IVR Recovery Camp 2012

The IVR is holding the UK’s first ‘Recovery Camp’, to be held in Leicestershire from 18th to 23rd March.

The five day/night advanced training event will give experienced recovery operators the opportunity to achieve ‘IVR Master Recovery Technician’ status, at bronze, silver or gold level. Following completion of the course, candidates will receive a certificate to confirm their level of achievement plus a hi-viz vest emblazoned with the IVR MRT emblem, a T shirt and an embroidered patch. A maximum of twelve attendees will have an opportunity to achieve various VR Modules within the course, including VR21 Recovery Incident Manager. Only when attendees have been confirmed, and modules requested, will modules to be included be announced.

The mornings will consist of theory sessions for winching calculations etc. plus brainstorming sessions, the rest of the time will be hands-on practical training, including driving training, followed by a debrief each evening. The course will include numerous differing recovery scenarios including the recovery of fully loaded overturned commercial vehicles.

Each attendee must bring a recovery vehicle, or recovery equipment as required plus a casualty vehicle. This will enable the course to have access to twelve recovery systems and twelve casualty vehicles.

The IVR training team also plans to invite various recovery equipment manufacturers/suppliers and will ask them to carry out a short presentation showcasing the latest innovations and equipment. This will enable the attendees to have a chance to see, and hopefully use, the equipment in real life situations.

There will also be input from Fire & Rescue teams, Accident Investigation Police Officers and possible ‘hot fire training’ from Fire Personnel. As well as the obvious technical side of Recovery Camp there will also be a great deal of emphasis on working together and socially some healthy competition. Attendees will be divided into two teams of six, each with a team leader. Apart from the recovery challenges there will be other evening team events such as karting and paintballing. On completion of the course each person will nominate a ‘Best Team Member’ from each team, the winner from each team will then receive a special award.

Each team member must commit to remain on site for the duration of the course, this is a condition of attendance and not an option. Shower and toilet facilities will be available on site with an area for caravans, camping etc. plus parking for those wishing to utilize their truck cabs.

Participants will be asked to bring food and drink with them and the teams will take it in turns to cook, with Team A cooking breakfast and Team B cooking Dinner – the next day the roles will be reversed. Gas BBQs, Cadacs and microwave ovens will be available.

This is an opportunity for the country’s top operators to share ideas and learn new techniques to enable rapid scene clearance at the roadside. If it is well subscribed and further funding is made available it may become an annual event. But for now it is very much a one off, a not to be missed experience.’

The cost of the course is being subsidised by the IVR, enabling the fee per person to be held at £500 + VAT (VR Module Certification costs will be in addition to the course cost.)

To apply to attend the Recovery Camp potential participants must firstly complete an application form. Applicants will then be short listed to the final twelve on a first come first served basis, according to experience and ability.

The course is for experienced operators only and applications will only be accepted from those who carry out both heavy and light recovery on a regular basis.

For more information or to request an application form please contact Nick Ovenden at nickovenden@ashfordgroup.co.uk