Expert Instruction in Swiftwater Rescue, Wilderness First Aid & Technical Rescue
530.902.6122
Sierra Rescue Courses
Testimonials
California Search and Rescue had its first cohort attend SWRT-1 and SRT-A. Tim and Lynsey are amazing seasoned professional trainers with a knack for transferring critical knowledge in a clear and concise manner. I can’t lie, it was challenging and heck of a lot of fun.
Great course of instruction for swift water flood rescue. Liam and Kent were rock stars and books of knowledge. Highly recommend this course for those looking to add to there arsenal of technical boating skills!
I hosted a private Wilderness First Aid 16 hour course for family and friends. I am an emergency medicine physician, and I wanted my family and friends who do outdoor activities from trailer camping to multiday backcountry hikes and camping to get wilderness first aid training.
The course was excellent. The instructor, Lindsey, was very professional, humble, warm, and enthusiastic. She also was an awesome teacher taking the students, all nonmedical lay people ages 10 to adults, from zero medical experience to being able to do multi casualty first aid and triage.
I was so impressed at how much and how well the group of 6 people learned and applied to te multiple scenarios. Libdsey was able to provide immediate feedback and grow all of the participants in a nourishing manner to face traumatic and medical victims and start basic care and figure out who to evacuate.
She also gave the class practical methods and lists to apply to patient care and taught hiw to build IFAK. By the end of first day even the 10 y/o boy knew what items to pack and bring to a patient victim scenario.
Everyone was Wilderness First Aid certified, cpr certified, and epinephrine auto injector certified.
It should be a mandatory course for all families as the materials and concepts can be applied anywhere and would help improve safety and care for every family.
I had a great time getting re-certified in Wilderness First Aid last weekend! Not only was the class informative, it was also fun. Our instructor, Ryan Anderson, did an excellent job. He's a great instructor, who kept the class moving and entertaining, while interspersing his own stories and allowing us time to share as well. I learned a lot and would highly recommend him and Sierra Rescue International! Thanks again to Julie and Abigail Polsby - you and your entire team rocks!
I am going to introduce HoverArk water rescue drone to Sierra rescue International team , unman remote controled rescue robot .
Don Lester and Tim Warren were AMAZING for Swiftwater, So much knowledge gained in such little amount of time. I would recommend this class to ANYONE who is in and around water. Whether for hobby or work.
I highly recommend Sierra Rescue! Just took the SRT 1 class with Don Lester and Carson Lindsay and they were excellent! They knew their stuff and made the training fun and safe! Will be back soon! Thanks again to everyone at Sierra Rescue
Sierra Rescue is, from my experience, absolutely top notch. My main instructor, Don Lester, is quite simply an amazing human being. Is there anything he hasn’t done? He has done rescue in about every disaster around the globe. But none of that would matter if he weren’t able to teach. And that is what makes him exceptional—he can recognize how people learn differently and will adjust accordingly. Both Don and Julie Munger were great about making sure the course was pertinent to everyone’s needs. There were firefighters that needed the course for their job. There were guys that wanted a leg up when applying to various rescue-related jobs. Then there was me, a pudgy female city-slicker at the end of her 40’s that just wanted to be able to save animals as part of a Disaster Animal Response Team. Don was able to give the fire guys “real world” info while also showing the options and new methods that the “old guard” might not be hip to. But was also able to relate everything to animal rescue. Julie, who does a lot of large animal rescue, even brought out her (adorable) pup Wilma so I could run some scenarios with her— which Julie also made sure the rest of the class knew how to do— while also giving them info about the PET act which is pertinent to all rescuers/firefighters now.
The Swiftwater class was my first time in a rapid river and I was even less experienced in this realm that I was with rope rescue— but I never once felt unsafe. Nor did I feel any pressure to take part in any task that I thought was above my skill level. Multiple people had incorrect gear and we were all accommodated by Don giving us gear from his stash.
About the gear— it is in tip-top shape. Safety checks are mandatory for absolutely everything, which is, of course, as it should be.
The office & admin respond quickly to both phone and email and were pleasant while doing so. They give you all the instruction you need to get where you need to go, stuff to bring, things that are optional, etc.
It’s pretty amazing how well they accommodated everyone’s skill levels. I was pooped at the end of the day but so were all the super-strong firemen. We were all challenged, but at levels that were appropriate to each of us.
On top of that, Julie and Don are just fun, smart, good folks that are a blast to be around.
An A+ organization for sure. I flew out from NYC to California to take these classes, and I have absolutely no regrets. Well worth it!
The WFR course was everything I ever expected and MORE! The dynamic between my instructors was balanced, informational, and entertaining! Last but not least, the student bonding was incredible! Definitely an experience I’ll never forget! Love to Sierra Rescue!
There are few people on each as dedicated to their craft as Julie Munger and Abigail Polsby. They are rewriting the book on rescue. Practical, pertinent and to the point... I highly recommend their classes!
Jim Coffey
Rescue for River Runners/Esprit
I took Rescue 3 International´s SRT-I (Swiftwater Rescue Technician - Unit 1™) Course back in August 2009 through Sierra Rescue (Rescue 3 West) in Kern River, California. Excellent course and outstanding instructor. Recommended to all career open water lifeguards and water rescue firefighters who might have to deal with swiftwater/flood rescues.
I was very impressed with our instructors knowledge. I learned a lot and had a great time! Andrew Pierce and Taylor know their stuff. Super pros!
I took swift water with Liam...that guy is a wealth of knowledge...great energy...made the class a ton of fun!!!
Top notch training! I attended a swift water rescue course in Coloma, CA and my instructor was Liam O'Neil. His experiments and attention to detail is unparalleled. Highly recommend Sierra Rescue.
Just finished SRT1 with Don Lester and Carson Lindsay. Great instructors of the highest caliber and knowledge! Can't wait to take another course.
Just finished their 72 hour Wilderness First Respondercourse with Don Lester and Liam Oniell. Who are Great instructors who know there stuff.
A great investment for anyone who works in the outdoors, travels in the outdoors or lives in a remote area.
Just finished a WFR course with Don Lester, and Liam Oneill. Couldn't be happier with the knowledge and ability shared by these two!
Hard to describe the power of this course had for me. Excellent all around, Zach and Julie are terrific instructors, eloquent and powerful both.
I just completed the TRR/SRT1-A ten day combo course with John and Don. I had a blast! Awesome training!