Mike Aronoff ACA ITE, BCU Coach
Overall Objective:
This course is intended to provide the minimum skills and training necessary for an adult leader, with basic kayak paddling skills, to safely lead a trip for participants who have at least beginner level paddling skills, on lakes, rivers and coastal environments in moderate conditions. Wind should not exceed 15 knots, current under 3 knots and waves/chop up to two feet. Access would be easy from a beach or float, with surf under 3 feet.
Specific Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, each participant should be able to:
Plan a trip including a float plan with appropriate travel distances; contingency plans for weather, health problems or equipment failures and notification procedures in case of an emergency.
Rate the difficulty of a trip and recognize the skills required to safely participate.
Screen potential participants.
Identify and deal with challenges and hazards.
Determine what personal and group safety equipment would be appropriate for a trip.
Describe how to organize and effectively lead a group of paddlers while on a trip including the appropriate use of discipline.
Provide the basic elements that should be included in a "put-in" talk.
Demonstrate basic paddling skills used on moderate water up to and including 15-knot
wind and 2 foot seas. Demonstrate effective self-rescue using defensive and offensive skills.
Demonstrate how to properly assist paddlers who are injured.
Demonstrate how to safely recover equipment (i.e. paddles and boats)
Demonstrate how to do boat-assisted rescue.
Demonstrate how to effect towing rescues.
Intended Audience:
Adults responsible for leading trips of youth or adults on rivers and coastal areas.
Prerequisites:
ACA Basic Coastal, BCU 2 Star or equivalent skills.
Course Duration:
8 hours as a review to 16 hours as a course.
Teaching site:
Easy water at a protected site with good access in and out of boats and a less protected area for practice.
COURSE OUTLINE
Introduction and Logistics (15 minutes)
Welcome
Introduction of instructors and participants
Course expectations and objectives
Course schedule
Insurance waivers and medical disclosure
PFD policy
Qualities of a Responsible Trip Leadership (15minutes)
Qualifications and desired characteristics of trip leaders
o
Judgment o
Competent paddler o
Good communication skills o
Sea sense o
Safety trained Trip leader
o
Applies appropriate discipline o
Makes final safety decisions including trip cancellation o
Considers the safety of the group over the wants of an individual o
Takes final responsibility Trip Leader Knows (1/2hour)
Group Organization
o
Assignment of buddy boats o
Group formations o
Diamond Communication systems
o
Audio and visual signals o
Radios Group camping ethics including outdoor hygiene – Leave no trace including stretch breaks & lunch stops
Group etiquette
Trip Preparations and Planning
(1/2 hour) Recommended Guidelines for Leader/Participant Ratio:
1 leader for every 10 participants with a minimum of 2 leaders for the first 10 participants 2:10 is recommended
Conditions or skill levels may warrant additional leaders
Appropriate site selection and determining skill level of the group
Sources of information on venues-paddlers, guidebooks, Internet, locals, radio, trip reports etc.
Develop a float plan including:
o
Driving route to and from trip o
Specific put-in, break and take-out locations with a chart and map if possible o
Daily schedules with approximate times o
Contingency plans for bad weather, special health needs, problems or equipment failures. Plans should include evacuation routes. o
Identify trip leaders and participants. Include emergency contact telephone numbers o
Emergency contact information for local rescue agency (s), governmental agency (s) responsible for chosen trip and designated emergency contact person for group. o
Attach copies of permits and documentation of permissions from private landowners when appropriate. Make assignments to secure the necessary permits and permissions.
Develop a planning and training schedule when appropriate. Include organizational, classroom, flat water and rough water sessions. If no training is planned, determine methods of verification of skills and experience.
With group input, determine trip rules for acceptable behavior and discipline consequences.
Determine food menus and cooking afloat assignments
Discuss personal and group equipment. Make assignments for specific group equipment.
Secure medical releases and parental permissions.
Discuss site-specific concerns.
Organize transportation and shuttles. Include use of possible outfitters or livery services.
> Trip Hazards and Prevention (1 hour)
Environmental Hazards
o
Air temperature o
Water temperature o
Hypothermia/Hyperthermia o
Weather/lightning Dynamics o
Tidal Currents o
Winds, fetch o
River Currents §
Straight channel §
Bends §
Right angle corners o
Eddies o
Waves Specific Hazards
o
Access and egress conditions o
Oyster Beds o
Sand bars o
Wrecks o
Weeds o
Debris and logjams o
Manmade obstructions o
Bridge abutments o
Entrapments o
Pins and broaches o
Boat traffic Difficulty classification systems
Prevention
o
Proper planning and pre-trip hazard identification o
Proper skill training o
Scouting o
Reassessing changing conditions o
Towing o
Just say "no" if uncomfortable. Better safe than sorry. Personal and Group Safety Equipment (30 minutes)
Personal
o
PFD-right type and size, change of clothes o
Appropriate paddling clothes o
Dry bags, water proof containers and packs o
Foot wear o
Night lighting o
Sleeping bag, tent, ground cloth, etc. if over night o
Survival kit (knife, matches, etc.) o
Personal items including sunscreen, medications, hygiene products, o
Items NOT to bring Boats
o
Hatches o
Bailers and sponges o
Bulkheads o
Flotation materials and float bags o
Foot braces and seating Group
o
First aid kit o
Kayak repair kit o
VHF, cell phone, flares, dye, smoke etc. o
Fire making kit and saw (Fire pan or blanket where required) o
Tow bags-rescue ropes o
Chart, Map and compass o
Waterproof tarps o
Cooking gear o
Water purification o
Sanitation equipment (some area require that human waste be carried out) The Put-in Talk (30 minutes)
Discuss weather and water temperature for the day
Review trip plan for day including known hazards and plans to deal with them.
Review paddling partner and buddy boat assignments
Discuss responsibility of buddy boats, lead boat and sweep boats and group organization on river
Check PFDs for size and fit
Check each boat for safety equipment, extra paddle and that all gear is well secured.
Review audio and visual signals
Discuss what to do in the event of a capsize. Make sure wet exit procedure is clear and demonstrate/test as appropriate.
Review etiquette and outdoor ethics
Mike Aronoff ITE, BCU Coach
Review of Basic Paddling Skills (2hours)
Strokes
o
Forward o
Back o
Draws o
Sculling o
Sweeps o
Braces o
Rudder Maneuvers
o
Forward: boat moves in reasonably straight line o
Reverse: boat moves in a reasonably straight line o
Edging: boat turns by edge control o
Stopping in 3 to 4 strokes o
Look back brace underway o
Low brace turns Water Reading and Route Determination (10minutes)
Beaufort Scale
River Mouths and headlands
Use of eddies
Weather awareness
> Self Rescue (1 hour)
Principles of Rescue
o
Priorities - People, Boats, Gear o
Responsibilities of Victim o
Responsibilities of Rescuers o
Responsibilities of the Group o
Defensive; bracing, rolling, re enter and roll with and without paddle float Boat and Paddler Rescues (1.5 hours)
Back Deck
Towing with rigs
Towing Injured paddler
Contact Tows
T Rescue
Sling assisted
Scoop
Hand of God
Eskimo, bow and paddle
Boat Recovery
Bulldozing, herding, cowtails
Review and Wrap Up
Importance of safety and trip leader responsibility
Managing, reducing and eliminating risk
Additional training in advanced first aid, maintaining CPR certification
Take ACA/BCU courses
Evaluation of course
Participation Cards
April 1,2003 , Mike Aronoff ITE, BCU Coach