Personal Preparedness and Responsibilities
Trip Coordinator's Duties
International Scale of Whitewater Difficulty
Universal River Signals
Prevention of Spills
When You Swim
Rescuing Others
Hypothermia Prevention
Hypothermia Treatment
River Courtesy
Rescue Equipment
Personal Preparedness and Responsibilities
- If you're thinking about participating in a club trip, contact the trip coordinator at least 4 days before the trip. Trips that require advance registration, contact the trip coordinator as soon as possible. If you decide not to go on the trip, call the trip cordinator again and let him/her know of your change in plans.
- Provide your own food, transportation (as necessary) and equipment/clothing. This means being suitably clothed for cold and wet weather and eqipped for the particular trip. This includes carrying a personal first-aid kit and, if required, river rescue equipment.
- Be a competent swimmer, comfortable in the water, and able to handle yourself underwater and in whitewater depending on the trip classification.
- Be on time at the correct meeting place for the trip
- Have a realistic picture of your paddling ability. Never attempt a river where your inability may jeopardize yourself or your fellow paddlers. Be conservative and know and respect river classifications.
- Keep the shuttle car in sight at all times. If you lose sight, stop-wait-then search.
- Always wear a good Personal Flotation Device (PFD). A snugly-fitting PFD offers back and shoulder protection as well as the flotation needed to swim safely in moving water.
- Always wear a solid, correctly fitted helmet when paddling whitewater rivers.
- NEVER boat alone
- Secure any rope that may possibly become entangled around your body or limbs. Be especially cautious of small diameter lines such as bailer lines.
- Be practiced in rescue, self-rescue, escape, extracation and first-aid.
- If you suffer from a know medical condition, bring appropriate medication and advise others of your condition.
- Advise family and friends of your exact destination and when you'll be returning.
- Leave the river and its environment cleaner than you found it.
- Follow instructions and commands of the trip coordinator.
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Trip Coordinator's Duties
- Be familiar with the river and surrounding area, put-ins, take-outs, and water levels. Obtain maps when needed.
- Determine the meeting place, time of departure and any group camping arrangements.
- Make a list of the names and phone numbers of trip participants so they can be contacted if necessary.
- Select an alternate river to paddle, when necessary.
- Limit the number of participants, dividing into smaller groups when necessary.
- Try to screen participants and, when necessary, politely refuse to take any paddler wo you feel is not qualified.
- Check all boaters for proper equipment; i.e. lifejackets, helmets, spare paddles, flotation, throw bags, and first-aid kits.
- Lead or assign the lead to a boater who knows the river. Assign a skilled sweep boat to bring up the rear and carry a first-aid kit.
- Acquaint the group with plans and organization on the river, including the lunch stop, planned breaks, and anticipated hazards.
- Station skilled boaters downstream at hard or long rapids, ensuring that throw bags are available and set strategically when needed.
- Respect the right of property owners along the river. Seek their permission to put-in and take-out on their land and thank them for river access and any camping privileges granted.
- Write a trip report or designate a trip participant to write the report and send it to the club newsletter editor.
International Scale of Whitewater
- Class I: Easy. Fast moving water with riffles and small waves, few obstructions, all obvious and easily missed with little training, risk to swimmers is slight. Self-rescue is easy.
- Class II: Novice. Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels which are evident without scouting. Occasional maneuvering may be required, but rocks and medium sized waves are easliy missed by trained paddlers. Swimmers are seldom injured and group assistance, while helpful, is seldom needed. Rapids that are at the upper end of this difficulty range are designated "Class II+."
- Class III: Intermediate. Rapids with moderate, irregular waves which may be difficlt to avoid and which can swamp an open canoe. Complex maneuvers in fast current and good boat control in tight passages or around ledges are often required. Large volume rivers. Scouting is advisable for inexperienced parties. Injuries while swimming are rare. Self-rescue is usually easy but group assistance may be required to avoid long swims. Rapids that are at the lower or upper end of this difficulty range are designated "class III-" or "class III+", respetively.
