As in any trade or sport rescuers need to have all necessary and most beneficial "tools of the trade" at their disposal.  "Pack your river gear...pack your rescue gear"

PPE – Personal Protective Equipment

Teaching Tips

Students should have their own (or rent) high quality PPE. It is worth having a few extra rescue vests with QRHS for those without them to try.

Having a strong understanding of how moving water works (Hydrology) is key to rescuer safety and success.

Features:

Features worth knowing/explaining

Downstream V, Waves, Eddies, Eddy Line, (Eddy Fense, Eddy Wedge), Bends, Cusions, Pourovers, Holes (and their es capability, Strainers, Undercuts, Ice, Sieves, Current Vector, Other

Teaching Tip

Hydrology talks art typically BORING especially in mixed groups with diverse levels of knowledge.  Teaching Presentations that ae dynamic such as a slide show, games, (build a river), quizzes or pointing out features at the river are generally more effective than a straight lecture/whiteboard session/

Ensuring thee safety of our fellow paddlers is obviously paramount to everyone while out on the river.There are, however, some safety/medical issues that may arisen thus it is crucial we know how to deal with them (or preferably avoid them.)

Safety Talk: Minimum Content

1.  Explain risk involved in rescue training (it is only training)

2.  Move purposefully

3.  Challenge by Choice

4.  Don't stand up (until it is "shallow and slow")

5.  Signals (Audible and visual)

6.   What to do in a REAL emergency

7.  Egress Plan

8.  Communication device

9. First aid kit and medical training

10. Ability to get warm (or cool) and stay warm (or cool)

Medical Issues

Types of injuries:  Stubbed toe, twisted ankle knee problems, shoulder problems (dislocation), head injury, spinal injury, hypothermia, hyperthermia

Drowning

Respiratory impairment caused by immersion/submursion in a liquid.

Primarily a brain issue rather than a lung issue.

Need rescue breaths as soon as possible (blow through the foam)

5 breaths prior to starting CPR (30:2) Remove PFD.

Communicate with outside help and authorities (Communicate, Cancel, Continue)

Seel post traumatic counselling (3X3)

If you are in anyway uncertain in how to deal with these medical issues please review/take appropriate wilderness medical training.

Common Incidents:

Strainer drill, Swiftwater entry, scenarios (running on the bank), immersion (cold), Dehydration

All elements of your course are "Challenge by Choice"

Teaching Tips

Teaching in remote areas requires an advanced degree of medical trading by the instructor.  Please ensure you are current, well practiced and well qualified. 

Whitewater Swimming is one of our "7 Core Skills".  If students only learn/take away 1 thing from their rescue class it should be self rescue by swimming!

Positions

4 Key Positions

 1. Defensive Floating (classic feet up in front floating on your back

2. Defensive Swimming (back crawl, toes pointed, knees locked)

3. Offensive Floating (on belly in "parachuter" position)

Eddy Catching

 90 degrees, speed, plant upstream arm

Teaching Tips

Start with a Defensive Float.  Watch your participants closely, you can gauge a students level of comfort in the water.  Then move to Offensive Swimming to see them swimming at their best.  Explain that swimming is undoubtedly the most important skill to acquire on their course.