Learning outcome

After successfully completing the course, the candidate will have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence.

Knowledge

The candidate has knowledge of:

• Advisory and leadership roles in the case of accidents
• Accidents: their causes, the sequence of events and consequences
• Accident response on glaciers: access, stabilization and rescue using extensive pulley systems
• Dealing with accidents on rivers.
• Accident handling of capsized small utility boats, as well as man-overboard situations
• VHF, emergency beacons, distress rockets and life rafts
• Rescuing members of the group in the event of climbing accidents: access, stabilization and rescue using various lifting systems
• More complex searches in avalanches
• Using manual and electronic search methods in avalanches
• Large-scale avalanche accidents involving coordination between public agencies and voluntary organisations
• First aid related to drowning and hypothermia
• First aid related to shock and fall injuries
• First aid in the case of avalanches
• First aid related to emotional problems
• Organized rescue services in various natural environments

Skills

The candidate can:

• Rescue an injured person from a fall in a glacier crevasse
• Rescue people in difficulty from rivers
• Right a capsized utility boat and bail out the water

• Rescue a man-overboard

• Use VHF, emergency beacons, distress rockets and a life raft
• Rescue companions in climbing accidents: first and second-man falls, changing belaying points/freeing the belaying point, prusik
• Use manual and electronic search methods when searching avalanches
• Searching for multiple avalanche victims and deeply-buried victims
• Carry out lifesaving first aid
• Carry out emotional first aid

General competence

The candidate has:

• The ability to handle accidents related to various activities in different natural environments
• Knowledge of safety, risk and consequence analysis during rescue work
• The ability to handle their own and group safety during rescue work
• The ability to organize and lead groups during rescue work
• The competence to cooperate with organized rescue services in various natural environments
• Expertise regarding accidents and their causes, the sequence of events and consequences

Course Description

• Accidents: their causes, the sequence of events and consequences
• Leadership in accident situations
• Managing accidents on glaciers, and rescuing an injured person
• Managing accidents on rivers, and SRT
• Managing accidents on the coast, including capsized vessels and man-overboard situations
• Managing accidents on cliffs, including first- and second-man falls
• Managing accidents in the case of avalanches, rescuing several buried persons and deeply buried avalanche victims
• First aid
• Emotional first aid
• The organized rescue services

Teaching and Learning Methods

• 5 lectures
• 15 days with supervisor
• 10 days of practical training, at least 5 of them with 1st/2nd year students
• 2 seminars

Assessment Methods

The course requires 100% compulsory participation in practical activities. The portfolio assessment consists of one portfolio for each type of natural environment. Two portfolios will be selected for grading. The course grade is awarded on a descending scale using letter grades from A to E for passes and F for fail. Other course components will be assessed on a pass/fail basis. All the course components must be assessed as passed in order to gain a passing mark for the course.

The assessment methods are designed to assess the candidate's knowledge, skills and competence, and ability to communicate the subject; please refer to the learning outcomes above.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean