PREREQUISITE KNOWLEDGE
It is important that when you show up to a put-in that you have at least a working understanding of river safety. We do not pre-float a river prior to the actual float/event. What should be an easy class 1 river could be a class 2+ (or worse) due to downed trees and other dangerous debris in the water. For this reason, we need you to watch a few videos below so you can answer some simple questions associated with them. And were you aware… that roughly every 3 people who drown, one of them is a person trying to save a person?
These important videos (approximately 33 minutes for all of them) are to help us understand you at least have a modicum of knowledge about the river before you paddle with us. You’ll have to answer 10 questions about them below. These videos will certainly not make you an expert, but we hope when we say “downed tree on river left” you know what that that means.
VIDEO – Classification of Rivers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0s-MvzFRNM
Or read the classification here (pdf): link to River Classification doc
Question: Can an easy class 1 river change classification with water levels and debris/obstructions? (yes or no)
VIDEO – Wilderness Medicine: immersion & drowning (part 1) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7J5KzILbSs (3:19 minutes)
Question: What is the main cause of people drowning in cold water?
VIDEO – Wilderness Medicine: Immersion & drowning (part 2): (2:55 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUe-MObFryA&t=7s (part 2): (2:55 minutes)
Question: In the 1 – 10 – 1 rule in cold water, what does the “10” denote?
VIDEO– How to Use a Water Rescue Throw Bag (the important info. starts at 12 minutes 4 seconds) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EU7dOF1NEs&t=621s (about 6 minutes from 12 minutes in)
Question: When someone throws you a rope/throw bag, should you tie it around you just in case you lose the rope (yes/no)?
VIDEO – Foot Entrapment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkBLihfTfIc (1:04 minutes)
Question: At what depth should you stand up in a river?
(1:04 minutes)
VIDEO – River Hydrology – Part 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luOWq1Gdv8c (7:47 minutes)
Question: If someone says there is something to avoid on “river right” how do you know what side of the river this is? ______
Question: How much weight is a 3 foot(1meter) square of water?
The weight of a bicycle?
The weight of a large person?
The weight of a small car?
(note- we ask this question so you understand the implications to you and your craft if you were to become “pinned” up against a rock or tree)
Question (not in the video) : If you’re about to get pinned up against a rock in your boat, what direction do you need to lean to (try) and keep from getting pinned? (try to angle your boat bottom upstream (away from the rock/tree) or downstream (into the rock/tree)?
VIDEO – River Hydrology – Part 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKBrFv164xQ (13:25 minutes)
Question: Is the speed of the river, away from shore, faster on top, on the bottom or just below the top?
Question: When encountering a strainer (fallen tree- most common) is it best to try to swim under it or try to get on top and over it with your body? ______
VIDEO Reading the water (good instruction for getting down a river)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q7Xeu1itGw
No questions on this…just good info.
Thank you for taking the time to review these. It’s important that you have some knowledge before you show up at the put-in. This helps everyone.
For questions, please email Patrick Sherman patrick9723@gmail.com