DCRC Coach Safety Handbook - Deep Cove Rowing Club

Deep Cove Rowing Club Safety Handbook

For Coaches

January3,2018

TableofContents

Introduction................................................................................................................3

Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................3

SafetyEquipment........................................................................................................4CoachBoat....................................................................................................................................................................4NormalProcedures......................................................................................................5Qualifications...............................................................................................................................................................5DecidingWhethertoRow......................................................................................................................................6PreparationforRowing..........................................................................................................................................8LaunchingandLanding........................................................................................................................................11CourseSelection......................................................................................................................................................11OnWaterConduct..................................................................................................................................................12EmergencyProcedures–GeneralPrinciples..............................................................13Priorities.....................................................................................................................................................................13RowerBuddySystem............................................................................................................................................13OnSiteAuthority.....................................................................................................................................................13EmergencyActionPlan........................................................................................................................................13EmergencyCalls......................................................................................................................................................14FireDepartment&AmbulanceMeetingLocations..................................................................................15ApproachingaRowingShell..............................................................................................................................15CoachEntryintotheWater................................................................................................................................15GettingRowersintotheCoachBoat...............................................................................................................16EmergencyProcedures–SpecificSituations..............................................................17Swamping...................................................................................................................................................................17Capsizing.....................................................................................................................................................................18Collision......................................................................................................................................................................18AvoidingCollisions..................................................................................................................................................18AvoidingCollisionswithRecreationalWatercraft...................................................................................18RespondingtoaCollision.....................................................................................................................................19

MedicalEmergency................................................................................................................................................21VictimConscious......................................................................................................................................................21VictimUnconscious.................................................................................................................................................22

RegattaProcedures...................................................................................................24HomeRegattas.........................................................................................................................................................24SafetyCoordinator..................................................................................................................................................24RegattaSafetyRequirements............................................................................................................................25

AwayRegattas..........................................................................................................................................................26

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IntroductionThishandbookdescribesthesafetypoliciesandprocedurestobefollowedbycoachesofrowingprogramsconductedbytheDeepCoveRowingClub.ThesepoliciesandproceduresarebaseduponthebestpracticesandguidelinesestablishedbyRowingCanadaAviron(RCA)andotherrowingclubs.ThepoliciesandprocedureshavebeenmodifiedtotakeintoaccounttheuniqueaspectsoftheDeepCoveenvironment.Coachesaretheprincipalaudienceforthishandbook.Thishandbookfocusesoninformationyouneedtoknowinordertokeepyourrowerssafe.Theinformationinthishandbookmaysavethelifeofoneofyourrowers.ThishandbookextendstheinformationintheDeepCoveRowingClubSafetyHandbookforRowers.Coachesarerequiredtoknowthecontentsoftherowersafetyhandbookinadditiontothecontentsofthishandbook.Ifanyerrorsarenoticed,pleasenotifythesafetycommitteeviaemailatsafety@deepcoverowingclub.com.

AcknowledgmentsTheDeepCoveRowingClubwouldliketothankthefollowingindividualsfortheircontributionstoitssafetyprogram,thecontentofthissafetyhandbookandtheemergencyactionplan:

• Judy&KeithEvans,MarineAve,Belcarra:forpermissiontousetheirdockinanemergency

• ColleenMcKenna,E-Comm:forinsightinto911callprocessing• BenPepa,RCMSAR:forinsightintotheircalloutandtaskingprocess

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SafetyEquipment

CoachBoatAccordingtotheSmallVesselRegulations1,acoachboatmustcarrythefollowingsafetyequipmentforitsownsafety:

• aPFDorlifejacketforeachoccupantofthecoachboat(thelifejacketsinthecoachbagarenottobeusedtosatisfythisrequirement)

• areboardingdevice,unlesstheverticalheightthatmustbeclimbedinordertoreboardisnotmorethan0.5metres

• abuoyantheavinglineofnotlessthan15metresinlength• awatertightflashlightorthreepyrotechnicdistresssignalsotherthansmokesignals• amanualpropellingdevice(e.g.oars)orananchorandnotlessthan15metresof

cable,rope,chainoranycombinationthereof• abaileroramanualbilgepump• asoundsignalingappliancethatmeetstherequirementsoftheCollisionRegulations2

orasoundsignalingdevice:o awhistlesatisfiesthisrequirementaslongasitproducesasoundintherange

of180–2100Hzandisaudiblefor0.5nauticalmiles(926metres)• ifthecoachboatisoperatedaftersunsetorbeforesunrise,navigationlightsmeeting

thefollowingrequirements:o red(port)andgreen(starboard)sidelightsthatarevisibleforonemilefrom

deadaheadto22.5degreesabaftthebeamontherespectivesidesoftheboato whitesternlightthatisvisiblefortwomilesinanarc67.5degreestoeither

sideofdeadasterno whitemastheadlightthatisvisiblefortwomilesfromdeadaheadto22.5

degreesabaftthebeamonbothsidesoftheboato alternatively,thewhitesternlightandmastheadlightmaybecombinedintoa

singlewhitelightthatisvisiblefortwomilesinalldirections(360degrees)TheDeepCoveRowingClubrequiresthefollowingadditionalsafetyequipmenttobecarriedoneachcoachboat:

• enginekillswitchonalloutboardmotors• enginekillswitchlanyardsecurelyattachedtocoachboatoperator• firstaidkit• clothormylarthermalblankets

1http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2010-91/FullText.html,sections204through207and2152http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/C.R.C.,_c._1416/FullText.html,AnnexIII

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NormalProcedures

QualificationsAllcoachesmustbeatleast16yearsofage.Allcoachesmusthaveatleasttwofullseasonsofcompetitiverowingexperienceorrowingexperiencethatisconsideredtobeequivalentbytheheadcoach.AllregularfulltimecoachesandregularparttimecoachesshallhaveorbeworkingtowardsacquiringeitheranRCALearntoRowInstructororRCACoachcertification.Equivalentcertificationsshallbeacceptable.Othercoachesareencouragedtoacquireoneofthesetwocertifications.Allregularfulltimecoachesandregularparttimecoachesshallmaintaincurrentcertificationtoperformthefollowingtypesoffirstaid:

• St.JohnAmbulanceCPRCorequivalent• St.JohnAmbulanceStandardFirstAidorequivalent

Asof2017,theSt.JohnAmbulanceStandardFirstAidcoursealsoincludesCPRCtraining.OthercoachesareencouragedtoacquirefirstaidandCPRtraining.AllcoachesthatworkwithyoungrowersmustundergoanRCMPbackgroundcheck.AllcoachesandotherpeopleoperatingapowercraftonbehalfoftheDeepCoveRowingClubmusthavetheirPleasureCraftOperatorCertificate(PCOC).Thepowercraftoperatormusthavethecertificateintheirpossessionwhileoperatingthepowercraft.AprospectivepowercraftoperatormustnotoperateaDeepCoveRowingClubpowercraftuntiltheyhavereceivedappropriatetrainingorfamiliarizationforthetypeofpowercraftandhavesatisfiedtheheadcoachthattheycansafelyoperatethepowercraft.Theheadcoachmustapproveallprospectivecoaches.Theheadcoachshalldeterminewhetheranewcoachrequiresanytraining.Theheadcoachshallidentifytherequiredtraining.Theheadcoachandnewcoachshalljointlydeterminehowthistrainingistobeacquiredandatwhoseexpense.Theheadcoachshalldeterminewhatrestrictionsaretobeplacedoncoachingdutiesuntilsuchtimeastheidentifiedtrainingissuccessfullycompleted.Newcoachesmayrequiresupervisionuntiltheyarefullyproficient.Theheadcoachshalldeterminewhatlevelofsupervisionisrequired.Theheadcoachshallarrangeforsupervisiontobeprovided.Theheadcoachshalldeterminewhatrestrictionsaretobe

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placedoncoachingdutiesduringthesupervisoryperiod.Forexample,thenumberofrowersandrowingshellsbeingcoachedmightberestricted.EachcoachmustreadboththeRowerandCoachSafetyHandbooksandbefamiliarwiththeircontents.Eachcoachmustreviewthesafetyhandbooksataminimumofonceperyear.