- Class IV: Advanced. Intense, powerful but predictable rapids requiring precise boat handling in turbulent water. Depending on the character of the river, it may feature large, unavoidable waves and holes or constricted passages demanding fast maneuvers under pressure. A fast, reliable eddy turn may be needed to initiate maneuvers, scout rapids, or rest. Rapids may require "must" moves above dangerous hazards. Scouting may be necessary the first time down. Risk of injury to swimmers is moderate to high, and water conditions may make self-rescue difficult. Group assistance for rescue is often essential but requires practiced skills. A strong eskimo roll is highly recommended. Rapids that are at the lower or upper end of this difficulty range are designated "class IV-" or "class IV+", respectively.
- Class V: Expert. Extremely long, obstructed, or very violent rapids which expose a paddler to added risk. Drops may contain large, unavoidable waves and holes or steep, congested chutes with complex, demanding routes. Rapids may continue for long distances between pools, demanding a high level of fitness. What eddies exist may be small, turbulent, or difficult to reach. At the high end of the scale, several of these factors may be combined. Scouting is recommended but may be difficult. Swims are dangerous, and rescue is often difficult even for experts. A very reliable eskimo roll, proper equipment, extensive experience, and practiced rescue skills are essential. Because of the large range of difficulty that exists beyond class IV, class V is open ended, multiple level scale designated by class 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, etc... each of these levels is an order of magnitude more difficult than the last. Example: increasing difficulty from class 5.0 to class 5.1 is a similar order of magnitude as increasing from class IV to class V.
- Class VI: Extreme and exploratory. These runs have almost never been attempted and often exemplify the extremes of difficulty, unpredictability and danger. The consequences of errors are very severe and rescue may be impossible. For teams of experts only, at favorable water levels, after close personal inspection and taking all precautions. After a class VI rapid has been run many times, it's rating may be changed to an appropriate class 5.x rating.
Universal River Signals
 | All Clear:Come Ahead. In the absence of other directions, proceed down the center. Form a vertical bar with your paddle or one arm held high above your head. Paddle blade should be turned flat for maximum visibility. To signal a particular direction or a preferred course through a rapid around an obstruction, lower the previously vertical "All Clear" by 45 degrees toward the side of the river with the preferred route. Never Point Toward the Ostacle You Want Others To Avoid! |
 | STOP: Potential hazard ahead. Wait for "All Clear" signal before proceeding, or scout ahead. Form a horizontal bar with your paddle or outstretched arms. Move up and down to attract attention, using a pumping motion with paddle or flying motion with arms. Those seeing the signal should pass it back to others in the party. |
 | EMERGENCY:Assist the signaler as quickly as possible. Give three long blasts on a police whistle while waving a paddle, helmet or life vest over your head in a circular motion. If a whistle is not available, use the visual signal alone. |
Prevention of Spills
- When paddling tandem in a canoe always paddle on opposite sides.
- Attempt to keep your center of gravity in your boat as low as possible by kneeling in your canoe rather than sitting up on the seats. This is especially important on whitewater rivers or going through rapids.
- If your boat is sideways to the flow of the current and you're about to hit a downstream obstruction ie. rock, log, etc., lean your boat into the obstruction rather than away from it. An upstream lean is guaranteed to be a wet one and could cause your boat to be pinned against the obstruction.
- Follow the lead of the more experienced boaters in front of you unless they have instructed you otherwise.
- Allow for sufficient room in or just prior to a rapid between your boat and the boat ahead of you. This will reduce the chances of colliding with the other boat.
- Learn to recognize and react to river hazards such as holes, snags, rocks, undercut boulders, rock sieves and horizon lines across the river.
- If paddling in a tandem canoe or kayak, the stern paddler should follow the lead of their bow partner since they can often see potential hazards first.
