River Safety and Rescue (RSR) Training...

Irish Canoe Union

Sport HQ, Park West, Dublin 12

01 6251105

www.canoe.ie

River Safety and Rescue (RSR)

Training Guidelines

Irish Canoe Union RSR Trainer Notes 2

BC RSR Notes - 03/12/2014

CONTENTS

1.01 Introduction 3

1.02 Personal Equipment 3

1.03 Understand Hydrology 5

1.04 Safe Practices - CLAP Principle 7

1.05 Risk Assessment – Decision Making 8

1.06 Safety Zones and Leadership 10

1.07 Safe River Running Methods 11

1.08 Prioritising Rescue - Safe order of priority – STIG 14

1.09 Self Rescue 15

1.10 Systematic approach to a rescue 16

1.11 Progression of Extraction 17

1.12 Access & Egress 19



1.01 Introduction

These RSR Trainer Notes have been developed to support the provision of Canoeing Irelands River Safety & Rescue Awards. The notes are specifically designed for instructors delivering the RSR programme, however they will also be of interest to students and general members to assist in the development of their personal River Safety & Rescue Skills.

In order to create an effective working document RSR competencies have not been repeated at each level if covered in the previous RSR level. In other words training at RSR 2 should ensure that all of the competencies under RSR 1 are understood and practiced by the course participants, likewise training at RSR 3 should ensure that the competencies under RSR 1 and RSR 2 are understood and practiced by the course participants. In some cases competencies are progressed from RSR 1 to RSR 2 to RSR 3, trainers must ensure that students understand and practice the fundamental competency before progressing to the more advanced competency.

1.02 Personal Equipment

RSR 1 RSR 2 RSR 3

Footwear Importance of good footwear to avoid injury: standing on sharp objects in river

Importance of good footwear to manoeuvre on banks with out slipping or twisting an ankle.

Importance of fit of footwear so as not to loose it during swims.

Discuss importance of footwear for running on banks or carrying boats in portages without slipping.

Helmet How to identify appropriate helmet for flat water: CE approved, all straps and cradles functioning.

How to fit helmet appropriately to cover forehead and not move about, using the chin strap and cradle (if fitted).

Importance of good coverage of forehead, temples and back of head.

Importance of good fit to prevent helmet moving in capsize.

Discuss impact resistance and coverage of different helmet designs

Buoyancy How to identify appropriate buoyancy aid: CE approved, minimum 50N buoyancy, good fit, and good adjustment

How to fit buoyancy aid appropriately to ensure it does not slip off.

Advantages of buoyancy aids with more than 50N buoyancy when in aerated water

Integrated Harness

N/A Importance of safe quick release system When and how to use friction plate

(should only be used where release of



the system would result in death or major injury and where a quick release would not be necessary under any circumstance)

Highlight danger of snap gate crabs on harness webbing

Throwbag Clean Rope Principle Different Throw Bag Designs: Thick rope vs Narrow rope

Where to carry the rope Importance of functioning quick release

if rope is waist mounted

Knife Serrated blade with blunt end Single hand opening preferable

Highlight ease of access Discuss tying the knife to the buoyancy,

preference to have knife tied to buoyancy with quick release system.

Whistle 1 Blast: look at me, continuous blasts: emergency (woops can be alternative)

Mobile Phone

N/A Waterproof pouches, where to carry the phone

Useful numbers to have Level 4 & 5 Instructors Kayaking Providers & Clubs per region Kayaking paramedics & first aid

providers Canoeing Ireland Officers Irish Hospitals

Karabiner & Sling

N/A 2 karabiners, one snap gate and one screw gate

1 sling Sling should be open & 4-5 metres long Explain D shaped, Pear shaped (wide

gate), snap gate, screw gate and advantages of each type

Storage of sling and karabiner in waist tube

2 slings; at least one of which is an open sling; both should have a full sling length (open length) of 4-5m.

2 snap gate karabiners, at least one of which is pear shaped (wide gate)

2 screw gate karabiners

First Aid Kit

N/A First aid kit to deal with Breathing, Bleeding, Breaking. Pencil & Water Proof Paper.