DecidingWhethertoRowDecidingwhethertoconductarowingsessiondependsontheweather,waterconditions,rowerskilllevelsandavailablerowingshells.Coachesshallevaluatetheseandanyotherrelevantfactorsbeforedecidingwhetherornottorow.Coachesmustchecktheweatherforecastbeforedecidingwhethertorow.NumerousweatherforecastsareavailableontheInternet.Thefollowingareespeciallyrelevant: CivilianForecast http://www.weatheroffice.com/city/pages/bc-74_metric_e.html Lookforthebuttonforthedetailed24hourforecast. MarineForecast https://weather.gc.ca/marine/region_e.html?mapID=03 Clickonthemapareasforforecasts.ClickontheHoweSoundmaparea forinformationaboutoutflowwinds. ForecastWinds http://windy.com/ UseyourmousetopanandzoominontheIndianArmarea.Ofprimaryconcernarepredictionsforstrongwinds,outflowwinds,poorvisibility(mistorfog)andthunderstorms.Payattentiontothepredictedwindspeedanddirection.Notehowthewindislikelytochangeduringtherowingsession.ItshouldbenotedthatforecastsarepreparedforVancouverandnotIndianArm,sotheforecastwillonlyberoughlyaccurate.Asaruleofthumb,IndianArmismorecloudyandrainythanpredictedbytheforecast.Converselywindsareusuallyweakerthanforecast,becauseIndianArmisshelteredbythesurroundingmountains.Checkthewinduponarrivalattheboathouse.WindblowingintothecovefromthedirectionofJugIslandhashistoricallybeenmostlikelytocauseroughwater.Otherindicatorsofroughwaterare:

• Thewindcanbeheardinthetreesandbranchesaremoving• Flagsandpennantsattheyachtclubareflappingbriskly• Waveactioncanbecontinuouslyheardonthebeachinfrontoftheboathouse

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Lookatthewaterattheouteredgeofthecove.Ifwhitecapsarepresent,rowingshouldbecancelledorrestrictedtothecove.Evenifwhitecapscannotbeseen,thewateroutsidethecovemaylookdarkerordullerthanwaterinsidethecove.Theremaybeadiscerniblelineseparatingthesetworegions.Thisisacluethatwateroutsidethecoveisrougherthanthewatercloserin.Ifthewindisblowingstronglyfrombehindtheboathouseoutintothecove,becautious.Youwillbelookingatthebacksofwavesastheymoveawayfromyou.Theywon’tlooknearlyasbadascomparedtobeingoutinaboatlookingbackintothecove.Whitecapsmaynotbevisibleandtheywilllooklessseriousthantheyactuallyare.Ofspecialconcernareoutflowwinds(Squamishwinds).Thesearefiercewindsthatflowoutwardsthroughthecoastalinletsfromhighpressureareasintheinterioroftheprovincetolowpressureareasoffshore.Theycanarisequitequickly,oftenreach45–55kphandoccasionallycanreach110kph3.TheyarenotgenerallythatfierceinIndianArmbutthewaterconditioncanchangefromflatwatertolargewhitecapsoveraspanof5–10minutes.Whenoutonthewater,thefirstevidenceofoutflowwindswillbetheappearanceofwhitecapsfurtherupIndianArm.Rowingmustbecancelledifvisibilityislessthan1000metres.Thefurthestedgeofthemarinaonthenorthsideofthecoveisalmostexactly1000metresawayfromtheboathouse.Ifthefurthestboatsmooredatthemarinacannotbeseenclearly,visibilityislessthan1000metres.Daylighthoursmustbeconsideredwhenthestartandenddatesofrowingprogramsarebeingscheduled.Thestartandenddatesofeveningprogramsshouldbemoreconservativethanmorningprograms,sinceanemergencywilloccurduringincreasingdarkness.Whenarowingsessionisscheduledtooccuronagivenday,coachesmustconsidertheeffectofcloudcoverondaylight.Thetableofdaylighthoursintherowersafetyhandbookassumesthattheskyisclear.Onacloudyday,itwillnotgetlightinthemorninguntillateranditwillgetdarkearlierthanshowninthetable.Rowingshouldbecancelledificeispresentinthecove.Iceisprettyrare.Itoccurswhenthelessdensefreshwaterfromlocalcreeksdoesn’tmixwiththesaltwaterandfloatsasalayerontopofthedensersaltwater.Ifweatherandwaterconditionsaremarginallyacceptable,rowerskilllevelsshouldbeconsidered.Itmaybeprudenttocancelthesessioniftherowersarepredominantlynovices.Eveniftherowerscanhandletheconditions,theywillnotenjoyorgetanytrainingbenefitfromtherowingsessioniftheyarebatteredbyrain,windorwaves.

3http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/elements/arctic_outflow.htm

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Ifweatherandwaterconditionsarequestionable,acoachshouldnottakeoutagroupthathasbothnoviceandskilledrowers.Thegroupwillinevitablyfragmentintofastandslowsub-groups.Astheonlycoach,youwillhavetokeeptrackoftwoseparategroupsinpotentiallyadverseconditions.Ifasecondcoachcannotbearranged,thebestsolutionistoassignmixedcrewsofexperiencedandnovicerowers.Anotherstrategythatshouldbeemployedinmarginallyacceptableconditionsistousequadsanddoublesinpreferencetodoublesandsingles.Thelargerrowingshellsaremorecapableofhandlingrougherwater.Ifweatherorwaterconditionsaremarginal,rowersshallnotbecoercedintorowing.Rowersshallbegiventheopportunitytodeclinetorowwithoutaffectingtheirstandinginarowingprogram.Onefinalthought…itisfarbettertoerronthesideofcautionthanpushconditionsonlytofindthatmultiplerowingshellshavebeenswampedsimultaneouslybyrougherthananticipatedconditions.Conditionsoutsidethecovearealwaysworsethanwhatcanbeseeninsidethecove.Ifyouarenotsure,don’tgo.

PreparationforRowingCoachesshouldbringtheequipmentinthefollowingchecklistthatisappropriatefortheanticipatedconditions:

EquipmentToBring WhenToBringCareorServicesCardnumber AlwaysEmergencycontacttelephonenumber AlwaysLayeredclothing AlwaysGloves Latefall,earlyspring

whenairtemperaturebelow5°C

Footwearsuitableforenteringwatertoassistwithlaunchingorretrievingshells

Always

Jacket Beforesunrise,aftersunset,coolorcoldweather

Rainjacket Rainorshowersareforecast

Headcovering Coldand/orsunnySunscreen SunnyorlightovercastWaterproofflashinglight Beforesunrise,after

sunsetCoachesmustalwaysbringtheirCareorServicesCardnumberwiththem.Intheunlikelyeventthatmedicalattentionisneeded,emergencyorotherwise,thehospitalormedicalclinicwillneedthisnumber.