- Never stand in your canoe or grab onto branches of trees.
- Learn the basic strokes for canoeing and/or kayaking. They are your defensive mechanism against potential problems and hazards.
- Use the large flat surface of your paddle blade to help keep the canoe or kayak from flipping (called the low and high brace). Grabbing the gunwales of the canoe as you're going through a rapid or over a drop does nothing to help keep the boat upright. Learn to keep your paddle in the water for direction and support even when things get rough.
- Scout rapids that you are unfamiliar with or when the river is at a unfamilar flow level.
- On unfamilar rivers stay to the middle or inside bend of the river. The flow of the river is always fastest and deepest on the outside bend of the river. This outside bend is where you'll generally find down trees, and strainers which can be hazardous to the paddler in or out of their boat.
When You Swim
- Stay with the boat on the upstream end or on top of it unless it is headed for a dangerous place or is interfering with rescue attempts. Leave it and swim when this improves your chances.
- Be aware of your partner's plight and be prepared to offer assistance if necessary and possible.
- Hang on to your paddle unless personal safety requires you to abandon it.
- When swimming in whitewater, float on your back with your feet at the water surface and downstream of your head (the defensive swimming position). When dropping over falls or through narrow areas, ball up in the tuck position to prevent entrapment of arms or legs, then resume the defensive swimming position. When being carried into a strainer (tree branches), move to a headfirst position and try to climb up into the strainer so not to be pulled under it by the water where you could get entrapped. If the rapids are deep and powerful, roll over onto your stomach and swim aggressively for shore. Watch for eddies and slackwater and use them to get out of the current.
- NEVER attempt to stand in fast moving water that is 18" in depth or greater. You may trap your foot below the surface and be pulled underwater by the current where you could drown.
- Remain calm and help as much as possible with your rescue.
- Always follow the instructions or rescuers!! They are usually in a better position to evaluate the situation or hazards and can determine appropriate action to ensure your safety.
Rescuing Others
- Rescue people first, equipment later.
- In the recovery of equipment, avoid taking unnecessary risks that might further endanger you or others. Always try to carry a spare paddle.
- Carefully observe victims of long or difficult swims for signs of hidden injury, shock, or hypothermia.
- Take a River Safety Clinic if ever offered by your paddling club to increase your knowledge of river safety and rescue procedures.
Hypothermia Prevention
Hypothermia is a condition whereby the body has lost ability to maintain necessary internal temperature and can no longer re-heat itself. In the early stages, the victim feels chilled and may shiver. In more advanced stages of hypothermia, the victim loses coordination, speech becomes slurred and judgement is impaired, among other things. It can easily be prevented by doing the following:
- Wear proper clothing: drysuit, wetsuit, wool, capilene, pile or a combination; plus a wind breaker layer, like paddling jacket/pants; and protection for the head, such as a helmet and/or wool cap or balaclava.
- Do not paddle too tough rivers. Know your ability and paddle one class lower than your ability. Avoid flooded rivers.
- Paddle only short runs with easy access. Roads along a river help.
- Bring spare clothes, plenty of liquids (no alcohol), extra sugar foods, personal medications, waterproof matches and chemical fire starter, if applicable. Tie them into the boat in a waterproof container or bag.
- Eat well before trips, get plenty of sleep and pack high sugar foods in with nutritious lunch.
- Drink plenty of liquids while exercising.
- Maintain a high level of activity, but do not over-tire yourself.
- If you find youself in the water, get out of the water ASAP. If you cannot remove your entire body from the water, move as much of your torso and head above water as possible (water wicks body heat away 25 times faster than air). Avoid unnecessary movement as that increases heat loss under water.
- When in doubt, stay home.
Hypothermia Treatment
When hypothermia strikes, recognize the symptoms at each stage. Take the following action immediately:
- Remove the victim from the water and shelter them from wind. Handle the victim gently.