First Aid Alternatives: Cling Film & Sanitary Towels

Kisu N/A How to use & advantages Flysheet from old tent will suffice



Spare Clothes

N/A Suitable cloths; thin hats, neck gators, xl fleece jackets

When to use spare clothes

Repair Kit N/A Surf wax, duct tape (can be carried on paddle shaft), multi-tool

Where to salvage nuts & bolts on a boat; lock nut on foot plate.

How to make a spare bung from centre pillar foam

Split Paddle

Demonstrate use and discuss application

Using splits as splints

Prusik N/A 2 prusiks, 4-6mm climbing grade chord, open length of 2 metres, loop length of 1 metre

Explain how to tie fishermans knot to make a prusik

Other Gear

Permanent Marker Dental floss & needle

Fold out saw 1 metre length of piping

1.03 Understand Hydrology

RSR 1 RSR 2 RSR 3

River Left & Right

Explanation of River Left & Right

Flow & Eddy

Explanation of flow and eddy Explanation of eddy line, demonstration

of eddy line using rope lined up on one to show location.

Wave Explanation of Wave



Stopper Explanation of Stopper Identifying safe & dangerous stoppers by

the surface action of the water flowing back towards or away from the stopper

Discuss how to test a stopper

Bends Explain behaviour of water at bends Fast water on outside, slow water on

inside Erosion on outside of bend, water

pushes to outside of bend Discuss momentum at bends, similar to

racing line in track racing

Strainer Explain strainer, discuss how to identify, discuss implications.

Explain why often found on outside of bends; erosion of bank.

Undercut Explain undercut and discuss how to identify and where one would expect to see one; outside of bends, often on either side pools below significant drops , where water impacts heavily on rock to erode it.

Siphon Explain siphon and distinction from undercut.

Discuss how to identify and where one would expect to see a siphon; at rock outcrops on outside of bends, where water impacts heavily on rock to erode it through.

Sieve Explain sieve, discuss how to identify, discuss implications



1.04 Safe Practices - CLAP Principle

RSR 1 RSR 2 RSR 3

Communication Signals (visual/audio) must be clear, concise and agreed.

Audio - 1 whoop, or blast of whistle: look at me, continuous whoops or blasts: emergency, stop and come to me

Visual Signals – point to where you want people to go, pat head – are you ok, response: pat head I’m ok, thumbs down I’m not ok

Positive Pointing – only point where you want people to go. Never point at hazards!

Additional Visual Signals: stop, go, eddy in/out, go left/right/centre, push left/right, stopper, rock, tree, all together, one at a time, take a look, unrunable, portage, throw bag, get out, I need first aid.

At singularities - No signal, no move, never assume it’s ok.

Additional Visual Signals: Tongue, drop, boof, gorge

Line of sight All group members must be able to see all other group members.

Responsibility is to be able to see the person behind you when travelling, not the person in front.

Keep line of sight with the future environment. Ensure you can see around bends or over horizon lines before committing to them.

All group members must be able to see at least one other group member, if travelling every group member should be able to see the person behind them.

During rescue maintain line of sight with upstream side of rescue to avoid water users coming down into the situation.

Never run anything blind, never assume it will be ok. Only trust line of sight.

Inspecting rapids, one person inspects and indicates line if appropriate.

Avoidance Avoid Hazards where necessary, e.g. trees, other water users, water intakes at dams

Avoid putting yourself, the team or the individual at unnecessary risk.

Clean line principle. Systematic approach to a rescue –

Talk, Reach, Throw, Row, Go, Helo.

Avoid hazards where necessary Risk assessment and decision

making. Plan B – what to do if the main plan

fails? E.g. Downstream cover

Use risk assessment and decision making processes to decide which hazards must be avoided.



Positioning Positioning to protect against and minimise risk of any hazards that can’t be avoided.

Tell the story before it happens. What is most likely to go wrong and

where? Where would I be most useful if

something does go wrong and what am I going to do?

