AMC-NH Safety Curriculum
Introduction to Swiftwater Safety (part of Spring School)
An introduction to the dangers of the sport, how to recognize and avoid them, and the basics of what to do when problems occur.
Ten Life-threatening Hazards
Hypothermia
Strainers
Hydraulics
Pinning Rocks
Bridge Abutments
Undercut Rocks
Rock Sieves
Foot Entrapment
Ice Shelves
High Water
Recognizing Potential Hazards
Some hazards documented
Dangerous holes, sieves, undercut rocks
Some hazards obvious
eg, High Water, Bridge Abutments, Ice Shelves, Strainers
Some hidden
Rocks causing foot entrapment, undercut rocks
Temperature
Air plus water temperature less 120 danger of hypothermia
River Reading
Rocks, holes, hydraulics
Horizon Lines
Avoiding Hazards
Proper Planning
Read available river information
Check river level
Recruit a guide/paddler familiar with river
Check/scout for hazards
Proper Clothing
Proper Equipment
Air Bags
Throw Rope
Painters/tow line
Water Bottle
Extra Clothing
Group Safety Equipment
First Aid Kit
Z-Drag
Rescue PFD (with proper training)
Paddler Actions
Look for, and recognize potential trouble spots
Scout/walk/paddle with care areas of concern as appropriate
Bracing/Righting Pry/Leans to avoid swim or pin
Proper River Group Dynamics
Group Organization/Lead/Sweep Boats
Always stay within range of boat behind
Learn and use river signals
River Signals
Stop
Clear/Go
Always point to clean line/which way to go
Universal "I'm OK/are you OK?"
Come Quickly/Help/Hurry up
Look over there/I see
Defensive [safe] Swimming
Safe swimming position
Upstream of boat
Never try to stand
Try and hold onto paddle
Self rescue of boat for experienced paddlers in right conditions
Catching a throw rope
Swims during class
Basic Safety and Rescue (One day course aka Paul Berry special)
A single day course targeted at paddlers with class II skills and above. Teaches paddlers how to rescue themselves and other paddlers during the most common problem situations that develop on whitewater rivers.
Personal Safety Clothing and Equipment
Proper Clothing
Extra clothing vs river/weather conditions
PFD/Life Jacket
Class III vs V vs non-rated
Rescue PFD features
Helmet
w/Face Mask
Whistle
Throw Bag
Air Bags
Air Bags that double as Dry Bags
Thigh Straps/Foot Pegs
Held In vs Locked in
Ropes/Webbing in Boat, nothing to potentially get tangled in
Use of Throw Ropes
Throws
Overhand vs Underhand
Coiling, multiple techniques
Second Throws
Anchoring
Throw bag practice (land).
Throw bag practice (river)
Catching throw rope
Float on back, use outside shoulder
Boat Rescue, Rescuing boats and equipment from another boat.
Empty vs Partially Swamped vs Full
Towing Boat
Painter once around thwart, holding with knee
Painter once around paddle, holding with hand
Kayak vs Canoe Paddle
"Bulldoze" boat, pushing in to eddy
Kayak vs Canoe
Rescue upside down boat vs right side up
Righting a boat.
Rescuing swimmers from another boat.
People first, equipment later
Self Rescue of gear and boat
Swimming with boat
Safely getting out of river
Staying with equipment vs letting go
Swimming strategies, recognizing and avoiding danger
Passing/throwing paddles in an emergency
One vs two-handed throw
Kayak vs Canoe Paddle
Bracing
High and Low Braces
Kayak vs Canoe
Righting Pry
Advanced Swiftwater Safety & Rescue Skills (One day, first part of Charlie W's course)
A single day course targeted at paddlers with class III skills and above. Teaches paddlers and others additional skills and techniques used in more difficult rescue or recovery situations.
Aggressive Swimming Techniques
Barrel Roll into eddy
"Belly Flop", protecting face entry
Swimming using paddle assist
Swimming/Escaping from holes
Swimming over drops
Wading
Single Paddle Assisted
canoe paddle vs. kayak paddle
Tandem/Pairs
Circle 3 or 4
Wedge/Pyramid
Line assisted wading
angle of line/vector pull vs 90deg
Belaying Techniques
Anchors-people/objects
Zip Lines to cross current
Use of rescue vest
Belay w/controlled lower in current
(two ropes with belay preferred)
Teathered swimmer rescue
Entrapment Rescues
Foot Entrapment
Tag Lines
Tying into victim
Limited Slip Knot Vs girth hitch
Strainer swim drill
Advanced Swiftwater Recovery (One day course, second part of Charlie W's course)
A single day course targeted at paddlers with class III skills and above. Teaches paddlers and others the basics of recovery of boats and equipment when it is pinned or otherwise trapped on a swiftwater river.
Review of rope types/elasticity
Types of ropes, throw ropes vs recovery/Z-Drag
Knots
Prusiks/Beaners/Pulleys
Pinning of boats and equipment
Steve Thomas Rope Trip
Z-Drag
Other topics/other courses
Leadership Course
Contents of First Aid kit (possibly put in Leadership course?)
CPR
Wilderness First Aid/SOLO Courses
Resources
The following are some books and a video on this topic. (Note: This is not an official endorsement by the AMC NH Paddlers or any other organization.)
Books:
River Rescue: A Manual for Whitewater Safety, 3rd Edition (AMC Paddlesports)
By Slim Ray (Author), Les Bechdel (Author)
AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership (Paperback)
By Alex Kosseff (Author)
(includes a chapter on Crisis Management)
Videos/DVDs:
Whitewater Self Defense -- Safety: Lessons, Skills, and Drills
Contributors include Charlie Walbridge, Ellen DeCuir, Kent Ford, and over a hundred other paddlers.
$29.95
http://www.performancevideo.com/whitewater_self_defenseDecide to Return -- A Strategy for Safe Sea Kayaking ©2007
Walkabout Productions, America Canoe Association in cooperation with the US Coast Guard and the Aquatic Resources (Wallop-Breaux) Trust Fund.
http://www.americancanoe.org/ http://www.uscgboating.org/