Kayaking

Kayaking Kayaking risk: STUCK IN AN OBJECT People Equipment Environment COMMON FACTORS Failing of not attempting to avoid an object in the river. Playing around upstream from a dangerous object. Falling out of kayak. Not knowing what to do when you are in the water (swimming) River kayaking skills not sufficient to cope with the river. Inability to roll. Broken paddle preventing someone from avoiding an object and tipping them out. Leaky kayak causing someone to tip out. Leaky or badly fitting spray deck causing someone to tip out. A strainer in the river Rocks obtruding in the river. Dangerous section of the river. Previous flood or storm causing trees to have fallen into the river. Unpredictable current. RISK MANAGEMENT NORMAL RESPONCE Make sure all people are capable enough to safely paddle the river. Don’t fool around up stream of a dangerous object. Avoid all dangerous objects. Make sure all people can roll. Make sure all people know what to do when they are floating down the river out of their kayak; feet first, head up on back. Check all equipment before trip to ensure it is working and safe. Make sure all equipment fits together and the kayaker before the trip. Always take a spare paddle. Always avoid any dangerous objects in the river. Don’t kayak a section if it is too dangerous to safely kayak. Don’t kayak the river at kayak, river, out, dangerous, try, sure, object, don’t, work, wait, trip, someone, roll, people, make, help, go, causing, before, avoid, yourself, under, towards, tip, strainer, self, section, safely, rock, paddle, one, objects, least, leaky, free, floating