The best safety training is to learn to stay out of dangerous situations. Learning advanced river rescue techniques and rope work is great, but the best rescue is one that never took place. Do not get me wrong, I am a firm advocate of safety training; however, if you can prevent the incident, then you are better off. Anyone who has had advanced training can tell you that once ropes get involved in a rescue effort (other than a throw rope toss), the likelihood of a positive outcome is slim. People have been saved, but timing is everything and the world we play in is very dynamic. The success of the situation is based upon many variables such as weather, water level, river size, location of incident, number of trained practiced rescuers, and equipment available. But what if the rescue never had to take place? But what if the group that day had asked several "But What If?" questions? What if the group had prevented the rescue by doing what is right? This is being safety minded. Asking the questions, reviewing the situations, and preparing to not have a river rescue. Being safety minded is not only getting trained in new skills, it becomes a change in paddling attitude. Here are some tips.
1. Know your limitations.
This could include boating skills, physical conditioning, attitude of the day, or effects of the
weather on you.
2. Get physically conditioned.
Face it, paddling is a physical sport. You can not sit at a desk all week and expect to be in shape to paddle all weekend. Get
into some sort of exercise program. Next subject is FOOD. Remember in 1st grade, "You are what you eat." How can you expect to
perform if you have nothing to burn. Eat proper before, during and after the river. It will make a difference.
3. Know the river you are on.
Class, water level, length, access, hazards. Just because you are not the trip leader doesn't mean you can't know the river.
Read the books and ask the questions. If you do not know it, then don't paddle it.
4. Have proper equipment in good condition and sized for you.
Paddling requires equipment. Do not skimp on getting exactly what you need. Would you skimp on a parachute? What is the
difference?
5. Don't boat what you would not swim.
How about this common statement, "If you are not swimming, then you are not learning." This statement carries only partial truths.
Swimming is fine under well thought out situations: where will I go when I swim?, where will my boat go?, is there a recovery
place?, is there a place for my friends to rescue me?, do I know what I am doing?, are my friends at risk?. If you swim often,
you may not be pushing the limits, you may be pushing your luck.
6. Get out of the passive mode -- practice aggressive self rescue.
Your boat, your equipment, your butt -- take care of them all. It is your responsibility, not your friends'.
7. ReThROG: Reach, Throw, Row, Go.
Understand rescue techniques and priorities.
8. Understand how to use your safety equipment.
Why carry a throwbag if you do not use it? Why bother standing at the bottom of a rapid with a throwbag if you can not
use it confidently?
9. Get trained.
Take boating classes, get a mentor, learn First Aid and CPR, know ropework, understand river rescue techniques.
Reprinted from April 2001 River Write