1)Personal Responsibility
A river trip is a common adventure enjoyed by all participants-each one sharing in fun as well as the responsibilities. By being aware of the potential risks of the water (level and flow rate) ,weather and river hazards, as well as your own skill level, you can help make the trip safer for yourself as well as the group. Knowing some of the other paddlers and their skill levels are also important for a safe and fun trip. The information provided here is designed for educational use and will give you a general idea of what to do when organizing a trip. It is not a substitute for specific training or experience. If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to call me.
2)Preplanning
qknow the river
qknow your group
qknow your own skills and resources
qhave the right equipment
helmets and PFD?s worn on all whitewater
PFD?s worn or in boat on all flatwater
3)On the river
qtravel safely
q stay together in some fashion
qbe prepared for a rescue
qhave the proper paddling and rescue skills
4)Know the river
The river section should be chosen based on something that the person with the least skills in the group could run. The person with the highest skills should feel comfortable in performing rescues in the most difficult section of the river.
qType of river-flatwater or whitewater; if the latter, check with local paddlers to determine the classification of the rapids
qKnow the flow rate-cubic feet per second
qKnow the conditions of the river
qFlow rate-cubic feet per second
qHazards
qLength
qAccess to river
5)Know your group
qSkill levels of each paddler-check references if necessary
qEquipment- should be proper for the river to be paddled
PFD, helmet, whistle, throwbag, 1st Aid Kit
qBe prepared to turn someone away if their inclusion will make the trip unsafe.
qSpecial medical problems of a paddler
6)Trip leader
The issue of leadership on paddling trips is often overlooked ,but it is one of the more important aspects ensuring safety of the group. Some fundamental skills need to exist with each paddler in the group, but the trip leader takes on added responsibilities. It is the trip leader who makes sure each paddler is qualified for the trip as well as keeping the group together for safety while on the water.
qThe leader is responsible for making sure that all safety bases are covered.
qMakes sure that everyone has water and a snack/lunch.
qMakes sure that enough safety equipment is included to cover the size of the group.
qEnsures that all group members have the skills and equipment necessary for the trip-has the final say as to whether a person goes on the trip.
qKeeps the group intact while maintaining sufficient spacing to avoid collisions. On larger groups, use a ?Buddy? system.
qSpace paddlers close enough to permit good communication, but not so close as to interfere with one another on rapids. Each boat keeps the one behind it in sight, stopping if necessary.
qChooses a Point Paddler to set the pace and to scout for problems and if the group is large enough, a Sweep Paddler to bring up the rear. These people can be rotated out if they don?t want to do the whole trip in that position.
qTakes regular breaks for water, bathroom, etc.
qKeeps track of all paddlers in the group making sure no one falls too far behind-make sure the group stays together and in sight of each other.
qMakes arrangements in advance for shuttles-needs to know
put-in and take-out locations.