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The National Cave Rescue Commission of the National Speleological Society presents

Orientation to Cave Rescue

February 10-11, 2001
Kula Kai Caverns
Ocean View, Hawai`i

Sponsored by Kula Kai Caverns, the Hawai`i Grotto of the National Speleological Society, and the Hawai`i Speleological Survey

 NCRC Logo


Course Overview

Class photo by John Chenger Orientation to Cave Rescue (OCR) is a weekend cave rescue course developed by the National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC) of the National Speleological Society. The purpose of the orientation is to provide training to cavers, emergency service personnel, and rescue management personnel in underground rescue operations. It also provides a medium for both cavers and agency personnel to work together and assist one another during a rescue. This increases the probability of a successful outcome in a cave related emergency. The underground environment provides unique problems in confined space, darkness, water, and cold. These difficulties can challenge the best of SAR teams. The orientation course introduces students to the problems - and solutions - that are a part of rescue in this unusual setting.


Underground Medical photo by John Hickman OCR is an introductory level program which consists of 16 hours of instruction in both classroom and field work through all phases of cave rescue.  Students receive classroom instruction and participate in field practice the first day. On the second day, they will participate in a mock cave rescue. Students will direct and participate in all phases of the rescue, providing a total learning experience. Within the NCRC training structure, the OCR is the first building block in training to nationally recognized standards of Level 1 (Team Member), Level 2 (Team Leader), and Level 3 (Rescue Management and Operations).


Communications photo by John Chenger The National Cave Rescue Commission is a volunteer organization developed to coordinate cave rescue resources throughout the United States, and to provide education and training in cave rescue operations.  The NCRC is a component of the Department of the Administrative Vice-President of the National Speleological Society. The NCRC is the only nationally recognized cave rescue organization. The Orientation to Cave Rescue Course is sponsored by Kula Kai Caverns, the Hawai`i Grotto of the National Speleological Society, and the Hawai`i Speleological Survey.




Thanks to John Chenger, John Hickman, and Cindy Reid for providing photographs of recent OCRs.