Ask yourself why am I here? Working as a group, to keep things

moving on more complex and difficult rapids.

Boat based rescues vs bank based rescues

1.05 Risk Assessment – Decision Making

RSR 1 RSR 2 RSR 3

Risk Assessment Importance of awareness to empower natural risk aversion mechanisms

Developing prior awareness Location Start & Finish Time, duration Water Levels on River Tides on the sea (HW, LW,

Times) Weather forecast

Temperature Rainfall on River Wind direction on the sea

(On shore, off shore, strength)

Number of people Equipment & Food required

Groups bigger than 15 should be split up into smaller groups

Present Prior Awareness Risk Assessment (info should be sent out prior to the course)

Awareness of impact of floods on rivers & winds on the sea





Threat Matrix Awareness of Threat Matrix Awareness of the risks of flood

waters on rivers and wind on open water.

Conscious use of Threat Matrix Understanding of why flooded

rivers increase risk Understanding of the dangers

of wind on open water.

Subconscious use of Threat Matrix by developing full awareness of water conditions.

Likelihood / probability Develop awareness of likelihood of hazard being a danger

Telling yourself the story of the day and how it will feel retrospectively before the day begins

Breakdown rapids into sections to increase accuracy of perceived likelihood.

Awareness of the impact of floods on likelihood of danger

Awareness of the effects peer pressure, ego and adrenaline on perceived likelihood

Awareness of the effect of prior experiences on perceived likelihood

Develop awareness of perceived likelihood vs actual likelihood

Awareness that perceived likelihood is influenced by experiences to date

Tactics to overcome effects of peer pressure, ego and adrenaline on perceived likelihood

Understanding and overcoming the effect of prior experiences on perceived likelihood

Impact / Consequences Develop awareness of the consequences of the dangers posed by a hazard

Breakdown rapids into sections to increase accuracy of perceived consequences.

Avoid hazards with serious consequences if there is a likelihood of it being a danger

Awareness of the impact of floods on consequences

Develop awareness of perceived vs actual consequences of dangers posed by a hazard

Develop ability to fully explore consequences and likelihood of each.

Be aware of limits of rescue



setups on hazards with serious consequences

Decision making in Rescues

Safest lowest risk, lowest complexity first: Talk, Reach, Throw, Row, Go, Helo

Safest and fastest first Safe, Simple & Fast is always

best

Safest and fastest, preparation and pre planning to reduce options which increases response speed.

Tell yourself the story

1.06 Safety Zones and Leadership

The environment a group paddles in can be broken down into three Safety Zones: The Comfort Zone; paddlers are relaxed, this zone has a high level of safety. There is little challenge to the paddlers in this zone. This zone would map

to the bottom left corner, low threat, of our threat matrix. This zone can be made more challenging with good use of drills, tasks and games. Probability of swim causing injury is very low in this zone.

The Adventure Zone; paddlers are challenged within the limits of their capabilities. The adventure zone is an active learning zone where the paddlers are developing their skills. This zone would map to the middle of our threat matrix, medium threat, and hence groups should have a high level of safety awareness. Following the CLAP safety principles will help to carry out activities safely in this zone. Probability of a swim causing injury is low in this zone.

The Danger zone (Anxiety Zone); paddlers are challenged beyond the limits of their capabilities. This zone is located in the top right corner of our threat matrix, high threat, paddlers safety becomes a primary concern. Probability of a swim or injury is highest in this zone. The CLAP safety principle should be followed and hazards avoided rather than protected. This can sometimes include abandoning the activity and walking to safety.

RSR 1 RSR 2 RSR 3

Safety Zones

Participants should endeavour to stay in their comfort zone. If outside comfort zone should be lead by instructor.

Participants should venture into adventure zone but avoid situations that may put them in their danger zone.

Participants should endeavour to push the boundaries of their adventure zone and take on challenges with a safe mindset.

Leadership on the River

Laissez Faire: Free Reign, the group decide for themselves independently of each other. Usually occurs when group are in their comfort zone.

