Posted by Bromel on March 26, 2008 at 12:50:26:
The Canoe Cruisers Association of Washington, DC will once again be offering swiftwater rescue classes this summer in June, July and August. These weekend-long classes follow the curriculum of the American Canoe Association (ACA) and will be taught by ACA-certified swiftwater rescue instructors. The classes will benefit all skill levels of whitewater paddlers, but you should at least be comfortable paddling in class 2 rapids.
Here are some of the topics that will be covered:
* Rescue management
* Building and using Z-drags
* Throwing ropes to swimmers in moving water
* Responding to mock rescue scenarios with pinned boats
* Using rescue vests
* Live-bait and strong-swimmer rescues
* Swimming over a simulated strainer
* Rescue wading
* Aggressive swimming in rapids
* Knot tying
* Review of rescue and safety gear
* Foot entrapments
* Boat-based rescues
* Vertical pin demonstration
Would you know what to do if you encountered a rescue sitution in moving water? Would you have the knowledge and skills to save somebody's life?
I recommend that all whitewater paddlers take a swiftwater rescue class at least once. And it's a good idea to take the class every couple of years to refresh your skills.
Here is the Canoe Cruisers schedule of classes:
June 7-8
July 26-27
August 16-17
To take the class, you must become a member of the Canoe Cruisers Association ($15), and most students make a voluntary donation of $35 to cover the costs of the class. For more information or to register, please email me. And don't wait! These classes fill up very quickly.
Tim Bromelkamp
Canoe Cruisers Safety Chair
tbromel[at]hotmail[dot]com