Shares Sea Scout Ship 378's (The Dawn Treader) experience with the introductory swiftwater rescue course as part of the Paddlecraft Sea Scout Advancement Elective, competed 3 Sep 16
1. Sea Scout Advancement Elective: Paddlecraft
2. Complete an ACA Level 3 or Higher
Swiftwater Rescue Course
Ship 378, 3 Sep 16 1ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue
2. LEVEL 3 RIVER
SAFETY & RESCUE
1-Day Workshop Covering Essential Topics of River
Rescue
Information is Tied Together at End of Course with
Mock Rescue Scenario
Ship 378, 3 Sep 16 2ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue
3. RIVER SAFETY & RESCUE
WORKSHOP
Teaches
Recognition & Avoidance of Common River Hazards
Execution of Self-Rescue Techniques
Simple Rescues of Paddlers in Distress.
Techniques for Dealing w hazards Carrying Greater
Risk for Victim & Rescuer, (e.g., entrapments & pins)
Emphasis Placed Personal Safety & Simple Skills
Course Primarily for Boaters Who Don’t Anticipate
Paddling in Whitewater [> Class II].
Ship 378, 3 Sep 16 3ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue
4. COURSE OBJECTIVES
Promote Proactive Prevention of River Accidents
Develop & Practice Key Self-Rescue Skills
Identify & Avoid Hazards by Understanding Hydrology,
Hazards, and River Features
Focus on Fast, Low-Risk strategies for Early
Management of River Accidents
Practice Methods for Recovering Swimmers, Loose
Boats and Equipment
Practical Skills Take Place on Class II Whitewater
Ship 378, 3 Sep 16 4ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue
5. SHIP GOALS
Come-as-You-are Personal & Group Gear
Enhance BSA Lifeguard Training
Open Water
Swift Water
River-Incident Teamwork
Victim Training
Expand Boating Operation Alternatives
Whitewater (Canoeing, Kayaking, Rafting, SUPs)
Better Paddlecraft Merit Badge Instruction
Able Seaman Elective
Ship 378, 3 Sep 16 ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue 5
9. RESCUE PRIORITIES
Rescuer (Yourself)
Other Rescuers (Shipmates)
River Swimmer (Victim)
Rescuers Can Instantly Become Swimmers
Gear
Paddle
Boat
Ship 378, 3 Sep 16 ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue 9
10. RESCUE OPTIONS
Speak
Reach
Throw
Row
Go [with Assistance]
Ship 378, 3 Sep 16 ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue 10
Increasing
Order
of
Personal
Risk
11. COMMUNICATION
Rivers are Loud: Use . . .
Hand signals
Whistles
Rescue Swimmers
Ship 378, 3 Sep 16 ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue 11
12. RIVER RESCUE HAND SIGNALS
Ship 378, 3 Sep 16 ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue 12
https://www.AmericanWhitewater.org/content/Wiki/safety:start
Same Ones for
Whitewater
Merit Badge
20. DEFENSIVE RIVER SWIMMING
Protect Head
Keep Feet Up
Keep Feet Downstream
Don’t Stand Up, Unless
River Push-Up
Seat Scrapes Bottom
In an Eddy
Hanging on to Vegetation
Ship 378, 3 Sep 16 ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue 20
21. Throw
Bag
Rescue
First Shot is
Best Shot
Coil Rope for
Other
Throws
Use What is
Needed
Ship 378, 3 Sep 16 ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue 21
22. THROW BAG RESCUE
Situation Awareness
Swimmer Landing
Belay Spot
Water Hazards
Swimmer Puts Rope
over Other-Shore
Shoulder
Ship 378, 3 Sep 16 ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue 22
27. FERRYING
Objective
Go Across Current
Tactics
Swim Upstream
Swim 45ᵒ to Current
Start Upstream of
Landing
Might Barrel Roll
Defensive Swimming to
Ferrying
Ship 378, 3 Sep 16 ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue 27
29. SHALLOW WATER ENTRY
Objective
Get into Water Fast to
Start Swimming
Tactics
Protect Face w Arms
Forearms First
Arms Crossed
Hands Spooned
Shallow Water Dive
Ship 378, 3 Sep 16 ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue 29
33. WADING
Do Not Wade in Water
More than Hip High
Put Biggest Person in
Front
Forms Eddy for
Others
3 Points of Contact
1-Person Moves at a
time
Set & All Set
Ship 378, 3 Sep 16 ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue 33
37. MOCK SCENARIO
3 Swimmer Rescues
Foot Entrapment
Arm Injury
Spotter Fell in Water
Boatswain is Scenario
Incident Commander
Skipper | Instructor is
Actual Incident
Commander
Ship 378, 3 Sep 16 ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue 37
38. END OF COURSE DEBRIEF
Lessons Learned
Communication is Difficult
Use Signals & Swimmers
Keep It Simple
Less Risk = Less Team & Least
Movement
Loose Gear is Dangerous
Keep Track of Gear
Spotting is Boring
Lookout & Be Ready Anyway!
Ship 378, 3 Sep 16 ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue 38
39. COURSE LIMITATIONS
Ships Need to . . .
Practice Skills
Throw Bag Handling
Mock Scenarios
Include Wilderness First Aid
Get Injured Swimmer out of River
Adapt Lifeguard “Go” Procedures
Learn How to Use PFD Rescue Rings
Skipper Really Needs Swiftwater Rescue Training
Incident Commander
Ideally, Proceed to Level IV Training
Ship 378, 3 Sep 16 ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue 39
40. SETTING UP A COURSE
Expect to Request a Special Course
Web search Found the Course
No public offering found
Set it up 6-Months+ in Advance
Consider Offering Course to Other Ships or Public
Ship 378, 3 Sep 16 40ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue
41. COURSE CONSIDERATIONS
River Exposure is 4-5 Hours
Wear Long Pants & Shirt
Fast Drying Synthetics
Closed-Toe Shoes
At least Tennis Shoes
Bring Your Own Personal Protection Equipment
Type III PFD
River Helmet
Whistle (Plastic SOLAS or Lifeguard)
Blunt-Nose Knife (e.g., Dive Knife)
Ship 378, 3 Sep 16 41ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue
42. EVENT PLANNING
Ideally, End of Summer
Warmer Water
Slower Water
Summer Vacations are over (nearly)
Beware of Low Water Levels
Avoid Rivers Fed from Bottoms of Dams
High-Calorie Meals w/ 1-Electrolyte Drink
Avoid Hypothermia & Dehydration
Ship 378, 3 Sep 16 42ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue
43. LANDMARK LEARNING
Eagle Scout Business Owner & Instructors
Great Youth Consultants / Respects Youth Leaders
Respond to Needs of Our Program
Teach Many Outdoor Skills
WFA, Swiftwater Rescue, Paddlecraft, First Responders
Many Options to Put Courses Together
LandmarkLearning.edu
Sylva, North Carolina, (828) 293-5384
Ship 378, 3 Sep 16 ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue 43
44. OTHER SHOTS
Ship 378, 3 Sep 16 ACA Level 3 River Safety & Rescue 44
Sea Scouts 4S’s: Scouts, Seamanship, Service, Social