- Gently remove the victims wet clothing.
- Warm the victim using an external source of heat. The victim's body cannot re-wam itself. Warm the torso area first.
- Place the victim and one or two others, all unclothed, in a sleeping bag or rolled together in a blanket.
- Warm the victim by placing him/her close to a large fire, or heat water, pouring it over the blanket-wrapped victim. Place heat producing objects, such as hand warmer heaters or heated rocks inside the sleeping bag with the victim. Take care to wrap the object so as not to burn the victim. Do not rub the victims arms and legs in a attempt to warm up the skin! Such stimulation only hastens the flow of cold blood to the heart and throughout the body and can cause more severe damage, even heart attack.
- A conscious victim should be treated for shock, placed in a supine position wth the head tilted back to maintain an open airway.
- An unconscious victim should be treated for shock, placed in a supine position with head tilted back to maintain an ope airway.
- Get medical attention for the victim ASAP. Hypothermia can cause other severe damage, even death
- Prevention works best so take a Red Cross First Aid course.
River Courtesy
To promote river courtesy, all members of the Mississippi Canoe & Kayak Club are asked to follow and promote the following:
- Our club shares the rivers with many groups including other boaters, rafters, tubers, hikers, campers, fishermen and wildlife. Try to avoid intruding on each so we can all enjoy the rivers.
- At the put-in, take-out and all points in between, attempt to avoid damaging the banks of the river or stream. Our presence can lead to increased erosion problems, damage to plant and wildlife and deterioration to the local stream area.
- Anytime you're on the river, bag your trash and tie it into your boat. Litter detracts from the beauty of the river and can negatively impact wildlife and downstream resources. All club members are asked to help keep our streams clean by carrying and filling a trash bag on each river trip. If each of us picks up letter at the access points and all points in between, our river will be a better place for all to visit.
- Profanity, drugs and alcohol are not welcome on our rivers. Our Mississippi law enforcement and wildlife officers patrol the streams of the state to ensure violators are dealt with appropriately.
- If you must build a fire near the river, ensure that it is completely out prior to leaving the site and all evidence of the fire are removed.
- Anytime we are out of our boats and standing in the water or on the bank of a river, we are on someone's property. Please strive to respect their property at all times. When accessing the river whether it is the put-in or take-out, always obtain permission from the property owner(s), and leave things better than you found them.
- Changing clothes before or after a river trip should be done at a rest or changing area, in the confines of your vehicle, or in a secluded area. Stripping down next to a busy rural road or highway is not welcome by those that live in the community nor by the majority of the paddling community. Don't give local officials a reason to prevent us from paddling our and other states' beautiful streams. Use your common sense!!.
Whitewater Rescue Equipment
- Whistle - get one that is small, loud and durable. Good brand is Fox 40. Attach the whistle high on your PFD, but not on your zipper pull.
- Caribiners - have several (6 to 8) in your rescue bag plus one (parabiner) that has a very large opening to attach to plastic grab loops on many of todays kayaks.
- Pulleys - have two rescue pulleys in your rescue bag to use in setting up a Z-Drag.
- Slip Ropes - have eight or ten 6mm ropes each 40" to 48" in length and each tied into a loop using a Double Fisherman's knot for use as Prusiks.
- Webbing - have 15 to 20 feet of 1-inch wide webbing for use to wrap around trees to which to attach ropes, carabiners, and pulleys.
- Footwear - wear a good pair of sturdy river sandals in case you need to do any hiking or extensive rescue procedures.
- Throwbag/Rope - get one that has a 50 to 60 foot colored line. Learn to throw it as well.
- PFD Rescue Harness - these can be invaluable in a rescue, but you need to know how to properly use it.
- Knife - get a knife that attaches to your PFD and can be quickly removed when necessary.
- Matches - carry some matches in a waterproof container.
Note: Some of the above material was developed by the Carolina Canoe Club.
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