SOUTHERN TECHICAL AQUATIC RESOURCE & RESCUE INC

ASHI is an association of health and safety educators that provide certification in CPR, First Aid, and other basic topics for laypersons and a variety of professionals. ASHI recognizes the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. The organization particularly focus on emergency preparedness and response, including business continuity issues, and first aid information such as CPR, AED, Basic First Aid, Emergency Medical Responder (Formerly known a 1st Responder), Wilderness First Aid, Emergency Oxygen Administration, and Child / Babysitting Safety.

ASHI CPR and FIrst Aid courses are based off the American Heart Association guidelines but are not accepted by most healthcare professionals or healthcare organizations. However, ASHI is accepted by the following industries:

Maritime (Merchant Marines)
Public Schools
Childcare Facilities
Community Associations
Electricians & Construction Agencies
Educators, Personal Trainers, and Coaches

Formed in 1975 is the nation's only organization solely dedicated to representing the professional interests of all EMS practitioners. NAEMT goals are to help facilitate the transformation of the emergency and mobile healthcare profession as an essential, data-driven, patient-centered, integrated component of the nation's healthcare system. In addition, NAEMT identifies the evolving educational needs of the emergency healthcare professionals and develops, implements, and promotes educational programs to meet those needs.

NAEMT began educating EMS practitioners in the late 1980's with the introduction of Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) and Dr. Norman McSwain (1938-2015). As research continued, the focus that trauma and shock increased the mortality rates, Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support for First Responders (TFR) rolled out. Then in 1999, NAEMT rolled out the first course of its kind - Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS) education program. Soon after in 2001, the roll out of Pediatric Pre-hospital Care (PPC) which was in 2007 reintroduced as Emergency Pediatric Care (EPC). After the Active Shooter incident in 2013 at Sandy Hook, a new educational course called Bleeding Control of the Injured (B-Con) was introduced to enhance survivability from active shooter events and intentional mass casualty events.

Today, NAEMT is the largest professional association for EMS professionals in the United States.

"What have you done for the good of mankind today? Because our patients did not choose us but rather we chose them. Therefore, we must be ready to treat our patients by learning form our experiences and the science provided by pre-hospital research." Dr. Norman McSwain (1938-2015)

Courses Include:
All Hazards Disaster Response
Advanced Medical Life Support
Bleeding Control (General Public)
Emergency Pediatric Care
Geriatric Education for EMS
Law Enforcement First Responder - Tactical Casualty
Care
PreHospital Trauma Life Support
Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC)
Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC)
Trauma First Response

Every year more and more water related deaths are reported. In 2011 there were over 1,500 drownings reported. Out of those 1,500, 620 were children and approximately 70% being related to pools or outside bodies of water. When looking at natural disasters, in 2005 Hurricane Katrina majorly impacted the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Its power was also seen when water over-came man-made protection levees and flooded the City of New Orleans. This disaster caused more water related deaths than any other natural event in previous years. In 2011, Mother Nature once again showed her fury with massive flooding on the Mississippi River that affected several states including Mississippi and Louisiana where thousands of water rescues were performed. Then in 2012, Hurricane Isaac, a category I hurricane, impacted Mississippi and Louisiana once again with major flooding to areas that had not seeing flooding of this type in more than 100 years.

Over the last 10 years, scientist have predicted that water levels will continue to rise thus creating more water related events that will need highly trained individuals in order to perform difficult water rescues. While climate change has been researched for almost a decade, NOAA released a statement to the press in late 2012 that the ice caps are melting faster than previously predicted. According to the NOAA report, water levels worldwide will gradually increase to approximately 5 feet by the year 2100. That is approximately 2-3 feet by 2063. What does this actually mean? If you take a look at Florida, more than 107 cities will be inundated by water if and when the sea level rises 3 to 5 feet. This will not be the only state drastically affected; Louisiana will have 65 cities inundated with water with the same amount of rise.

As disasters increase, we as rescue personnel need to have education and knowledge of hydrology, as water is a powerful tool usually underestimated by responders and resulting in more deaths. These water rescue courses were designed, developed, and implemented by experienced individuals in water rescue and in accordance with NFPA 1006, 10212 and 1670 Standards, taught and upon successful completion, to enhance and improve water rescues.

STARR like most water rescue training companies use the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards as a foundation guideline to provide students and instructors with the information and knowledge through research to help save lives and reduce loss. Our water rescue program also provides the mandated training required to be a Federal Emergency Management Agency Swiftwater/Flood Rescue team member at all levels. In addition, STARR has developed a all inclusive water rescue program whereby the classes are taught in accordance with a Program Administration Manual (PAM), using visual (spatial), Aural (auditory), Verbal (linguistic), and physical (kinesthetic) methods of teaching, then each student is tested on their knowledge retention through written and practical testing stations. After the course is completed each student must fill out an instructor / course evaluation form which helps STARR ensure the water rescue courses and instructors are maintaining a high level of training education.

Successful completion of the water rescue course means each student receives not only a Certificate but a certification card with photo to ensure continuity of security. These certifications are good for 2 years and the student can retain the certification with a minimum amount of training either documented by their departments Training Officer or taking a formal refresher course through STARR.

Our instructors are not just water rescue technicians, but rather Certified International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) Fire Instructors ranging from level I to III, have been swift water technicians for over 10 years, trained as Emergency Medical Responders, are monitored annually by STARR's Training Coordinator, and completed the Water Rescue Instructor course. As an Instructor Candidate, they are expected to develop their personnel skills and knowledge not only through the training received but also through each assessment course. Furthermore, all instructor candidates must complete an individual Course Outline / Action Plan incorporating all required training objectives both Enabling and Learning.

Meanwhile ALL training records are maintained in a secure location for 5 years. Lastly, to confirm our water rescue training programs have the most up-to-date technical information our Advisory Committee and lnstructors reviews the water rescue programs every 5 years, using NFPA Standards and proven practices through the industry, to maintain a higher standard of training when there are NO 'National Guidelines' regarding Swiftwater/Flood Rescue training. STARR believe this is what makes our training different, unique, and better than most water rescue training programs when no 'true standards' in the industry exist.

Courses available:
Swiftwater Rescue Awareness
Swiftwater Rescue Operation
Swiftwater Rescue Technician
Rescue Boat Operations
Rescue Swimmer
Water Safety and Survival