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  Online Resources

  May/June 2026

Hello WSS student, 

It has come to our attention that CANVAS, our online program provider, is mitigating a hacking incident into their platform by an unauthorized party.  As a result, the program we intended to share with you is offline. 

In response we have created this page for you to complete prior to your in person training dates for WSS.

Download your WSS Manual here.

Read the student manual section associated with the video either before or after you watch the video, based on your learning style.  Content for the course final written exam is provides within the a mix of the manual and videos. Investment in both is required to complete our course and obtain a passing written exam grade of >70%.

Section Video Key Points (11 Videos)

Orientation to the Wilderness Swim Safety Course 

Students will not be expected to complete section quizzes in this format.  Expect that the written exam will be provided at the in person course. Review the content in the manual for Risk Awareness and Prevention Strategies. Chapter 1-2. 

**We encourage note taking as you prepare for the in person course and our course exam. 

Drowning – Review the content in the manual for Chapter 1.  

Prevention Strategies and Managing Aquatic Risk – Review the content in the manual for Chapter 2.  

Surveillance – Review the content in the manual for Chapter 3.  

Equipment and Shore Based Rescues – Review the content in the manual for Chapter 4.  

In Water Rescue – Review the content in the manual for Chapters 4, 5, and 6.  

Rescue Breathing and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation  – Review the content in the manual for Chapter 6.  

Extrication Methods and Contacting Emergency Medical Services – Review the content in the manual for Chapter 5.  

Search and Rescue/Search and Recovery  – Review the content in the manual for Chapter 3.  

Professionalism and Self Care – Review the content in the manual for Chapter 7.  

Expectations for the In Person Course – Completed homework assignments are required for certification.  Please bring paper copies of your homework assignments to our in-person onsite class. The course written exam will be provided onsite. Come prepared for cold water with thermal protection, snacks and water. 

Homework Assignments

1) Students are required to handwrite a simple 10 point safety briefing for using a natural body of water.  Review Chapter 2 in the course manual. Watch this short video on Site Selection and Safety Briefings.

2) Students are required to handwrite an emergency action plan or diagram for a fictitious or known-to-you backcountry swimming hole or backcountry lakefront that includes initial rescuer, secondary rescuer, bystander and group management as well as who will contact and meet 911. Review Chapter 5 in the course manual.  Watch this short Video on Emergency Action Plans.

**These two assignments are required, on paper and in hand when you arrive for our review session. 

Requirements for Wilderness Swim Safety certification:

  • 16 years of age at course start date.
  • Completion of reading and video assignments before the in person programming.
  • Completion of homework assignments before the in person programming.
  • Current certification in Wilderness First Aid or higher, and Adult/Child CPR and AED or higher.
  • Completion the review session and all student activities of the water portion of the program, including the swim skill assessment. 
  • Active, rapid, coordinated swimming for rescue and rescue skills in the final practical exam.
  • Completion of 70% or greater on the course written exam.

**Students who participate fully in the course but do not meet one of the following criteria will not receive certification, but will receive a certificate of participation. 

Expectations for the in-person program:

  • Review games and discussion of the course content from videos and the manual are provided. 
  • Required homework assignments: 1) your hand written emergency action plan and 2) your staffing briefing design of 10 points will be required for the review session activities.
  • We will practice improvising rescue tubes.
  • We will discuss the logistics, preparation, and details for the in-water skills day. 
  • Students will complete their final written exam on paper onsite at the course. 

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