Useful Whitewater Rescue Videos
I teach a fair number or ACA Safety & Rescue classes each year. I’ve also lead numerous Instructor Certification Workshops. The ACA Level 4 Curriculum covers many topics. Some students/candidates are interested in real world examples where these skills come into play. I was quite fortunate to have Charlie Walbridge lead my Instructor Certification Class. One of the many interesting exercises was a slide show of various incidents we analyzed and took a stab at “what would we do?”. With the proliferation of Go Pro video cameras, I decided to make a collection of successful rescues that I share as exercises for Instructor Debriefing exercises.
Everyone should be very thankful to those paddlers that reported these incidents to the AW Safety Database (https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Accident/view/) and shared their lessons learned so we can all benefit. Everyone lets their guard down sooner or later – talented paddlers practice defense in depth and can manage these incidents.
Swiftwater Swimming Skills & Avoiding Flush Drowning
o https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Accident/detail/accidentid/3301/
o One of the best examples of conserving energy in big water
· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAtAFYkjVmw
o I can’t find an entry in the AW Safety Database
o NRS Instructional film, great rescue communication skills
· https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Accident/detail/accidentid/3214/
o No video but a great instructional report on flush drowning, non-tethered rescue, and the need to maintain First Aid training
Four Corners (Scene Management), Plan A, B, C, …
o https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Accident/detail/accidentid/3724/
o https://boatertalk.com/forum/BoaterTalk/1052440674
o http://www.mountainbuzz.com/forums/members/1679-albums1324-picture6247.jpg
o Not all rescue solutions are obvious. This is why we box (enclose) the rescue site, so someone is in place when Plan A doesn’t work. Also gives a great example on why bulk heads in kayaks have been redesigned.
Low Head Dams
o No entry in the AW Safety Database (it’s foreign).
o Shows how difficult it is to escape this feature and challenges in rescues.
· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g6n0O7T13o
o https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Accident/detail/accidentid/4034/
o Better example of recirculation, note how small the drop is.
· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW65pWAjDgo
o I can’t find an entry in the AW Safety Database (it’s old, 1975)
o Shows the hazards to rescue professionals dealing with low head dam rescues.
· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3Sc27E6ZCU
o Nice video showing a wide variety of professional rescue techniques
Bad Hydraulic
· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl-LjPG7ltc
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDDgOnDuDAE
o No entry in the AW Safety Database (February 2015)
o This is a great training video, lots of challenges. It’s really special since you have videos from both the rescuer and the person needing assistance.
Reach Rescue
· https://www.facebook.com/failarmy/videos/1252419981521828/
o Unknown if in the AW Safety Database (January 2017)
o Fast, simple, effective and no ropes. Great example of RETHROG.
Hypothermia
· o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz3gy5XyaBo
o This is such a great training resource (not an incident)
· o https://www.soundingsonline.com/voices/hypothermia
o This is such a great training resource (not an incident)
Tethered Rescues
· o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o43JnQknus&feature=youtu.be
o Not in the AW Safety Database.
o The Green River Race has the most incredible safety crew imaginable. Lots of great examples of tethered rescues at Gorilla including the most famous clip at the 3 minute point.
Sieve & Stabilization Line Rescue
· o https://www.instagram.com/p/BaR1ouwA8ks/
o https://www.facebook.com/african.river.rat/videos/1256292557850175/
o https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Accident/detail/accidentid/22248/
o https://thinkrain.blogspot.com/2006/09/initiation.html?m=1
o Many pins have taken place at this spot and the hazard is well documented. This is a great example in the use of a stabilization line.
Strainers
o https://www.adn.com/outdoors-adventure/2017/08/15/daring-rescue-on-six-mile-creek-caught-on-video/
o https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Accident/detail/accidentid/14298/
· o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvzumGifKPA&t=170s
o Couldn’t find an AW Safety Database entry.
o Well narrated. Tethered rescue, hands on is key!
Solo Paddling·
o https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Accident/detail/accidentid/4096/
o Paddling solo is one of the most common contributing factors to all reported incidents in the AW Safety Database.
Throw Rope Skills
· o https://vimeo.com/72792859
o AW safety database entry unknown.
o Few films show very clearly why we need to practice our throw rope skills.
Undercut Rescue
· o https://vimeo.com/150611975
o No AW Safety Database entry, this was during a race on Daddy’s Creek.
· o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0xgRKB3Vu4&t=19s
o No AW Safety Database Entry (Foreign)
o Very close call
Hands On, Near Drowning, Situational Awareness, Equipment Trap
· o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvzumGifKPA&t=170s
o https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Accident/detail/accidentid/4396/
o Excellent rescue with a lot of challenges.
Raft Unpinning
· o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nIAmxDinzU
o Very challenging place to unpin a raft, worse yet – a bucket boat.
Scouting!
· o https://www.facebook.com/lance.beaber/videos/191139297696956/
o No AW Safety Database report.
o Many paddlers these days choose not to scout when necessary. Yes it’s inconvenient but in a few cases may save your life as well as your friends.