Seminar Details
An Orientation to Cave Rescue (OCR) class is an introductory course designed to help cavers and agencies learn what's involved in a basic cave rescue and how to integrate their skills and work together. Students will be exposed to topics such as:
Saturday Morning and Early afternoon (Starts at 8:00 AM)
At the La Center Wheel Club Community Center. Address: 1000 E 4th St, La Center, Washington 98629
- The cave environment
- Basic Communications used in Cave Rescues
- ICS
- Patient Packaging
- What should be in your first aid kit
- Hypothermia
- Crack and Crevice
- And more!
Saturday Afternoon
- Patient movement in a litter
- We will finish by 6:00 PM on Saturday.
Sunday - starting at 9:00 AM
- Most likely in a lava tube, probably Lake Cave in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest
- A guided, practice rescue
- Our goal is to finish by 5:00 PM on Sunday.
Who Should Attend
- Cavers who are interested in rescue or being rescued
- EMTs, Paramedics, first responders who may be called upon in a local cave rescue
- Anyone else who has the interest or skills that may be of value
Who May Attend
While patient movement and in-cave activities require the ability to move under ones own power and the lift heavy loads, we welcome anyone interested in taking the course and will work to make accommodations. In general, parts of this are very physically demanding, involving carrying a laden litter and traversing uneven terrain.
**Note: You must be 18 years of age or older on the first day of the training to attend**
Seminar logistics
A list of required (in bold) and recommended equipment is listed here.
All gear must be properly decontaminated per White Nose Protocols prior to the start of class (https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/static-page/decontamination-information)
- Helmet: A UIAA or CE approved mountaineering style helmet with 3 or 4-point suspension and a non-elastic chinstrap is preferred
- Lights: Three dependable, independent sources are required. Each must be capable of getting you out of the cave and must provide ample light to see. Each should be rugged and at least two, preferably all three, must be helmet mountable
- Extra batteries for the lights: At least one set for each
- Clothing: Rugged, warm clothing. Caves are wet and muddy. The temperature in the cave is close to 40 degrees.
- Gloves: Leather or other rugged work gloves preferred
- Food: Quick energy, ready to eat like trail mix, candy bars, fruit, etc.
- Water: One liter water bottle required, two recommended
- Cave pack: Rugged pack capable of carrying your gear, food, layers, and some extra. Moisture sensitive items should be in a sealed container inside the pack
- Kneepads strongly recommended; soft ones (like volleyball kneepads) rather than hard plastic ones (like those used for rollerblading)
- Change of clothes for after the cave
- Garbage bags. 1 or 2 30-33 gallon size
- Personal first aid kit
- This is not a complete list, please ask if you have further questions.
If you need any of the equipment, please contact the organizers as soon as possible to see if loaner gear is available.
Covid Policy
This seminar will follow local and state COVID and Measles policies. If we cannot meet these requirements or keep participants safe, the class will be cancelled. Participants and staff are recommended to be fully vaccinated. Anyone with COVID and/or Measles symptoms should cancel their registration at any time for a full refund.
