This past Saturday Eddicar and myself taught an American Canoe Association River Rescue Class for our new guides and for some experienced guides. It is a great class that informs the guides of wading and rope techniques but also pounds into their heads how to prevent rescue situations from happening.
We spent the morning at Songer’s base camp throwing rope bags, reviewing the Broach kits we carry on the river and setting up a Z-drag system (used to unpin a raft). It was great to share stories from some of the experienced guides that pertain to the rapids we run every day. The new guides were wide-eyed, focused and seemed to be sucking it all in.
Early afternoon we headed to the Middle Meadow River to put their skills to the test. The water was freezing! Thankfully it was a really hot day.
Each student had to wade across the river different ways, do a swift water entry (belly flop) and swim through a small rapid. We then had them split to either side of the river and practice getting to a person in the middle.
It was a great class because they all listened to every word. The most important conversations were about educating our rafting guests, preventing rescue situations and continually thinking about rescue scenarios as you float down the river so you are always prepared if something would happen.
The skills being taught are rarely used and need constant review. Each summer we have multiple classes involving all of the guide staff so they stay refreshed and get use to working with one another on a regular basis.
If you have a group that would like to take a class with us, we can definitely do that for you. Songer has 4 ACA River Rescue Instructors on staff. This is a great coarse for boy scouts, kayak/canoe clubs, fire & rescue squads and anyone leading other people on rivers.
Keepin it safe,
Melanie