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Coachesshouldcarryanemergencycontacttelephonenumber.Ifacoachisinjuredandcan’tcommunicate,police,fireorambulancepersonnelwillusethetelephonenumbertonotifythecoach’sfamilyorsomebodyelsewhocanspeakontheirbehalf.Anemergencycontacttelephonenumbercanbecarriedonawalletcard.ItcanalsobeenteredintoamobilephonebycreatingacontactnamedICEorthathasICEinthename4.Coachesdonotgenerateheatlikearower,sotheyneedheavierclothingcomparedtorowers.Becausethewaterisanopenenvironment,itisalwayscolderoutonthewaterthanontheland.Dresswarmerthanyouwouldifyouwereonland.Thebestsolutionistowearmultiplethinlayersthatcanbeaddedorremovedtocontrolwarmth.Jacketsshouldbeconstructedfromatightweavefabrictokeepoutthewind.Coacheswillfrequentlyhavetoassistwithlaunchingandretrievingrowingshells.Thisnecessitateswadingintothewater.Thecoachmustwearfootwearthatcangointothewater.Sandalswithstraps(e.g.Tevas)andshortsworkwellonwarmdays,butsometypeofbootisbetterforcoolerdays.Itshouldbenotedthat,inthewiderrowingcommunity,bootsareconsideredunsafe.Ifthecoachhastogointothewaterfromthecoachboattohelparower,thebootswillfillwithwater.Manycoachesbelievethattheweightofwater-filledbootsmaypreventthecoachfromgettingbackintothecoachboat.Sailorsoflargervessels(e.g.coastalandoffshoresailboats,fishingvessels)donotagreewiththisopinion.Seabootsarealwayswornonsuchvesselsduringroughweather.Agoodcompromisemaybetouseabootthatslipsoffeasilyeitherbeforegoingintothewaterorwhileinthewater.Pantlegsshouldnotcovertheboottopastheycanhinderbootremoval.Bootsshouldhaveneutralorpositivebuoyancy.Ondayswithlittleornocloudcover,sunscreenisstronglyrecommended.CoachesreceiveUVraysdirectlyfromthesunbutalsoUVraysreflectedoffthewater.Itisnotunusualfortheundersideofachinornosetogetburnedduetoreflectionoffthewater.Acoachwillburnmuchfasteronthewaterthanonland.Foragivenintervaloutonthewater,burnswillbemoreseverethanonland.Ifrowingwilltakeplaceafterduskorbeforedawn,thecoachmustbringandoperateawaterprooflight.ThisisalegalrequirementfortheZodiacsastheytypicallydonotprovideagoodsurfacetomountanavigationlight.Eveniftherealreadyisalightonthecoachboat,itneverhurtstohaveadditionallights.Lightsshouldbewaterproof,becausesaltwatersprayanddampnesswillquicklydestroyanon-waterprooflight.Theboathousewashroomsshallbeunlockedpriortorowersleavingtheshoreandshallremainunlockedwhileanyrowersareoutonthewater.Ifarowergoesintothewater,ahotshowermaybemoreeffectivethanablanketforwarmingthemup.4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_case_of_emergency

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CoachesmustcarryeitheramobilephoneoraVHFradioonthewaterexceptduringwinterwhenbotharerequired.IfacoachdoesnotknowwhethertheirmobilephonecompanyprovidesgoodsignalstrengthupIndianArm,itwouldbeprudenttotakeaVHFradioinadditiontothemobilephone.MostmarineVHFradiosarewaterproof.Mobilephonesarenotwaterproof.Amobilephonewillbedestroyedinstantlybyimmersioninsaltwater.Forexample,ifacoachentersthewatertoextractacapsizedrowerfromtheirshell,theyarelikelytoforgettoleavetheirmobilephoneinthecoachboat.Nowtheynotonlyhaveanemergency,theyalsohavenomeansofcommunication.Ifamobilephonewillbeused,itwouldbeprudenttogetawaterproofcasefromMECoranotherretailer.Casesareavailablethatallowthemobilephonetobeoperatedwithoutremovingitfromthecase.TherearefourVHFradiosatthedeskintheboathouse.TunetheVHFradiotochannel16whileoutonthewater.TheCoastGuardlistensforemergencycallsonchannel16.DuringDeepCoveRowingClubregattas,VHFradiosareusedforcommunication.Theworkingchannelwillprobablybe72.TheVHFradioistunedtotheworkingchannel.IfaneedforCoastGuardassistancearises,the16�9buttoncanbepressedtoquicklyswitchtochannel16.Asinglecoachcannotsafelysupervisealargenumberofrowersand/orrowingshellsintheIndianArmenvironment.BetweenNovember1andApril30,acoachwillsuperviseamaximumof9rowersinamaximumof3rowingshells.Atothertimesoftheyear,acoachwillsuperviseamaximumof9juniorrowersinamaximumof3rowingshellsoramaximumof14experiencedadultrowersinamaximumof4rowingshells.Becausewindscanariseveryquicklyinthewinterandthewateriscold,rowersarenotpermittedonthewaterwithoutproperwinterattirebetweenNovember1andApril30.Shorts,T-shirtsandsimilarclothingarenotpermittedduringthisinterval.Thecoachisresponsibleforverifyingthatallrowershaveappropriateclothing.Coachesshallensurethatacoachbagwiththeappropriatesafetyequipmentisplacedinthecoachboatbeforeleaving.Thecoachbagcontainsacopyofthecoachboat’slicense.ThelicensewillhavetobeproducediftheCoastGuardorpoliceareconductingonwatersafetychecks.Coachesarerequiredbyregulationtotakethesafetyequipmentinthecoachbag5.Ifacoachconsciouslychoosestoleavethecoachbagbehind,andsomebodygetshurt,thecoachcanpotentiallybechargedwithcriminalnegligence6.Youremploymentwiththeclubdoesnotprotectyou.Coachesshallensurethatthecoachboatgastankcontainssufficientgastocompletetherowingsession.Donotrelyupontheassurancesofothercoaches.Checkthegasyourself.If5http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2010-91/FullText.html,section2226http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/section-219.html

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youarenotabsolutelysurehowmuchgasyourcoachboatneeds,donotuseagastankthatislessthanonethirdfull.

LaunchingandLandingSomerowersmaynothavethestrength,dexterityorconditioningtosafelycarrytheirshareofaquadordoubletoandfromthebeach.Arowermayhaveamedicalcondition(e.g.abackproblem)thatpreventsthemfromcarryingsignificantweight.Thecoachisresponsiblefordeterminingwhethereachcrewcansafelycarrytheirshellbetweentheboathouseandbeach.Ifthereisanydoubt,thecoachwilleitherassistorensurethatotherrowershelpthecrewinquestion.Programsurveysconsistentlyproducefeedbackthatshellsareheavytocarry,especiallyonacrowdedbeach.Theclubwantsrowerstoenjoyrowing,somakesurethathelpisavailablewhenneeded.

