Rescue specialist

Rescue specialists are highly skilled professionals capable of administering emergency pre-hospital care in the most difficult maritime conditions. Rescue specialists work in a dynamic, challenging and remote marine environments on board ships and coastal search and rescue stations.

Responsibilities

• rescuing and extracting casualties
• providing pre-hospital emergency care for patients and casualties resulting from:
  • medical evacuations
  • shipboard medical emergencies
  • maritime search and rescue incidents

  Training

  To become a rescue specialist, Coast Guard members must meet specific training requirements, including annual CPR and automatic external defibrillator (AED) recertification.

  Initial training takes place over 15 training days, or 120 hours. It includes:

  • Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) or Advanced Medical First Responder Level 2
  • competencies specific to the Coast Guard Rescue Specialist working environment

  Members in training will be evaluated in simulations, practical skill tests and with a written exam.

  • patient assessment
  • spinal immobilization
  • communications with medical personnel
  • hypothermia and cold water near-drowning
  • diving injury recognition and field treatment
  • marine disaster scene management and triage
  • rescue, extraction and transfer in a marine environment

  Rescue specialists are trained to use equipment including:

  • stretchers
  • traction splints
  • first aid jump-kits
  • automatic external defibrillators
  • extrication and spinal immobilization tools

  Rescue specialist are also trained use specialized equipment to administer the following:

  • entonox
  • pharmaceuticals
  • oxygen and airways

  Re-certification requires 10 days of training (80 hours of training and 18 hours of course study and homework) every 3 years.

  Income and benefits

  Rescue specialists receive a monthly allowance on top of their regular salary. This allowance is specified in the appropriate collective agreement of the employee’s regular position.

  Hours of work

  Rescue specialists’ hours of work vary depending on their location and position. They usually work different shift work patterns based on their position on board ships or at stations.

  Ideal candidates

  The Coast Guard is looking for candidates who:

  • are proficient in:
    • communication
    • basic seamanship skills
    • effective problem solving
    • Coast Guard may accept employees from other groups upon recommendation from both the commanding officer and regional authority
    • Coast Guard may accept other categories of employee upon recommendation from both the commanding officer and regional authority
    • an advanced or higher level of first aid background is preferred

    We recommend that candidates also have Small Vessel Operator Proficiency (SVOP) and Rigid Hull Inflatable Operator Training (RHIOT).