- Do you want to be a useful team member on the river?
- Do you want to learn practical solutions if you get into difficulty?
- Do you want to learn the tools to solve common paddling issues in white water (moderate)?
Then the Introduction to White Water Safety course is for you!
PRE-REQUISITES
This course will support you to explore and practice simple strategies and safe skills that provide you with the tools to solve common paddling issues, in grade 2/3 white water (moderate) conditions, providing peace of mind when venturing out as part of a led group/ team of peers.
This course is open to anyone of any age.
all will benefit from this practical course.
The course will focus on your needs and you will paddle your chosen craft through out the programme.
So, whether you are paddling with friends or your club, or working towards a leadership assessment, this practical course is packed with safe practical solutions. It doesn’t matter about your age or whether you’re relatively new to paddling in white water, this course supports your knowledge and raises your awareness of your personal safety.
If you need any more convincing, the course is completely based around training and raising awareness, with no assessment. Structured to support you, our experienced tutors will ensure you have plenty of time practicing, as well as understanding how you can develop skills and build experience after the course.
The course takes around 6 hours and will cover 9 modules:
- Motivations and decisions
- Clothing and equipment
- The White Water Environment
- Preparing for a trip
- Swimming techniques
- Choosing how to help a swimmer
- What to do when we swim
- Kit retrieval
- Reflection and skills checklist
COURSE CONTENT
MODULE 1 MOTIVATIONS AND DECISIONS
- Ours and others’ motivations
- Collaborative support
- Selection of river to match motivations
MODULE 2 CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
- Craft overview, safety considerations and features
- Clothing and equipment worn
- Additional safety equipment
MODULE 3 THE WHITE WATER ENVIRONMENT
- Understanding water features
- Recognising water features
- Hazards on the river
MODULE 4 PREPARING FOR THE RIVER TRIP
- Appropriate clothing and craft for the river trip
- Safety protocols
- River brief
MODULE 5 SWIMMING TECHNIQUES
- Defensive swimming
- Aggressive swimming
- Changing direction
MODULE 6 CHOOSING HOW TO HELP A SWIMMER
- Supporting the swimmer
- Wading
- Reaching
- Receiving a throwline
MODULE 7 WHAT TO DO WHEN WE SWIM
- Stay safe
- Roll up, push/move away
- Nudge
- Attaching a line
MODULE 8 KIT RETRIEVAL
- Paddle retrieval
- Assisting others
MODULE 9 REFLECTIONS AND SKILLS CHECKLIST
- Reflections from the course
- Reflections on own learning and areas for development
- Skills checklist