CourseSelectionMostrowingsessionsextendwelloutintoIndianArm.ItiscommonforrowerstogetfarenoughawayfromDeepCovethatitwilltakehalfanhourtorowbacktothecove.Duringtherowingsession,rowerswillbesubjecttotheprevalentweatherandwillhavetocontendwithotherwatertraffic.Coachesshouldselectacoursefortherowingsessionbeforeleavingthecove.Theselectedcourseshouldtakeintoconsiderationtheweather(especiallythewinds),availabledaylight,theskillsofrowers,therowingshellsbeingusedandtheamountandtypesofwatertrafficthatarelikelytobeencountered.Ifrowingisrestrictedtothecovebyweather,itmaybeappropriatetoestablishaflowpatternforaparticularrowingsession.Thechosenflowpatternshouldtakeintoaccountprevailingwinds,commuterboattrafficfromupIndianArm,recreationalboattrafficandhumanpropelledcraftsuchaskayaks,paddleboards,canoesanddragonboats.IftherowingsessioninvolvesheadingtowardsPortMoodyorpastCatesPark,itwouldbeprudenttotakeaVHFradioandmonitorchannel12.Channel12isusedbyVancouverTrafficServicestocoordinateallcommercialboatsintheharbour.Tugs,freightersandothervesselsnotifyVancouverTrafficServicesabouttheirintentionsandtimingandreceiveadvisoriesaboutpreviouslyreportedtraffic.Ifitisdarkorvisibilityismarginal(e.g.misty),itwouldbeareasonablesafetyprecautiontoinformVancouverTrafficServicesofyourpresencesotheycannotifycommercialboatspassingthroughtobeonthelookout.Whileoutonthewater,keepacloselookoutforanypossibilityofcollisionswith:

• debris• buoys• docks• kayaks,canoes,paddleboards,dragonboats

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• recreationalandcommercialboatsWarnrowersaboutcollisionhazardsandadjustthecoursetoeliminateorreducethepossibilityofcollision.

OnWaterConductCoaches(andanyotheroccupantsofthecoachboat)mustwearaPFDorlifejacketwhiletheyareonthewater.ThecoachboatoperatormustfirmlyattachtheenginekillswitchlanyardtotheirPFD,lifejacketorclothingwhiletheyareonthewater.Thecoachboatgeneratesthemostwakeatpartialthrottle.Whensignificantwakeisbeinggenerated,thecoachboatoperatorshallchooseacoursethatavoidshavingthewakestrikearowingshell.Ifitisnecessarytopullaheadoforcrossthepathofarowingshell,thecoachboatshallperformthemanoeuvreeitheratverylowspeedorathighspeed.Coacheswilloccasionallyhavetomanoeuvreathighspeedtocrossthedistancebetweenrowingshellswhenthegrouphasspreadout.Coachesmustnevercrossalargewakeathighspeed.Theperiodicpatternofthewakecancausethecoachboattooscillateincreasinglyviolentlyfromsidetoside.Ifthewavelengthandcoachboatspeedarethewrongcombination,thecoachboatwillflip.Evenwhenthewakeiscrossedatrightangles,thecoachboatwillbounceeverhigheroffsuccessivewavetops.Slowdownbeforecrossingthewake.Thecoachboatoperatorshallnevermanoeuvreathighspeedintheclosevicinityofrowingshells.Slowdownwellbeforeyoureachthevicinityofarowingshell.Thecoachboatoperatorshallnotgeneratealargewakeormanoeuvreathighspeedinthevicinityofthirdpartyhumanpoweredwatercraft,sailingdinghiesorswimmers.Ifaproblemoranemergencyoccursthatnecessitatesareturntoshore,allrowingshellsandthecoachshallreturntoshoretogether.Thecoachshallnotdirectarowingshelltoreturntoshoreunaccompaniedorremainonthewaterunaccompaniedunlesscircumstancesallownootherchoice.

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EmergencyProcedures–GeneralPrinciples

PrioritiesThefirstandparamountpriorityisthesafetyofrowersandcoaches.Recoveryofequipmentisadistantsecondpriority.Equipmentcanbereplaced.Livescannotbereplaced.Noequipmentshallberetrieveduntilthehealthandsafetyofallrowershasbeenassured.Coachesshallnotretrieveequipmentunlessitissafetodoso.

RowerBuddySystemDuringrapidlydegradingwaterconditionsoranemergency,rowersshalluseabuddysystem.Rowingshellsshallbedirectedtoformgroupsoftwoorthreerowingshells.Aslongastherowingshellsinagroupremainuprightandabletorow,theyshallbedirectedtoremaintogetheruntilthesituationoremergencyhasbeenresolved.Unlessitisabsolutelynecessary,thecoachshallnotsendrowersbacktoshoreunaccompanied.Evenwhennecessary,acoachshallneversendasingleshellbacktoshoreunaccompanied.Thecoachshallalwayssendagroupoftwoormoreshellsbacktogether.Therowingshellsinthegroupcankeeptrackofeachotherandprovideassistancetoeachotherwhilethecoachisunavailable.Rowersinashellwillbeorganizedintobuddypairsandthreesomes.Ifashellhasswampedorcapsized,alloftherowersinabuddypairorthreesomeshallberecoveredasaunit.Nobodyinabuddypairorthreesomeshallbeleftaloneinthewater.Thereshallbenoexceptionstothispolicy.

OnSiteAuthorityTheseniorcoachpresentmustassumecommandintheeventofanemergency.Theseniorcoachmustdirectandcontroloperationsuntilsuchtimeastheemergencyhasendedormorequalifiedemergencyrespondershavearrived.Uponthearrivalofemergencyresponders,theseniorcoachmustidentifyhimselforherselftotheemergencyrespondersandcooperateasneeded.Thearrivalofemergencyrespondersdoesnotrelievethecoachofresponsibilityforotherrowersinthegroup.Theseniorcoachshallensurethateverybodyknowswhatisgoingtobedonetoresolvetheemergency.Thiswillhelpavoidpanicandencourageefficientcooperationtoresolvetheemergency.

EmergencyActionPlanIfanemergencyoccurs,thecoachshallrefertotheemergencyactionplanlocatedinthecoachbag.Theemergencyactionplanisasingle,plasticlaminatedsheettitled“InCaseOfEmergency”thatprovidescriticalinformationforrespondingtoanemergency.

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EmergencyCallsIfanemergencyarisesanditisnotobviousthatitcanberesolvedwithouthelp,callforhelp.Ifthereistheslightestuncertainty,callforhelp.Theemergencyserviceswouldfarratherhaveyouwastetheirtimethanhavesomebodybeinjuredorkilledbecausetheywerecalledintoolate.Foranemergencyonland:

1. Call911.2. Youwillbeaskedforthemunicipality.IfyouareinDeepCove,onthewestsideof

IndianArmornearCatesPark,respondwithNorthVancouverDistrict.IfyouareontheeastsideofIndianArmbetweenCampHowdyandBedwellBayorinBelcarraBayeastofHamberandBoulderislands,respondwithAnmore/Belcarra.IfyouareonthesouthernshoreofBurrardInletneartherefineriesorBarnetMarinePark,respondwithBurnaby.IfyouareeastofthesecondsetofoverheadtransmissionlinesinPortMoodyinlet,respondwithPortMoody.

3. Youwillbeaskedforthetypeofemergencyserviceneeded.Respondwithfire,ambulanceand/orpolice.

4. Youwillbeaskedforalocation.Ifassistanceisrequiredattheboathouse,theaddressis:2156BanburyRoad,attheboathouseinDeepCoveParkIfyouhavepulledoffthewateratoneofthepublicaccesspoints,refertothemapontheemergencyactionplansheetforanaddress.Asalastresort,sendsomebodytofindastreetintersectionoraddress.

