WATER SAFETY 

As many of would have read in the press over the past years there have been many deaths with school groups and others visiting water sites, especially here down in South Wales on our Gorge walking sites especially in the Dinas Rock Area.  I often hear many judging why these deaths occur and while we can learn from each and every accident, I believe we should put our house in order before we challenge others. 

Much of what will be written over the next few paragraphs has come from working with many Gorge walking – Coasteering groups, providing technical advice to many centres throughout the UK, my work as a white water safety and rescue provider and surf lifesaving and the work and experience of many white water experts: Loel Collins, Dave Luke, Ray Goodwin, and too many more to list.   

WHAT TYPES OF GORGES AND COASTEERING SITES ARE THERE? 

GORGE WALKING: 

There are four different types of Gorge or Beck (river) to be encountered and often a mix of them all is encountered on a single journey: 

1. Flat and dry (little water running not enough to move our clients standing unsupported. (WGL / MLA summer award holder territory*)
2. Flat and wet (enough water to move our client’s unsupported i.e. deep water)(Canoe coach level 3 territory*)
3. Steep and dry (aside of water that will have enough power to hinder progress SPA or MIA territory*)
4. Steep and wet (Progressing through water that will hinder your clients ability debatably CIC territory*).

This is a very rough static site evaluation however it does broadly capture the types of water we work on.  We also have to look at are we working up the river (which is common where I work in South Wales) or do we come down the river “Canyoning” which holds a different and often much higher degree of risk on certain sites. 

It stills requires an appropriate water based life guarding qualification when you go out with the intention to work next to water.  

Coasteering: 

Yes you guessed it these can be split up and placed in a similar matrix: 

Option 1:        Non tidal no ropes (walking on the cliffs next to the sea depending where you work easy to difficult remoteness etc but essentially within the remit of the MLA summer *) 

Option 2:        Non tidal with ropes (With the exception of Tyrolean traverses over land or water and under single pitches then a SPA will be able to under take this role, multi pitch MIA remit *) 

Option 3:        Tidal with out ropes (not deep water this knee high dry activity will take your clients to areas below the water line but will not undertake climbing with the use of ropes or the need for this.  This area is open to often the greatest risk of judgment with tides etc so some formal tide training is essential along with wave prediction etc *) 

Option 4:        Tidal with ropes (Here we go, as above but with the use of ropes either journeying or other, As hauling or other evacuation skills are involved then this must be the role of the MIA, with some formal tide training is and wave prediction etc*.) {The etc is here because it is a vast area.} 

Option 5:        Deep water Coasteering (full blown out swimming, jumping off cliffs, Zorn’s or area exploration with out climbing ropes. *) This is the area that there is defiantly no national training or evaluating for. 

* WHAT WATER BASED QUALIFICATIONS SHOULD I HAVE? 

Appropriate water based lifesaving qualification.  There is no way any of us could stand up in a court and say we went out with the intention of working next to water and did not have a life saving qualification!   It needs to deal with resuscitation and water based injuries.(lovely and non specific for us)   

Some useful courses for inland work are: 

White Water Safety and Rescue: 

This is a boat based award however if you talk to the course providers then they will be able to put together a non boat based programme and provide an in-house certificate for you or your organisation.  It is the most appropriate award (my belief) as you do not go out with the intention to rescue but put in place an “Avoidance is better than cure” attitude and will use the equipment at hand.   

Swift Water Rescue Technician  

Unlike the WWSR course the Swift Water Technicians level 1 (SRT1) course used by rescue services (fire brigades etc) go out only with the intention of rescuing not running programmes and will have much greater access to rescue equipment and is not what we do. 

Surf Life Saving Association (SLSA) & Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS)  

The RLSS also provide training and evaluation at site specific areas.  I have not yet had the pleasure of attending one so I do feel that I cannot evaluate its effectiveness as do the SLSA.   

There is nothing stopping AMI members training up as examiners on either the SLSA or the RNLSS and using these established organisations to deliver training and evaluation on our behalf or doing it our selves in house. 

If you are working on exposes coast then we need to be looking at some beach life guarding award or surf life saving awards along with some experience training in the type of activity that is being undertaking and a technical advisor is the best person for this.  (Maybe the AMI should have a list of TA’s who specialise in these areas). 

I have prepared some syllabuses and evaluation for both Coasteering and Gorge Walking, for those of you that wish to train and evaluate these.  I am willing to provide these free if you contact me direct or via Miles Stone our professional officer. 

SOME GUIDELINES TO FOLLOW? 

Always wear the correct safety equipment when working next to water (3meters from the waters edge)  Most accidents happen in this area and are trips slips that end in the water.   

• Water based helmet
• Buoyancy Aid
• Throw line and a knife (clean rope technique)
• Clothing and footwear to suit the conditions

USE CLAP? 

Communications, between you, your assistant and your clients is essential this will need to be no verbal as well as verbal. 

Line of site, you will need to keep visual contact with all your students at all times other wise how do you know they are safe? 

Avoidance is better than cure, by planning, training briefing etc we can foresee nearly all problems and therefore be prepared for them.  This is not reducing the risk but managing it better.   

Position of maximum usefulness, by placing yourself in the best positions you will be able to maximise the skills and experience you have it changes constantly and is a part of the dynamic risk assessment that we do constantly.  

SPOTTERS 

Use spotters to warn of upstream hazards. 

SWIMMERS 

Teach the defensive and aggressive swimming positions? 

Apply low to high risk rescue strategies 

1. Talk victim in.
2. Use your throw line.
3. Reach out with an aid.
4. Swim?

Your priorities are to the group and therefore you cannot put yourself at risk in a rescue you should be the most experiences and capable person so you priorities are SELF – GROUP – VICTIM.  If you become the second victim then your group will be put at further risk. 

This is only a quick over view and we all should input into what should be best practice. 

Your views will be appreciated and essential to the development of water safety for land users. 

Regards

Bill Beynon