Helps paddlers to develop independence.

Democratic; The group make decisions as a whole, influenced by each other. Usually occurs when group are in their adventure zone. This will allow participants to develop an understanding of leadership decisions.

Autocratic; A minority of people make the decisions for the group. Usually occurs when the group are pushing the limits of the adventure zone into the danger zone. The participant’s safety is the groups primary concern and hence a minority of most experienced people make most of the decisions

Groups should endeavour to educate and involve



everyone in the decision making process by promoting a democratic experience where possible while encouraging independence and active group membership.

Leadership in Rescues

Depends on severity of Rescue or injury and available time Minor Rescue or injury where time is not an issue – Laissez Faire: the group decide for themselves independently of each other. Moderate rescue or injury where time is limited – Democratic: The group make decisions as a whole, influenced by each other. Major rescue or injury where time is critical – Autocratic: A minority of experienced people make the decisions for the group.

1.07 Safe River Running Methods

RSR 1 RSR 2 RSR 3

All together

To be used when people are in their comfort zone, this is a laissez faire river running style.

Everyone paddles together in no particular order

Use DICE as hand rail for primary communication Define area you will be paddling in Identify any hazards to avoid Communication system set up Emergency plan, what’s the plan if

someone falls in

Beware never to loose line of sight with the person behind you, or the future environment.

Follow the

leader

Everyone paddles together with one person at the front

To be used when people are on the limit of their comfort zone, pushing into their adventure zone, this is a laissez faire river running style.

Beware never to loose line of sight with the person behind you, or the future environment.

Eddy Like follow the leader but the leader catches eddies. Everyone following

Develop an awareness of the disadvantages of this system: Everyone



Hopping catches the same eddies with a minimum number of people in any eddy at any time.

To be used when people are in their adventure zone, this is a democratic river running style

Beware never to loose line of sight with the person behind you, or the future environment

moves at the same time. No guarantee that the last person has line of sight.

Progress is slow

Leap Frog

One person in the group catches an eddy, the next person paddles through and catches the next eddy, the following person paddles through again and catches the next eddy down, this continues until the first person to catch an eddy is a the back of the group. This person then leaves their eddy paddles through the whole group until they are at the front again and catches the next eddy.

To be used when people are in their adventure zone, this is a democratic river running style.

Be aware of advantages of this system: only one person moves at a time, but there is always someone moving.

Ensures that everyone is always watching the person behind them, hence line of sight in group is maintained.

Should be fast and efficient. There should always be at least one person moving as long as line of sight both in the group and the future environment is maintained.

Herd & Drive

Everyone stops and groups together in a safe place, usually an eddy. Rescue is set up. Group are called down one at a time.

Used when people are pushing the limits of their adventure zone into their danger zone. This is an autocratic river running style

Note this behaviour it is an indicator that things are getting hard for the group and to be careful not to push into the danger zone.

Ideally this situation should be avoided at this standard unless under the supervision of a suitably qualified

Everyone stops and groups together in a safe place, usually an eddy. Rescue is set up. Group are called down one at a time.

Used when people are pushing the limits of their adventure zone into their danger zone. This is an autocratic river running style

Use DICE as hand rail for primary communication at singularities Define the line people should paddle Identify any hazards to avoid in the

rapid Communication system set up Emergency plan, what’s the plan if



instructor. someone swims



1.08 Prioritising Rescue - Safe order of priority – STIG

RSR 1 RSR 2 RSR 3

Self Ensure you remain safe, if you get into trouble you cannot help anyone else.

Ensure your own safety, could what went wrong happen to you too?

What is the safest & quickest way to carry out the rescue?

Team Make sure the rest of the team or group are safe.

If the team or group get into trouble the situation is worsening, there are now several people to rescue.

Ensure team is safe, i.e. team is in their comfort zone; in an environment that is unlikely to get them into difficulty or cause them injury, even in the event of a capsize.

All members of the team should endeavour to maintain line of sight or regain line of sight if it is lost to ensure everyone’s safety is known.