5. Provideaconcisedescriptionofthecurrentsituationandthenatureoftheassistancerequired.Imaginethatyouaretheemergencyrespondersrespondingandtrytoanticipatewhattheyneedtoknowtohelpyou.

Foranemergencyonwaterrequiringawaterrescue:

1. CalltheCoastGuarddirectlyat*16onamobilephoneoronVHFchannel16.2. OnlyiftheCoastGuardcannotbereached,call911.Becauselocalemergency

respondersdonothaveboats,E-CommwilltransferthecalltotheCoastGuard(butnotbeforetheyaskseveralquestionsincasetheconnectionislost).

3. TheCoastGuardwillaskyouforalocation.Refertothemapontheemergencyactionplan.RespondfirstwithIndianArmandthenidentifyanearbylandmark(e.g.JugIsland).Givethedistanceanddirectionfromthelandmark(e.g.1kmSWofJugIsland).PleasenotethattheCoastGuardwillnotbeawareof“PrettyHouseIsland”or“CampHowdy”.Ontheircharts,theselocationsareknownasLoneRockPtandFarrerCoverespectively.Allotherlandmarksusethesamenamesthatyouarealreadyfamiliarwith.IfyourcellphonehasGPScapability,givetheCoastGuardaGPSlocation.

4. Provideaconcisedescriptionofthecurrentsituationandthenatureoftheassistancerequired.Mentionthatrowingshellsareinvolvedandthattheyareverylowonthe

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waterandconsequentlyhardtosee.ImaginethatyouaretheCoastGuardrespondingandtrytoanticipatewhattheyneedtoknowtohelpyou.

FireDepartment&AmbulanceMeetingLocationsIfavictimrequiresmedicalattentionanditisfeasibletotransportthemtoshore,responsetimewillbeminimizedifthevictimistransportedtothenearestshorelinelocationthatisaccessibletoallofthecoachboat,firedepartmentandambulance.Suitablemeetinglocationsareidentifiedontheemergencyactionplan.Thelocationismarkedonthemapontheplan.Astreetaddress,asitisknowntotheemergencyservices,isprovided.Visualreferencesforfindingthelocationfromthewaterareprovided.

ApproachingaRowingShellForavarietyofreasons(e.g.equipmentadjustment/repair,emergency),acoachwilloccasionallyhavetomanoeuvrethecoachboatcloseenoughtoaccessarowingshell.Therowingshellshouldalwaysbeapproachedfromthedownwindside.Coachboatsdriftdownwindfasterthanrowingshells.Ifyourcoachboatisontheupwindside,itwillbepushedintotherowingshell.Evenifyoucanholdthecoachboatoffwhileyouaredoingwhateveryouneedtodo,thecoachboatwilltwistinthewinduntilitswholelengthistryingtorideovertopoftheshell.Oarswillbepushedunderwaterde-stabilizingtherowingshell.Byapproachingarowingshellfromdownwind,thewindwillhelpkeepthecoachboatfrompushingintotherowingshell.Ifyoucan’taffordahandtoholdontotherowingshell,wrapthecoachboatbowlinearoundarigger3ormoretimestokeepthecoachboatfromdriftingawayfromtherowingshell.

CoachEntryintotheWaterIfanemergencyoccurssuchthatarowerendsupinthewater,thecoachwillwanttogettotherowerassoonaspossibletohelp.Havingreachedtherower’simmediatevicinity,thecoachisfacedwithadecisionofwhethertoleavethecoachboatandenterthewatertohelptherower.Havingacoachenterthewatermaybenecessary,butitisnotpreferred.Thefollowingissuesariseassoonasthecoachleavesthecoachboat:

• Ifthecoachgetsintotrouble,thesafetyofallrowersiscompromised.• Assoonasthecoachgoesinthewater,thetimescalefortherescueimmediately

extendssignificantly.• Thecoachboatwillstarttodriftaway• Thecoachprobablyhastheonlyenginekillswitchlanyard,sonobodyelsewillbe

abletostartthemotor.• Rowersmaynotbefamiliarwithoperatingthecoachboat.

Ifthecoachhastoenterthewater,heorsheshouldsecurethecoachboat’smooringlinebeforeenteringthewatertopreventthecoachboatfromdriftingawayinthewindorcurrent.Evenwhenthereisnowind,thetidewillpullthecoachboatawayfromtherowing

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shells.Thecoachcaneitherhandthecoachboat’smooringlinetoarowerorquicklywrapit3ormoretimesaroundanoarlock.Don’tbothertakingthetimetotieaknot.

GettingRowersintotheCoachBoatIfarowerhasendedupinthewater,thecoachmayhavetoassisttherowertogetintothecoachboat.Thiscanbeaproblemifthecoachissmall,therowerislargeandtherowerdoesnothaveenoughstrengthtopullhimselforherselfupintothecoachboat.Thefollowingtechniquewillhelpgetarowerintoazodiacorothercoachboatwithgoodstability:

1. Positiontherowerwiththeirbacktothecoachboat.2. Thecoachwillbefallingbackwardsawayfromtherower,somoveanyhardobjects

thatmightbelandedon.3. Thecoachcrouchesdownneartherowerandputshisorherarmsundertherower’s

armsatthearmpits.4. Inonefluidmotion,thecoachstandsupandfallsbackwards.

Theinitialstandingmotionwillraisetherower.Becausetheirbodyispartlysupportedbythebuoyancyofthewater,thiswillnotrequireasmuchstrengthasitwouldonland.Gravityandthecoach’sweightwilldotherestoftheworkofpullingtherowerintothecoachboat.Thecoachwillendupwiththerowerontopofthem,buttherowerwillbeinthecoachboat.Thistechniqueonlyworkswellifthecoachcancrouchneartheedgeofthecoachboatwithouttippingit.Itmaybenecessarytochooseapositioninthecoachboat(e.g.nearerthebow)thatminimizesthetendencytotiptheboat.Avoidthesternofazodiacastheweightofthemotorandcoachattherearofthezodiacmaybeenoughtotipthezodiacoverbackwards.

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EmergencyProcedures–SpecificSituations

SwampingIfonlyonerowingshellhasswamped,thefirstactionofthecoachshallbetodistributeaPFDorlifejackettoeachrowerintheshell.IfthePFDorlifejacketwillimpedearowergettingintothecoachboat,itisacceptabletowaituntiltherowerisinthecoachboat.Onceinthecoachboat,rowersshallensuretheyarewearingaPFDorlifejacket.Ifmultiplerowingshellshaveswamped,theremaynotbeenoughPFDsorlifejacketsforeverybody.Inthiscase,thePFDsandlifejacketsmustbepreferentiallydistributedtorowersthatwillstaybehindintheswampedshells.Whilewaitingforthecoachtoreturn,rowersshallputonthePFDsandlifejackets.Whenarowerisevacuated,theirPFDorlifejacketshallbepassedontoanyrowerwithoutonethathastoremaininaswampedshell.Thecoachshallevacuatetheswampedrowingshellandbringthecrewintothecoachboat.Itwillprobablybenecessaryforcrewmemberstoexitfromtheswampedshellandswimashortdistancetothecoachboat.Makesurethateverybodyhashisorherfeetoutoftheshoesbeforeanybodyleavestherowingshell.Whilewaitingtheirturntobepulledintothecoachboat,rowersshouldhangontothesideofthecoachboatortheshell.Ifmultiplerowingshellsareswamped,itwillbenecessarytoevacuatetherowingshellsoneatatime.Evacuatedrowersshallbeferriedtothenearestshoreline(evenifthisisfurtherawayfromDeepCove)inordertominimizethetimeawayfromtheremainingrowersinswampedshells.OnlyafterallrowershavebeenferriedtothenearestshorelineshalltheythenbeferriedbacktoDeepCoveoranotherlocationappropriatefortheconditions.Thecoachshallevacuateswampedrowingshellsinsequence.Shellsshouldbeprioritizedasfollows:

• Allrowersinagivenrowingshellshallbeevacuatedatthesametime.Thisensuresthatnobodygetsmissed.

