CADET CENTRE FOR ADVENTUROUS TRAINING (CCAT)
BASIC CAVING COURSE (BCC)
TRAINING OBJECTIVES (TOs), ENABLING OBJECTIVES (Eos) AND KEY LEARNING
POINTS (KLPs)
Training Objective - Knowledge
Enabling Objective
Key Learning Points
1. Demonstrate the
Aims of Cadet
Adventurous
Training.
 Definition of Cadet AT.
 Levels of Cadet AT.
 Outline the CCAT activities.
 Identify the CCAT Centre locations.
How
Cadet Aims AT Lecture
 Advertise CCAT website.
2. Demonstrate
knowledge of the
weather.
3. Apply access and
conservation laws
and guidelines.
4. Demonstrate
caving knowledge.
 Interpretation of a synoptic chart; frontal
systems, high and low pressure.
 Prevailing airstreams.
 Local environmental influences – lapse
rate, wind speed.
 Sources of weather information.
 Explain Countryside Code, CRoW Act,
Land Reform Bill.
 Access and egress – observe access
agreements and restrictions.
 National organisations working to
conserve the environment and heritage AONB, NP, NNR, SSSI, NT, CCW, ENH,
SNH, RSPB.
 An understanding of the Joint Service
and BCA scheme.
 An introduction into the following:
 History of caving and classic systems.
 Cave environment.
 Surface geology – limestone
development (glaciation and pavement).
 Underground geology – fossil, limestone
types and sediments.
 Cave development – phreatic & vadose
passages, breakdown chamber, joints
and bedding plains.
 Hydrology – flood pulses, sink holes,
resurgences, sumps, waterfalls.
 Speleothems – common formations.
 Flora and fauna – fish, bats and insects,
fungis, lichens.
 Cave grading systems and guide books.
 Cave Rescue Organisation (CRO).
Training Objective - Safety
Enabling Objective
Key Learning Points
1. Demonstrate an
understanding of risk
assessments.
2. Apply caving
hazards and safety
knowledge.
 Understand the principles - reasons and
procedures for conducting risk
assessments.
 Explain the differences between Generic,
Site Specific, Daily and Dynamic RAs
 Hazards in the caving environment:
 Slips and falls.
 Radon gas.
Weather Lecture
Access and Conservation
Lecture
Discussion Topic
How
Attend the daily instructor safety
briefing
Mountain Hazards Lecture
3. Demonstrate an
understanding of
emergency
procedures.
 Rock falls.
 Weather – wind chill, temperature, poor
visibility, heat stress.
 Water – emersion, flooding, drowning,
pollution, temperature,
moving water
speed.
 Navigation errors.
 Weils disease.
 Contaminated air.
 Temperature fluctuations.
 Draughts in caves.
 Human hazards:
 Planning and preparation.
 Causes, signs, treatment and prevention
of heat/cold injuries.
 Equipment misuse.
 Illness.
 Drowning.
 Swimming/wading – buoyancy.
 Entrapment and tight squeezes.
 Getting lost:
 Stop, think, observe plan.
 Relocate –nearest known point.
 Use of whistle and torch.
 Correct distress signal procedures.
 Exit.
 Cold victim:
 Remove from hazard.
 Shelters - group and individual.
 Warmth – fluid/food/clothing, candle,
stove.
 Self rescue, emergency communication
procedures – whistle, light or call out
procedure.
 Entrapment:
 Reassure.
 Remove equipment.
 Retreat.
 Flooding:
 Sumps.
 Ducks, deep water, water falls.
 Injuries:
 Remove from hazard.
 Apply 1st Aid.
 Enact call out procedure if necessary.
 Equipment failure – lighting.
 Tired caver – rest, reassurance, fluid,
shelter, warmth, exit.
 Emergency bivouacs – use of group
shelter and bivvi bags.
4. Demonstrate an
understanding of an
emergency shelter.
Training Objective - Skills
Enabling Objective
Key Learning Points
1. Demonstrate
 Surface:
navigational skills.
 O/S Maps.
 Compass.
 Navigation skills – bearings, pacing,
conventional signs, orientation, grid
references.
Practical Lesson
How
Practical Lesson
 Underground:
 Surveys – types and grades.
 Interpretation of hazards from survey.
 Compass.
 Symbols.
 Cross section, elevation and plan views.
 Navigation skills – orientation, tick off
features, relate symbols to features.
2. Demonstrate
Demonstrate an ability to tie the following
tying knots
knots:
 Figure 8 on the bight.
 Over hand knot on the bight.
 Rethreaded figure of 8.
 Rethread overhand knot.
 Italian hitch.
3. Demonstrate cave  Walking, stooping, crawling and wading.
journeying skills.
 Security on steep ground blocking and
spotting, scrambling, traversing, use of insitu equipment, anchor selection, use of
knots and techniques – Italian hitch, single
rope and drop loop haul, assisted hand
line, knotted rope, coiling and uncoiling,
rope bag use.
Training Objective - Equipment
Enabling Objective
Key Learning Points
1. Apply clothing and  Clothing:
equipment
 Wicking layer.
knowledge.
 Neoprene layer.
 Fleece.
 Outer suits
 Footwear – wellington boots.
 Individual equipment:
 Elbow and knee pads.
 Gloves.
 Helmets – design, safety and
maintenance.
 Lighting systems.
 Battery belt.
 Harness – design, safety and
maintenance.
2. Group equipment.
 Discuss the additional personal/group
equipment required at a caving venue:
 First aid.
 Group shelter.
 Bivvi bag.
 Torch and whistle.
 Hot drink and food.
 Emergency communications.
 Spare clothes.
How
Practical Lesson
Discussion Topic