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PREREQUISITES
Current First Aid Certificate
REVALIDATION
A guide who holds the PTGA FSPBE award must shoot and log a minimum of 20 rounds of ammunition per annum using a firearm suitable for polar bear protection. This log to be submitted annually for inclusion in a guide ProFile. A guide who does not meet this is not considered valid but may revalidate using this means anytime within a 2 year period. Furthermore anyone holding this award must be assessed competent in sub-element 4.3 every 4 years.
SCOPE
Firearm Skills for Polar Bear Environments is a training syllabus relevant for any guides, field staff, scientists or personnel who guide people or work in polar bear environments individually or with groups of peers or clients who are required to carry and know how to use a firearm to potentially kill a polar bear.
Gaining this award on its own does not qualify someone to be operative in polar bear environments as a guide or bear guard/monitor. This award is designed optimally as an partner award with the Operations in Polar Bear Environments (OPBE) award. Ideally the two should always be considered together.
Anyone representing this award must fully understand the significant responsibility of handling a firearm, including the potential consequences of carrying out the act of killing a polar bear.
SPECIAL NOTES
i. This award is useful and valid for private individuals such as yachties and hikers.
ii. Flare pistols are a commonly used non-lethal deterrent but are not considered mandatory by all relevant jurisdictions.
iii. The Elements may be taught/presented in any order.
iv. There are a range of terms internationally for the state of ‘filling the firearm magazine while making sure the chamber is empty with the safety catch in the on/safe position’. PTGA accepts ‘half-loaded’ and ‘safe-loaded’ as the same state.
v. The PTGA always considers awareness, avoidance and prevention. The safety of the bear and non lethal deterrant strategies are always a PTGA guide’s priority in the event of an encounter that has transcended all other management options taken prior to that event.
vi. PTGA is not, and can not be, considered responsible for any incident involving firearms occuring after this award has been given. The assessment or judgment of competency by a qualified trainer is only a snap-shot view in which a successful candidate has shown and proven competency. Anyone holding this award has been judged competent at the time of training. Firearms are inherently dangerous and must be treated as such at all times.
