Whitewater Canada River Safety & Rescue Course

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Time: 15 hours
Class: 6-7 hours of theory
River: 8-9 hours of practical

Evaluation:
- basic swimming and water competency skills test (Class II - II+)
- throw bag use test (dryland and moving water)
- basic knots for water rescue use test
- basic mechanical advantage assembly test

Pre-requisites:
- ability to swim in moving water (for national certification level)
- basic paddling skills (for performing boat-based rescues, and tow system use) on moving water

Note: The national certification is still available to those who do not wish to participate in the boat-based section of the course.

PURPOSE: Introduce course participants to the basic safety and rescue theories, procedures, and techniques that are effective in contributing to safe and enjoyable river travel. The focus of the course is on personal/group safety, in terms of: knowledge, safety procedures, rescue techniques, and equipment that is easily carried by all paddlers. Through this course, Whitewater Canada, and the provincial paddling associations, strive to increase the paddling community awareness of river safety measures and river rescue considerations.

OBJECTIVES: Provide an effective 16-hour course on River Safety and Rescue, which focuses on simple and effective safety and rescue procedures that are applicable by the average paddler. The course outline contains 14 hours of core material, plus a 2-hour region-specific component. The course focuses on base-level safety awareness and is generic enough to be useful for a wide variety of participants in terms of backgrounds, skills, and motivations.

CERTIFICATION: Participants seeking certification shall be required to meet the established performance objectives (PO's). The course entails a split level of attendance:
1) certification - which requires completion of all the outlined practical and theory requirements, plus completion of the written exam, and

2) certificate of attendance - which provides knowledge to all those in attendance, with no performance requirements (theory or practical).

Candidates who successfully complete the PO's receive a 3 year National Certification

WHO THE COURSE IS DESIGNED FOR: Any, or all persons who desire to enhance their knowledge regarding safe river travel. The course is simple enough to be of use to entry-level paddlesports participants, yet goes beyond that level, to provide simple procedures for effecting rescues. The course will address the needs of: whitewater paddlers, paddlesports instructors, club and trip leaders, teachers, camp counselors, school operators, paddlesports guides, and guiding companies.

EQUIPMENT: The course will focus on safety and rescue techniques available utilizing: 3-4 carabiners, two prussik or webbing loops, a throw bag, duct tape, and a knife. Some of the techniques assume that the preceding equipment is carried by more than one paddler per group. Tow systems will be covered, in theory and in practice. Each participant shall bring to the course a craft suitable for use on class II whitewater. Each participant's personal equipment will include: a helmet, a PFD, a whistle, a throwbag, footwear for working in the water, and thermal protection for working in, and around, moving water.