• Moreeasilypanickedrowersandrowerswithahistoryofpoorjudgmentshouldbeevacuatedfirst.Apanickyrowerismorelikelytoexercisepoorjudgmentsuchastryingtoswimtoshorewhilethecoachisaway.

• Rowersthatareheavyand/orphysicallyweakshouldbeevacuatedsooner,becausetheymayhavetroublegettingintothecoachboatthelongertheywait.

• Rowersthathavethebestclothingtostaywarmcanbeleftlonger.Untilitistimetoretrieveequipment,oarsshallbeleftintheoarlocks.Thiswillkeeptheoarswiththeshells,butmoreimportant,theywillstickupintheairmakingiteasiertofindtheshell(s)againifrowershavetobeferriedtoshore.Ifthecoachboatisazodiac,stayawayfromthebowandsternofrowingshellsandtheriggerswhileevacuatingrowersandretrievingequipment,especiallyinroughwater.The

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sharpendoftherowingshellcanpuncturethezodiac.Theoarlockpincanalsopunctureorabradethefabricofthezodiac.

CapsizingCoachesmustrespondtoacapsizeimmediately.Ifarower’sfeetarestuckintheirshoes,theyhaveverylimitedtimetogetfree.Uponarrivingatthecapsizedshell,thecoachmustperformtheirownheadcounttomakesureeverybodyhasgottenfree.Thecoachshouldknow,butifnotsure,asktherowerswhoismissingandwheretheywereseated.Performavisualcheckundertherowingshelltoseeiftheroweristrappedintheirshoes.Iftheyaretrappedorpoorwatervisibilityprecludesverification,somebodyinthewaterwillhavetofreetherowerorcheckfortheirpresence.Ifanable-bodiedrowerisinthewateralready,theycancheckandperformthisrescuefasterthanthecoach.Ifnot,thecoachmustgointothewater.Havingfreedtherowersfromtheirshoes,acapsizeishandledthesameasaswamping.

Collision

AvoidingCollisionsTherouteselectedbyacoachfortherowingsessioncansignificantlyreducetheprobabilityofacollision.Seekoutareaswherethereislesstraffic.Notonlywillthepossibilityofcollisionbereduced,therowingsessionwillbemoreenjoyable.Overtime,coachesshoulddevelopanunderstandingofwheretrafficismostlikelytobeencounteredatagiventimeofday.Forexample,kayakersusuallyheaddirectlyoutpastthemarinaonthenorthsideofthecoveontheirwaytothePrettyHouseareaoralongthesouthshoreofthecovewhenheadingtowardsGreyRocks.CommuterboatsheadingtowardsorcomingfromIndianArmwillbeencounterednearthemarinaandpredominantlyonthewestshoreofIndianArminthemorningandevening.LargerecreationalboatswillbeencounteredmiddayonasunnyweekendheadingupordownthemiddleofIndianArm.WaterskiersarecommonlyfoundinBedwellBay.Inmid-summerthereisasteadystreamofboatsintransitbetweentheCatesParkareaandBedwellBay.Duringthesummer,thetrianglecomprisedofRacoonIsland,TwinIslandsandCampHowdyistypicallyalittlequieterthanelsewhere.TheBelcarrashorelinebetweenHamberIslandandAdmiraltypointisalsoagoodchoice.

AvoidingCollisionswithRecreationalWatercraftPowerboatsareoftenmovingatfairlyhighspeed.Theycanapproachagroupofrowerssufficientlyquicklythatitisimpossiblefortherowerstomoveoutoftheirway.Asamatterofhabit,coachesmustmaintainacontinuouswatchandpositionthecoachboatbetweenpowerboatsandrowingshells,especiallywhenpowerboatsareapproachingfromheadonorastern.Thegreatervisualcrosssectionandmotionofthecoachboatwillhelpattractthepowerboatoperator’sattention.The“bodylanguage”ofacoachboatcanbeusedtoencouragethepowerboattoaltercoursetopasswithagreatermargin.

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Coachesmustpositionthecoachboatearlyintheencounterandnotwaituntilacollisionisimminent.Ifalastseconddashismade,thepowerboatoperator’sattentionmaybedrawntothecoachboatandawayfromtherowingshellsthattheyareapproaching.

RespondingtoaCollisionDespitediligentcareandattention,oneofyourrowingshellsmaycollidewithanotherwatercraftorswimmer.Theworstcasescenarioisalargepowerboatrunningoveroneofyourquadsatspeed.Itisanunpleasantreality,butthisscenariocaneasilyoverwhelmyou,sohowyourespondmaydeterminewholivesandwhodies.Itisimperativethatthecoachrespondsquickly.Youwillalmostcertainlybethefirstresourcetorespond.Itiscriticalthatyounotfreezeintoinaction.Evenifyouarereadytopanic,picksomebodyinthewatertohelp.Momentumwillkeepyougoing.Ifyoucanremaincalmandcollected,thefollowingresponsestrategymayhelpyou:

1. Gettothesceneofthecollisionasquicklyaspossible.Directanyotherrowingshellstojoinyouatthescenebuttoremainashortdistanceaway.

2. Identifyandlocateeverybodyincludingthirdparties(e.g.aswimmer).3. Assesstheconditionofeachindividual:

a. Isanybodyunconsciousorunresponsive?b. Isanybodysuccumbingtopanicorreactingstrangely?c. Aretheresignsofbluntforcetrauma?d. Aretheresignsoflacerations?

4. Decidewhatordervictimswillbehelpedandwhowillhelp.5. Communicatetheplantoanybodywhoisabletohelp.6. Implementtheplan.7. CalltheCoastGuardforassistance.

Letsexpandoneachofthesesteps.Afteryoureachtheaccidentsite,makesureyoushiftyourmotorintoneutraltoavoidcausinginjurytoanybodyinthewater.Iftheaccidentsceneislocalized,wrapyourbowlinearoundanoarlockafewtimestopreventyoufromdriftingaway.Anyunaffectedrowingshellsshouldproceedtotheaccidentsitebutnotsoclosethatthereisariskofgettinginthewayorhittingavictimasecondtime.Thereasonwhyunaffectedrowingshellsshouldmovecloseristhattherowerswillbeabletohelp,evenifalltheycandoisholdsomebody’sheadabovewateruntilyoucangettothem.Ifanybodyappearstobemissing,checkanyoverturnedrowingshells.Somebodymaybeunconsciousordisabledandtrappedintheirshoes.Donottrustvictimstogiveanaccurateself-assessmentoftheircondition.Therehavebeencountlesssituationswherevictimsdidnotrealizetheywerehurtanddidnotproperly

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understandthedegreetowhichtheyhavebeenhurt.Somebodywhoappearstobefinenowmaylapseintounconsciousnessinafewminutes.Topickanorderforassistance,usetheprincipleoftriage.Triagedividespeopleintothreegroups:

• Theconditionofsomevictimswillnotdegradeatallorsignificantlyiftheyareignoredinitially.Theymaybeinthewaterbuttheyareconscious,incontroloftheirfacultiesandhavenowoundsorminorwounds.

