I douubt that I have much to offer many of you in terms of ideas for the cold water rescue clinics but I'll go ahead wih an explanation of what we do. Beginning Cold-Water Rescue Clinic The students have spent one evening in the pool working on a "standard" paddlefloat rescue (paddle attachment system to back deck, scoot chest onto back deck starting from in front of the paddle etc, etc.). They also work on an assisted rescue (a "T" rescue) where they learn to climb onto the back deck of their boat as the two boats are held together by the rescuer. The boat emptying manuever they learn in the pool is the one where the victim goes to the stern of their own boat and, with the boat in the inverted position, use thier own weight to help the rescuer lift the bow by weighing down the stern. With this introduction to rescues they next go on a "Wet Paddle". The wet paddle is so named because, in addition to a four mile paddle, they must get wet in cold-water rescue exercises. The maximum number of students is 12 on a wet paddle and the intructor to student ratio is 1:3 with myself acting as an additional rover. The paddle involves a simple 2 mile paddle up a beach with some mild currents thrown in and then a return down the same beach to a sandspit where we break to have lunch. At the half-way point a pair of instuctors demo a "between-the-boat" rescue and the offer is made to let students try it also (they nearly always refuse). At the end of lunch I divide the group up and assign instructors. The group is broken up into groups of 3 with 1 instructor per group (and, again, me as the rover). Next they are given their assignments: Two paddlefloat self rescues, after one of which they have to empty their boat themselves, and after the other they must paddle their boat full of water to the shore from where they are (fifty yards); and one assisted rescue of any type. The purpose of the instructors is to observe and to assist only if necessary. Self rescues are first and one member from each group is instructed to go first without any further instruction. [This is my own little sadistic idea. What I have found is that this first group has a very difficult time. It helps make a point and I have found that people are much more attentive from then on.] At his point I demo a paddlefloat rescue describing throughout it the points that will make it easiest and most effective. I also do this demo without using a paddle attachment system but simply hold the paddle up against the coaming with my hand and scoot onto the back deck from behind the paddle (which I, personally, think is easier). At this point the remaining group members each do a rescue. Once everyone has done at least one rescue I do a bit more demonstrating. First I do a roll, and talk about how nice it is not to have to empty my boat. Next I do a re-enter and roll. It takes about 15 seconds from the time I touch the water to climb out of my boat and get back in and roll up. Part of this exercise is me emptying my boat with my foot pump as I paddle about and talk. The point is not to show off but to make a very specific point about levels of reaction to a capsize. Next I almost invariably give a little demo about how to float your body to the surface, while keeping your head down so that it is easy to scoot up onto the back deck since, at least some at this point have had some trouble getting onto their decks. The students now each do another paddlefloat rescue and we move onto the assisted rescue. A member from each group does an assisted rescue and then I do another demo. The demo, this time, is of the rescuer instructing the victim to not help with the rescue but to hold onto my bow toggle while I demo how to empty a boat using a "T" rescue where the victims boat is, while still upright, pulled up over my deck in front of me before it is simply rolled over slowly as it empties. Part of this demo also shows them the easiest way to get yourself into position for a rescue while holding onto the victims boat. The remainder of the group is then turned loose to do whatever type of assisted rescue they want. What I have found, almost without exception, is that the students will voluntarily do a number of additional rescues, both self and assisted, before the day is out. Granted, there are a number of issues still not covered by the end of this beginning rescue session but, I feel as though the students now have some feel for some of the difficulties of doing a rescue in cold water, and they have had opportunity to develop a working and usable couple of rescues. I'll try in the next few days to go into how we structure the advanced rescue clinic - if people are still interested. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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