

• Sunscreen
• Water in plastic bottles

DO NOT BRING:

• Glass or Styrofoam near the water.

Class Rules:

• No physical horseplay
• No throwing items (this includes rocks, sticks or other objects during class time)
• No smoking while wearing or within 10 ft of any of the PPE. This includes other personnel’s gear.
• No dipping during skills training or while in the water.
• Cell phones on silent during class. Answering phones is discouraged.
• Successful completion of this course requires promptness.

We will have some extra gear available for use if needed. You must provide your own footwear, and we have limited wetsuits, but we typically have plenty of PFD’s and helmets, or you can borrow one from another member in your division. List your wetsuit size in the comments if you need to borrow one, and please do not go out and buy gear without checking with us for recommendations or team preference first. All gear is available for purchase at Rescue Gear/Tom’s Dive and Swim in Austin, at a reduced price. The gear list is in the SIMS Library section. Please, do not inundate Tom’s Dive with wetsuit rental questions for several weeks. They have plenty on hand, and you’ll just need to call in a week or two before class to reserve the size you need.

Registration