• Somevictimswilldieiftheyarenotattendedtoquicklybutcanbekeptaliveiftheyarerescuedandgivenfirstaidimmediately.Agoodcandidateforthisgroupisanybodywhoseconditioncanbedramaticallyimprovedwithlimitedeffort.

• Somevictimsmaybedeadalreadyorwilldiedespiteanyrenderedaid.Acandidateforthisgroupissomeonewhowillrequirealotoftimeandattentiontoavoiddeath.

Yourpriorityshouldbethesecondgroup.Havealluninjuredandlightlywoundedvictimsswimtoyourcoachboatorpreferablytoanearbyrowingshell.Theyshouldtakewiththemanybodywhoisnotgoingtobedealtwithimmediately.Rowersinthenearbyrowingshellsshouldholdontoeverybodyincludingthosewhoappeartobefine.Somebodywhoinitiallyappearstobefinemaylapseintounconsciousnessandslipawaywithlittleornowarning.Itmaybeappropriatetohaveanuninjuredvictimorarowerfromanearbyrowingshellgetintothecoachboattohelpwithvictims.Don’toverloadthecoachboatwithpeople.Anybodywithaseriouslaceration,whoislosingbloodquickly,shouldbehelpedimmediatelybeforetheylapseintounconsciousness.Applypressuretothewoundorapplyatourniquet.Possiblecandidatesforatourniquetincludeaheavinglineinthecoachbag,theBostonWhaler’sgastankstrap,abowline,aquickreleaselacefromapairofrowingshoes,athinlong-sleevedshirt,etc.Anybodywhoisunconsciousorunresponsivemayhaveingestedwater.StartCPRandrescuebreathing.Choosingwhethertodealfirstwithaseriouslacerationorsomeonewhoisunconsciousorunresponsiveisnotaneasychoice.Inthelattercase,youhave5–10minutesaftertheingestionofwaterbeforeoxygendeprivationisfatal.Ifsomebodycanhelp,trytodealwithbothvictimsconcurrently.Anyvictimswithbrokenbonesandotherconsequencesofbluntforcetraumashouldberemovedfromthewaterassoonaspossible.Onceoutofthewater,theirinjuriescanbedealtwithlater.Ifthecollisionisserious,assignsomebodytocalltheCoastGuardasearlyaspossible.Theywon’tbeabletogettoyouthemselvesquickly,buttheymaybeabletodirectotherboats

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nearyoutorespond.Anybodywhocanhelptreatand/ortransportvictimsisvaluable.Ifatallpossible,useaVHFradiotocalltheCoastGuard.Theemergencycallcanbeinitiatedquickerandwillattracttheattentionofnearbyboatersmorequickly.Thecoachmusttrytoavoidgoingintothewatertohelpvictims.Getanuninjuredorlightlyinjuredpersoninthewatertoassist.Ifthecoachgoesintothewater,thetimerequiredtoassistavictimincreasessignificantly,becausethecoachhastogetbackoutofthewaterbeforesheorhecanextractthevictimintothecoachboat.Thecoach’senergywilldisappearquicklyinthewaterduetocoldandphysicalexertion.Thecoachmayrapidlybecomeanothervictimandthatwillnothelpanybody.Itmaybeappropriatetoassignsomeonetoassistwithcoachboatmanoeuvring.Itisbestiftheydoitwithoarsratherthanthemotor.Theywillprobablynotbefamiliarwithcoachboatoperationorthespecificcoachboat’speculiarities,soitmaybedangeroustohavethemoperatethemotorinthevicinityofvictimsinthewater.Itwouldbeappropriatetohavesomebodyelseoperatethecoachboatwhiletransportingvictimstoshore,butagain,onlyanexperiencedboatoperatorshouldmanoeuvrethelastfewfeetunderpower.Aninexperiencedoperatormayruntheboatsufficientlyharduponthebeachthatitcan’tbepushedoffagain.Anearlypriorityshouldbetogetvictimsoutofthewater.Youwillbebetterabletofullyassesstheircondition.Onceeverybodyisoutofthewater,itispossibletotransportvictimstoafiredepartmentandambulancemeetinglocationonthenearestshoreline.EnlisttheaidoftheCoastGuard.Theymaybeabletogetassistancetoyouforvictimtransport.Theycannotifythefiredepartmentandambulanceonyourbehalf.Theycandirectthoseservicestorespondtotheappropriatelocation.YoucanhelptheCoastGuardbyidentifyingthenearestfiredepartmentandambulancemeetinglocation(seetheemergencyactionplaninthecoachbag).

MedicalEmergencyRowingisastrenuoussport.Thehighintensitycantriggerorexacerbateamedicalproblem.Forexample,nobodyshouldbesurprisedaboutthepossibilityofamiddle-agedrowerhavingaheartattack.Medicalproblemscanoccuratanyagehowever.InJune2012,a24yearoldSerbianrower,trainingfortheWorldRowingCup,collapsedanddiedduringatrainingsession.Coachesmustkeepaclosewatchforsymptomsofamedicalproblem.Themostobvioussymptomistherowercollapsing.Lessobviousisanyoneofanumberoflessersymptomsthatdonotresultinunconsciousness.Itisnotpossibleinthelimitedspaceofahandbooktolistallpossiblesymptoms,eveniftheauthorwasqualifiedtodoso.Thebestadvicethatcanbegivenistobeonthelookoutforunusual,out-of-characterbehaviour.

VictimConsciousIfamedicalproblemissuspected,andtherowerisstillconscious,attempttocommunicatewiththemtodeterminethenatureandseriousnessoftheproblem.Bewarnedthatvictims

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willprobablydownplaytheseverityoftheproblem.Findoutwhatsymptomstheyarefeeling,bothtypeandseverity.Iftherowerweretocollapselateron,thisinformationmaybeusefultoemergencyresponders.Basedontheinformationobtainedfromtherower,determinewhethertherowingsessionshouldbeterminated.Erronthesideofcaution.Iftherowerandcoacharenotcompletelycertainwhattheproblemisandwhatitsseverityis,itwouldbeprudenttoturnaroundandheadbacktoDeepCove.Dependingonseverityofthesymptoms,itmaybeappropriatetoplanacoursethatremainsclosetotheshorelineandpossiblefiredepartmentandambulancemeetinglocations.Ifadecisionismadetoreturn,minimizetheexertionthatthevictimmustexpendtogethome.Ifthevictimisinadoubleorquad,donotletthevictimrow.Lettheotherrowersbringtherowingshellhome.Ifthevictimisinasingle,transferthemtothecoachboatandtowthesinglehome.Allrowersandrowingshellsmustreturnwiththecoachboat.Dependingontheseverityofsymptoms,itmaybeprudenttocalltheCoastGuardor911andaskthatthefiredepartmentandambulancerespondtoeitherthegovernmentwharfinDeepCoveorthenearestfiredepartmentandambulancemeetinglocationonshore(seetheemergencyactionplaninthecoachbaginthecoachboat).

