Polygon Singing Rock is expanding its offerings to include internationally recognized technical rope rescue training in accordance with ITRA (International Technical Rescue Association) standards. Rescuers, firefighters, and industrial climbers can now earn an internationally recognized certificate right here in the Czech Republic, without having to travel abroad for training. This new development comes at a time when the number of rescue operations at heights, over open depths, and in hard-to-reach terrain is on the rise—and with it, the demands on the preparedness of response teams.
What is ITRA and why does the standard matter?
The International Technical Rescue Association is an international organization that promotes globally recognized safety procedures in technical rescue. It also provides independent verification and evaluation of instructors and rescue workers themselves. As a result, graduates can be confident that their skills meet international standards, and employers together with unit commanders know what to expect from a certified professional.
Rope rescue often takes place in areas inaccessible to conventional equipment: on cliffs, utility poles, in industrial facilities, caves, or over open depths. Any error in the rope system has a direct impact on both the rescuer and the injured person. That is why ITRA emphasizes a combination of theory, intensive practical training, and a final skills assessment.
Why the launch of the ITRA training course at Polygon Singing Rock is important
- International certification – Czech rescue workers and technicians will earn a qualification with international recognition.
- Fully equipped facilities – Polygon Singing Rock has long time been among the best-equipped training centers for work at heights and over open depths.
- Emphasis on hands-on training – most of the 32 hours of training consist of rope work and handling an injured person on a stretcher, culminating in a final exam.
- Unified system – a common standard facilitates cooperation among emergency response units, industrial climbers, and mountain and cave rescue teams.
What ITRA training includes
ITRA training is divided into three technical levels. Each level builds on the previous one, progressing participants from personal skills to leading an entire rescue operation.
Level 1 – Rope Rescue Technician
The foundation for anyone who wants to pursue a career in rope rescue. Training takes place on sloped terrain.
- independent movement on a rope and self-rescue
- basic knots and belaying
- working with an injured person on a stretcher on sloped surfaces
- simple extrication techniques
Level 2 – Intermediate Rope Rescue Technician
Transition to vertical environments and working with more complex systems.
- advanced rope rescue techniques
- construction and operation of more complex rescue systems
- vertical transport of stretcher
- more complex team procedures
Level 3 – Rope Rescue Technician Advanced
Complex rescue operations in horizontal, diagonal, and open spaces.
- team leadership and mission planning
- complex systems and multiple belays
- horizontal and open-space stretcher transport
- handling dynamic situations and crisis management
Who Is This Training For
The course is intended for professional rescue workers, firefighters, and emergency response teams; workers at heights and over open depths; and members of mountaineering, caving, and tactical teams. It is suitable for anyone who needs to safely transport an injured person using rope systems. Level 1 does not require prior experience; higher levels build upon completion of Level 1 or Level 2, or their equivalents.
The launch of ITRA training at the Singing Rock Polygon will enable:
- faster training of qualified rope rescuers
- standardization of procedures across units and teams
- greater safety for both responders and those being rescued
You can register here; further details will be provided directly at the training.
POLYGON Singing Rock thus reaffirms its position as a leader in training for work at heights and brings to the Czech Republic a standard that is considered a benchmark of quality in the world of rope rescue.
