Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Questions
Click on the questions below to see the answers.

Why should I choose WAVE over other providers?
What is a custom course and how do I set one up?
What are the advantages to a custom course?
What is the NFPA, does it apply in Canada?
What is the difference between awareness, operations and technician level training?
Why is NFPA compliance important?
What is Wilderness Medicine?
Does WAVE sell equipment?

Q: Why should I choose WAVE over other providers?
A: We take pride in all of our programs and believe that by participating in a WAVE program you are getting the best of the best of rescue services and programming.

There are a number of things that set WAVE apart in comparison to our competition and that have led to our successes.

WAVE works together with other organizations within the community to foster the growth and development of globally recognized and applied standards and protocols to make sure you have the most comprehensive training and certification available.
We customize each experience to ensure our customers receive the most relevant services to reflect their working environment.
We continually exceed the expectations of program participants by providing a package with a refreshingly new, interactive and creative delivery which will prove to not only increase the participant’s ability to apply the skills but also lend to a truly enjoyable training experience.
We offer a wide variety of quality programming to make it easier for our clients to source courses by limiting the amount of providers you require to meet all of your training needs.
Above all it is our quality of instruction that truly sets us apart. We spend a tremendous amount of time selecting and training our instructors. All of our instructors are certified and have real world experience.

Q: What is a custom course and how do I set one up?
A: Custom courses make up the bulk of our business. Most of the training we offer are courses that we have set up specifically for a particular organization. Any of the courses you see listed on our site can be set up as a custom course. To set up a custom course all you need to do is contact out office. The number of people to set up a custom course depends on which course you are looking for. Typically we require a minimum of 10 people for a custom course.

Q: What are the advantages to a custom course? :
A: Some of the many advantages to a custom course are:

you get to choose the location which is not only convenient but you will save on travel costs
You choose the dates. Work the training you need around your schedule;
We offer discount pricing for groups;
you will receive a free consultation with one of our programming specialists to ensure we not only meet your needs but customize the training to your specific needs, equipment and environment;
Our instructors will adapt to the unique needs at your work site and provide a free site safety analysis.

Q. What is the NFPA and how does it apply in Canada?
A: The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is an American organization that develops codes and standards in all areas of fire-rescue. While not mandated by law, many agencies choose to follow the NFPA’s standards in order to ensure effectiveness and limit liability. For 10 years, the NFPA 1670 and 1006 Standards have established minimum guidelines for operations and training for technical search and rescue incidents. The standards cover a wide variety of disciplines, including rope rescue, surface water rescue, vehicle and machinery rescue, confined space rescue, structural collapse rescue, and trench rescue. The 1670 Standard establishes general guidelines for assessing hazards, identifying levels of operational capabilities, and establishing response guidelines and training documentation. The 1006 Standard defines the professional qualifications an individual must have in order to be considered a “rescue technician”, including a formal assessment by an independent third party. To date, no Canadian agency has taken the lead in developing similar standards and it is unlikely that such a project will be undertaken in the near future, given the existence and applicability of the NFPA standards. The NFPA standards for technical rescue incidents are rigorous and complete. They have emerged as the de-facto standard-of-care in the United States and Canada and their influence is spreading worldwide.

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Q. Why is NFPA compliance important?
A: By training to a consistently high standard, first responders can be sure their training provider is teaching what they need in order to do their jobs effectively, efficiently and most of all, safely. In addition, a consistent standard for training ensures that first responders are able to work together in a streamlined manner on inter-agency callouts and major disasters.

Q: What is the difference between awareness, operations and technician level training?
A: Technician level training is the standard for any professional who is working in on or around moving water, on surface ice, or in low to high angle environments. Our technician level courses are considered the "legal standard of care" in Canada for professionals. Operations level training provides you with the abilities to function near the “hot zone” under the supervision of a technician. Awareness level training is only for those who will not get closer than 10 ft to the edge of moving water, ice or the edge of a slope of cliff.

Q: What is Wilderness Medicine?
A: Wilderness medicine, including the application of first-aid, includes any context that involves patient care in extreme environments, when resources may be limited or non-existent, and evacuation to greater medical care may be hours, days or longer.
Applications of wilderness medicine may be in a remote corner of the planet, but also include environments such as urban disasters, severe weather conditions, multiple patients, police and military interventions or any situation that creates a context with minimal resources or extended scene patient management.

Q: Does WAVE sell equipment?
A: At this point we do not sell any equipment. Upon request we do put our clients in touch with the suppliers we use and can assist organizations in meeting their equipment needs.