Swift Water Rescue Patch — Order This Bell, Helicopter and Life Ring Maltese Cross
Design S1148A at a glance
A Maltese cross with a gold merrowed edge, centered on a bell and filled with a rescue helicopter flying over mountains and a river, with life rings worked into the design. Lettering names the jurisdiction, the rescue title, the swift water and wilderness specialty and a squad number, all restitchable. Blue water and green slopes inside the red cross make the specialty obvious before anyone reads a word.
Maltese cross shapeGold merrowed borderBellRescue helicopterMountains and riverLife rings
About this swift water and wilderness rescue cross
Technical rescue teams cover two worlds at once, fast water and steep ground, and this cross shows both: a helicopter over a river winding between mountains, life rings for the water side and the fire-service bell at the center. Setting the scene inside a red Maltese cross keeps the team tied to its department. Blue and green give the specialty color, and gold keeps it ceremonial.
Order it as drawn or adapt it: put your department, team title and squad number in the lettering, swap the helicopter for a rescue boat, or replace the mountains with your own river canyon. This page shows a design concept we manufacture to order — your stitch-ready proof arrives 6–12 hours after you order, and nothing is produced until you approve it.
Swift water rescue patch quick facts
- Embroidered swift water rescue patches cost $3.00–$20.00 each depending on quantity, with a 10-patch minimum.
- Rush production takes 7–10 days and is available on every custom patch.
- Maltese crosses with scene artwork read best at 4" across or larger.
- Water rescue teams often add a PVC version for packs and boat gear, since PVC does not absorb water.
- Life rings and the bell stitch as bold shapes, so they hold up at smaller sizes.
- Owl Badges is a US-based badge and patch manufacturer in Simi Valley, California, in business since 1999.
Customize this swift water rescue patch: backing, size, and thread options
- Backing: sew-on for station shirts, iron-on for caps and tees, hook-side velcro for rescue packs
- Sizes: 2"–12" across — 4"–4.5" for shoulders; 9"+ for jacket backs
- Colorways: red, gold, blue and green as shown, or navy in place of red — preview each in the markup tool
- Border: gold merrowed (shown), or red to blend the cross edge
- Thread: metallic gold for the bell, or glow-in-the-dark lettering for night operations
- Artwork: the helicopter, boat or landscape redraws to match your team and terrain at no additional art charge
Who orders this design
Swift water rescue teams, wilderness and technical rescue squads and fire-department special operations units order this cross for station shirts, rescue jackets and packs. Teams that train with air units like seeing the helicopter in the scene. Many orders combine an embroidered shoulder run with a PVC version for gear.
Custom swift water rescue patch pricing — embroidered
| Quantity | Price per patch |
|---|---|
| 10–19 | $20.00 |
| 20–29 | $14.00 |
| 30–49 | $11.00 |
| 50–74 | $6.50 |
| 75–99 | $6.00 |
| 100–249 | $5.50 |
| 250–499 | $3.00 |
Rush production in 7–10 days is available on all custom patches. Design your changes in the markup tool above, or get this patch quoted exactly as shown.
What your quote covers
- Your exact spec — quantity, size, backing, and colorway, priced to the piece
- A free digital mockup within 4 hours, before you commit to anything
- Rush production in 7–10 days whenever you need it
- No setup, digitizing, or art fees — the table price is the whole price
How ordering this patch works
Request a quote
Send this design (marked up or as-is) with your quantity. Quotes are answered 24/7 within 4 hours.
Approve your proof
Your stitch-ready proof arrives 6–12 hours after ordering. Nothing is produced until you approve it.
We verify & produce
Law-enforcement orders are verified with your agency before production — standard practice since 1999.
Delivery confirmed
We confirm your shipping address by phone, then email tracking the day your patches ship.
🏛 Bidding for your department or agency? We answer bids, RFQs and purchase-order quotes — see how agency bids and RFQs work, or tick “This quote is for a bid” in the quote form.
Swift water rescue patch questions
Can the helicopter become a rescue boat?
Yes. Mark it in the markup tool and we redraw a boat, raft or personal watercraft in its place at no art charge.
Can the lettering show our squad number?
Yes. Jurisdiction, team title, specialty and squad lines all restitch to your wording, and your mockup shows them placed.
Is PVC better for water rescue gear?
For packs and boat kit, yes. PVC does not soak up water and dries fast, while embroidered patches stay the standard for uniforms.
Will this much detail fit on a 3-inch patch?
We simplify the river and mountains on your proof at that size so the helicopter, bell and life rings stay clear.
How do I request edits to this rescue cross?
In the quote form, open the markup tool, circle any element, pin notes and switch colorways. Your marked-up cross travels with your quote.
Need another rescue or fire design?
This page covers one technical rescue cross. For engine, ladder and station designs, the fire department patches beyond this swift water helicopter and life ring cross show the full range. If you are comparing PVC and embroidery for wet gear, the patch build guide that prices a river rescue Maltese cross by quantity explains each option.
Notes
Drop a 📍 pin on the patch, then type what you want changed there.