It is no use being safe if no one knows your safe.

Team members must stay well within their comfort zone during rescues.

Use & manage the team to help in the rescue, while ensuring their safety.

The Team should not be at risk of injuring themselves.

The team should work as a unit to maintain line of sight with each other and the individual.

Line of sight with gear should be maintained if possible.

Line of sight with the future environment must be maintained to ensure self and team safety. Nothing should be run blind to carry out a rescue., i.e. where it is not possible to see or infer the potential hazards.

Individual As quickly as possible ensuring your own and the teams safety, rescue the individual in trouble.

In a rescue you can talk to the individual and the team simultaneously to ensure both are getting to safety, these are non contact rescues.

Be wary of committing to a contact rescue if the team safety isn’t in place.

As our safety awareness and rescue skills increase, in certain circumstances the STIG principle can be carried out simultaneously by efficient non contact rescues with the individual and team while beginning the gear rescue and maintaining self safety.

What is important is that line of sight is maintained with the team and the individual through out, if line of sight is going to be lost the gear should be abandoned to maintain the line of sight with the team and individual.

If a choice of line of sight occurs between the individual and the team, the rescuers should endeavour to get a



thumbs up or we are ok signal from the team before maintaining line of sight with the individual.

If line of sight to the team is lost at least two rescuers must commit to the rescue chase.

Gear Finally get to the gear as quick as you can.

The gear should only be recovered once everyone else's safety is ensured

Go for paddle then boat. You can ask the individual to take the

paddle if possible

Go for paddle then boat. Or at least ensure you maintain line of sight with the paddle if you are going for the boat first.

Paddles are quicker to sort out and are easier to loose than boats.

If gear must be chased down the river, at least two rescuers, preferably three, should commit to the chase and maintain line of sight with each other.

Develop an awareness that loosing or delaying the retrieval of gear can have a hazardous impact on the group. This can lead to dangerous situations long walk outs, night fall, hypothermia, hyperthermia.

If you rescue gear while the individual is swimming to safety, ensure you maintain line of sight with the individual until they are safe. If line of sight is going to be lost abandon the gear and go to the individual.

1.09 Self Rescue

RSR 1 RSR 2 RSR 3

Offensive Swimming

Swimming to the bank with the paddle. Swimming to the bank towing the boat

and paddle.

Offensive swimming in grade II water - Front crawl to the bank

Eddy line roll Offensive swimming with the paddle

(forward paddling) Offensive swimming with boat and

paddle Offensive swimming through strainers or

trees

Shallow water dive Offensive swimming in grade III water Surfing waves Getting out of stoppers

Defensive Swimming

Receiving a throw bag make star shape, hold like a safety belt over opposite shoulder to side thrown from.

Defensive swimming in grade II water - Back crawl to avoid hazards.

Raising head to maintain line of sight, lowering head to protect coccyx.

Keeping body limp by keeping head

Defensive swimming in grade III water Catching a rope in grade III water



back, feet on the surface and knees bent, this avoids injury and helps to absorb shocks.

Defensive swimming with the paddle (reverse paddling)

Catching a throw rope, make star shape, hold like a safety belt over opposite shoulder to side thrown from.

Catching a throw rope with paddle, paddle extension to make larger target, holding paddle and rope together on opposite shoulder to side thrown from.

1.10 Systematic approach to a rescue

RSR 1 RSR 2 RSR 3

Talk Attracting attention – shout and signal. Encouragement & Direction Command words – swim, go, up etc.

Reach Arms reach, anchored by another group member.

Extended reach with paddle.

Throw

Rope Rescues

How to throw the rope, underarm 10 metre throw

Position, Footwork, Call, Eye Contact, Throw, Hand Work, Brace

How to throw; underarm 15m, overarm 10m, sidearm 10m and recoil 10m

Position, Footwork, Call, Eye Contact, Throw, Hand Work, Brace

Using the sling for short rescues

How to throw; underarm 20m, overarm 15m, sidearm 15m and recoil 15m.

