Dear paddlers, athletes and coaches,
I hope this note finds you well and in the midst of good paddling. Some of you are currently paddling in warm weather locations while others are braving the cold Canadian waters. This is a common year-round practice in some training centres and I would like to pass along a few safety reminders. I ask that you take time to review and share the Whitewater Code of Safety with your paddling groups.
While all whitewater canoeing and kayaking has inherent risks, many whitewater accidents are preventable. Here are some simple things you can do to stay safe.
脗路 Familiarize yourself with the CKC Whitewater Code of Safety.
- Ensure you have proper and functioning safety equipment
脗路 Wear your lifejacket regardless of boat type or difficulty of water. A third of all whitewater accidents could have been prevented if the victim was wearing a life vest; many fatal accidents occur in very easy rapids.
脗路 Know the river to prevent unpleasant surprises. Find out wh at lies downstream.
脗路 Avoid extremes of weather and water: Very high flows and cold temperatures pose special challenges to paddlers. If you don't have the specialized gear and skills needed, wait until conditions improve.
脗路 Avoid dams: Small low-head dams are responsible for 10% of river fatalities. Most are much worse than they look! Know the location of dams before launching on a river, and avoid getting too close to the upstream or downstream sides of them.
Thank you for your cooperating in ensuring the safety of our paddlers. Good luck with preparations for the paddling season.
James Cartwright
Slalom High Performance Manager
CanoeKayak Canada
