Safety Afloat Whitewater requirements?

[LauraT7]

Recently our troop planned a trip to do some whitewater rafting. Although i am the Activities Coordinator - another leader took care of all the arrangements as he had done the trip before.

 

As the trip came closer, and we arranged to do the swimm tests of the new recruits to qualify them for the trip - some other safety issues came up - like -

we thought that the trip was guided by professionals, but it turns out the outfitters just gave yuou a raft, equipment and a map. many of our new boys did not pass their BSA swim test, and with no guides and not sure of the 'whitewater training' required by Safety afloat - we decided to limit the rafting to the Venture patrol (who we knew had river canoeing experience, all had their Swimming & canoeing badges and most had their lifesaving badge)

We let the Venture patrol and two experienced leaders'scope out' the trip for a possible repeat later on for the whole troop.

 

trick is - we can't find out where to get this 'whitewater training'

 

"(a)for unit activity on white water, all participants must complete special training by a BSA Aquatics instructor or qualified whitewater specialist."

 

"©except for whitewater and powerboat as noted above, either a minimum of 3 hrs training and supervised practice or meeting the requirements for "basic handling tests" is required for all float trips or open water excursions unsing unpowered craft."

 

We figured the merit badges the Venture patrol earned(all Star rank and above - swimming, lifesaving, first aide, canoeing, rowing, sailing)qualified them for "©" -but this 'whitewater training' - no one could tell us where to get anyone 'trained' - except maybe at camp with the waterfront director?

 

any other ideas of where to get the training? Or what qualifies?

 

Laura

[mk9750]

Laura,

 

I can't be certain if they do rafting training specifically, but the American Red Cross does a number of classes for basic River and Whitewater Kayaking. the Basic River class was designed for canoes and kayaks. My sons went through 5 - 1 hour classes in a pool, then Basic River, which was a full weekend, then White Water I, which was another full weekend. There is a White Water II available, but we are undecided if we want to take it or ask an ARC instructor to accompany us on a trip of our own. But I am certain that if you took at least part of what we did, it would both qualify you officially, and perhaps even give you enough knowledge and skill to do this trip both safely and enjoyably.

 

From experience in our Troop, I will strongly suggest you not underestimate the value of training. As we started accumulating kayaks, Our SM, an ASM, and his son took three kayaks out on a local river just to play around and get a feel for the boats. The ASM got forced against a bridge abuttment up side down, and without any training on how to right himself, and no training for either of the other two on how to effect a rescue, the ASM feels he was within 30 seconds to a minute of dying. We now have probably overdone our training, but it has made our program more fun knowing that everyone who partakes has the skill to handle problems that anyone in the group might find themselves.

 

Good luck on your trip!

 

Mark

[le Voyageur]

wow, what a question....okay, here's my two cents worth based on my experience running white water programs.

 

First, training. Sad to say, the majority of BSA Aquatic Directors have little to no experience in this area. So be careful here, if they can't tell you what it means when they don't see eddies behind boulders, or how to swim through a pillow, you better find someone else...

 

 

Second, a BSA Lifeguard Certification does not prepare the holder to handle whitewater emergencies. Nowhere in their training do they learn how to deal with strainers, pins, entrapment, how to read the river, weather, how to set pulley systems, or how to use flip lines and so on...whitewater is a different world where small mistakes add up quickly.

 

 

Third, find someone that is not only trained, but experience is running crews in swift water. They may cost you a bit, but the price is cheap compared to what you don't want to happen.

 

Fourth, I never take anyone on moving water who has flunked a swim test, period. You can make them part of the support crew, but keep them out of the boats. (my test are divided into two swims, the standard swim test used at camp, followed later by a 100 yard self rescue swim training sesson in fast water)

 

Look at what personal gear they need, we require class III pfd, and never allow any one to wear those bright orange horseshoe pfds. Also, never, never allow anyone to wear a puncho while in the boat, these things are drowning manchines.

Consider whistles, knives, small folding handsaws (Gerbers), small flashlights, two carabiners, and helmets as essentials, not nice to haves...

 

 

 

 

[eisely]

Echoing what le V has said, I would not rely solely on the resources within the troop for this kind of outing, unless you have someone on hand with a lot of qualifications. I would be inclined to deal with a commercial outfitter that provides guides and all the gear. It is more like being entertained than going on an outing, but the single most important thing is to be comfortable that you are in good hands.