Using split rope for rescue set ups Controlling line tension to keep swimmer

on surface Using vector pulls when throwing a bag Attaching a paddle to a throw bag for

submerged casualty rescues

Foot Entrapments Stabilisation lines Pendulums

Foot Entrapments Progression of stabilisation line One rope cinche Two rope cinche

Row X-rescue using curl Unconscious casualty rescue

Revise deep water rescues. Chase boating on grade II, at least two

Chase boating on grade III, at least two rescuers



In boat rescues

Tows: Face to face tow Carries: bow and stern. Towing an unconscious swimmer

rescuers Barging – straight barge, flip and push Tows - Short tow and extended tow in

flat water using integrated harness or sling and crab.

Carries – Stern carry in offensive swimming situations

Barging – straight barge, flip and push

Go

Rescuer in the water

Unconscious casualty – swimming to and up righting an overturned kayak – flat water with no flow only!

Highlight importance of line of sight, awareness of downstream hazards and awareness of exit strategy following rescue.

Shallow water crossings, definition less than waist deep. when and where to use; depth vs speed. Downstream hazards

Single crossing with paddle support Wedge crossing, with casualty In- Line crossing Live bait rescues for surface rescues,

how, when and where to use

V lower, how, when and where to use Communication during V lower Tension diagonal. Dynamic Live Bait Rescues Live Bait Rescues for submerged

casualty (holes & siphons)

Hello

Outside help

Getting help - passers by, other water users.

Contacting emergency services, when to make the decision to call 112. What to say to the operator.

Awareness of Access

Preparing for evacuation. Keeping the casualty warm. What to do with the gear? Raise high

above water level, tie off and leave with contact number & details.

Evacuations: Packaging casualty; keeping casualty warm, making a stretcher, carrying casualty out, coping with steep terrain

1.11 Progression of Extraction

RSR 1 RSR 2 RSR 3

Knots Over hand on a bight Overhand on a double rope Tape Knot Figure of 8 on bight Rethread figure of 8 Italian hitch No Knot

Double Fisherman’s knot (for making prusiks)

Prusik knot, Klemheist ,French Prusik Clove Hitch

Clipping In Reach with hand Branch hook, made with duct tape.

Paddle can also be used if no suitable



branch can be found

Effective Pulling

Pulling in direction of arrival to pin Pulling with more than one person Changing angles & directions

Clipping in to the cockpit and rolling the boat

Anchors Setting up a simple anchor with a sling, karabiner and a clove hitch and Italian hitch. Show how to lock off Italian hitch.

Knot (or stitching) of sling should be against tree

Setting up an Anchor with a no knot

Setting up a self adjusting single anchor with a closed and open sling.

Position of knot (or stitching) of sling should be against tree.

Using more than one anchor; figure of 8 on a sling

Vector Pull Use Italian hitch or simple no knot as an adjustable anchor.

Use a vector pull to gain mechanical advantage 2:1. Be aware of reduction of advantage as angle to vector narrows (advantage lost if angle smaller than 120

o), hence anchor must

be adjusted.

Z –Drag Set up Z-drag using prusik and prusik knot, with locking off prusik system.

Pig Rig Set up pig rig using sling and klemheist knot, with Italian hitch at primary anchor to lock off

Vertical Pin Review stabilisation lines Using 1 rope and 2 rope cinches

Abandonment What to do if you can’t get the gear out; tie off with rag or other indicators hanging off rope. Leave written message.



1.12 Access & Egress

RSR 1 RSR 2 RSR 3

Gear Carrying Gear on sloped terrain Hauling boats up steep terrain How to best avoid dropping boats &

gear

Setting up a non return anchor system for hauling boats using prussic

People Setting up a belay with an anchor and an Italian hitch attached to chest harness webbing with a screw gate crab. (Jacksons style rescue). Must be quick releasable at the harness and at the anchor

Setting up an abseil with an improvised chest and waist harness made from slings and an Italian hitch.

Setting up protection on a climb out Hauling people out of gorges (healthy

and injured)

River Safety and Rescue (RSR) Training...

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