VictimUnconsciousIfarowercollapsesandisunconscious,thecoachshallimmediatelyplaceanemergencycalltotheCoastGuard.Ifthevictimcanbeextractedfromtheirrowingshellandtransferredtoshore,theCoastGuardcanarrangeforfiredepartmentandambulancetorespond.Ifnot,theCoastGuardwillarrangeforemergencyresponderstorespondtotheon-wateraccidentsitebutitwilltakeawhile.Ifavictimhascollapsedinasingle,theywillprobablybeinthewatershortlythereafter.Thevictimcollapsingmaybeindistinguishablefromacapsizeexceptthattheywillbeunabletoraisetheirheadabovewaterandmayimmediatelystarttodrown.Thisisagoodreasonwhyitisimperativethatthecoachrespondtoallapparentcapsizesimmediately.Uponarrivingatthesingle,acollapseshouldbesuspectedifthevictim’sfaceisinthewaterandtheyarestillattachedviatheirshoestotheshell.Thecoachmustimmediatelygettherowerdetachedfromtheirshoesandintothecoachboat.StartrescuebreathingandCPRasneeded.Ifavictimhascollapsedinadoubleorquad,theotherrowerswillprobablynoticebeforethecoach.Therowersshallwavetheirarmsupanddowntoattracttheattentionofthecoach.Whilewaitingforthecoach,theotherrowersshoulddetachtheirownfeetandthevictim’sfeetfromhisorhershoesiftheycanbereached.Ifthevictimisinaquadandnotinbowseat,theirtorsoshouldbelaidbackacrosstheriggerandlegsoftheroweraheadofthem.ThatrowershouldinitiateCPRand/orrescuebreathingifnecessary.

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Uponarrival,thecoachshalltransfertheunconsciousvictimtothecoachboat.Thiswillbedifficulttodowithoutcapsizingtherowingshell,especiallyifthevictimisnotinthemosteasilyaccessiblestrokeorbowseats.Thesimplestproceduremaybeasfollows:

• Removethevictim’sfeetfromtheirshoesifnotalreadydone.Thecoachwillprobablyhavetodothisifthevictimisinstrokeseat.

• Thecrewshallexitfromtherowingshellintothewater.• Thecrewshallswimtothefarsideoftherowingshellfromthecoachboat.• Oneofthecrewmembersshallholdontothevictimtopreventthemfromtoppling

intothewater.• Thecrewshallraisetheriggersontheirsideoftherowingshellsothenearside

riggersarejustunderwater.• Iftherowingshellthreatenstocapsize,thecrewcanpulldownontheriggerstokeep

theshellfromoverturning.• Thecoachshallmanoeuvrethecoachboat’sbowoverthenearsideriggersuntilthe

bowisclosetothevictim.• Thecoachshallliftthevictimintothecoachboat.• Thecrewshallenterthecoachboat(probablyfaster)orre-entertherowingshell.

Ifpossible,anablebodiedrowershallenterthecoachboattohelpwithCPRandrescuebreathing.ThecoachcannotoperatethecoachboatandatthesametimeperformCPRandrescuebreathing.Ifthevictimcanbetransferredtothecoachboat,itisimperativethattheybetransportedassoonaspossibletomeetupwithemergencyresponders.Thiswilleitherbeafiredepartmentandambulancemeetinglocationonshore(seetheemergencyplaninthecoachbaginthecoachboat)oranon-waterlocationdesignatedbytheCoastGuardwherethecoachboatcanmeetwithemergencyresponders.Ifthecoachhastotransportanunconsciousvictimtoemergencyresponders,theremainingrowersshallheadforthenearestaccessibleshoreline.Ifthecoachisconcernedabouttheirabilitytosafelyreachtheshoreline,heorsheshallaccompanytherowerstotheshoreline.Uponreachingtheshoreline,rowersshalldisembarkandawaitthereturnofthecoach.Rowersandcoachesmustnotassumethatthecoachwillbeabletotransportthevictimtoemergencyrespondersandquicklygetbacktotherowers.Thetripwillprobablytakealotlongerthanexpected.

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RegattaProcedures

HomeRegattasTherelevantsubsetofthesafetypoliciesandproceduresinthishandbookshallapplyatregattashostedbytheDeepCoveRowingClubinDeepCove.Inaddition,therearespecificprocedurestobefollowedattheseregattas.ItmustberecognizedthattheDeepCoveRowingClubisresponsibleforthesafetyofallparticipantsinitsregattas,notjustthemembersoftheDeepCoveRowingClub.Regattaorganizersshallensurethatallparticipants,andespeciallyvisitingparticipants,areacquaintedwithrelevantDeepCoveRowingClubsafetypoliciesandprocedures.

SafetyCoordinatorRegattaorganizersshallappointasafetycoordinatortoberesponsibleforsafetyduringtheregatta.Thesafetycoordinatorwillpreferablynothaveotherdutiestoperformduringtheregatta.Otherdutieswillalwaysappeartohavehigherpriorityandmoreimmediatedeadlineswiththeresultthatsafetyisnotgiventheattentionitdeserves.Thesafetycoordinatorwillformulateasafetyplanfortheregatta.Theregattasafetyplanwillsatisfytherequirementsofthishandbook.TheregattasafetyplanwillsatisfytherequirementsofRowingCanadaumpiresofficiatingattheregatta.Theregattasafetyplanwillbeintegratedwithgeneralregattaplanning.Thesafetycoordinatorwillberesponsibleforacquiringresources(volunteers,equipment)toimplementthesafetyplan.Beforeandduringtheregatta,thesafetycoordinatorshallliaisewithumpiresandvisitingrowingclubs.Thesafetycoordinatorwillbriefallcoachesandrowersontheregattasafetyplan.PastexperiencehasdemonstratedthatvisitingrowersdonotadequatelyappreciateDeepCove’sbeachlaunchingenvironment.RocksandbarnaclesareprevalentonPanoramabeachatalltidelevelsandtheboathousebeachatlowtide.Rowersmovingaroundinshallowwaterquicklystirupsiltthathidesthepresenceofthesedangers.Atmostregattas,afewrowershavetobetreatedforcutsfrombarnacles.Thesafetycoordinatorshallensurethatallvisitingclubsarenotifiedaboutthenecessityofwearingfootwearthatprotectthesolesofthefeetandankles.Duringtheregatta,thesafetycoordinatorshallmonitorconductoftheregatta,weather,waterconditions,boatingtrafficandanyotherrelevantfactorsthatmightaffectregattasafety.Thesafetycoordinatorshallhavetheauthoritytoimmediatelysuspendoradjusttheconductoftheregattaatanytimeifaserioussafetyissueisdetected.Anexamplewouldbesuspensionoftheregattaifathunderstormweretooccur.

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RegattaSafetyRequirementsRegattaorganizers,volunteersandumpiresshalluseVHFradios,settoacommonradiochannel,tomanagetheregatta.Fromasafetyperspective,VHFradiosaremosteffectiveforquicklycommunicatinghighprioritysafetyinformation(e.g.confirmingthatrowershavenotgonemissing,suspendingracingduringbadweather,ensuringsafetyboatcoverage).ThesafetycoordinatorshallcarryaVHFradioatalltimesduringtheregatta.EachsafetyboatshallbeequippedwithaVHFradio.IfasafetyboatiscarryinganumpirewithaVHFradio,theumpire’sradiowillsatisfythisrequirement.Atleastonebeachmarshal,andpreferablyatleasttwo,shallbedeployedateachbeachusedforlaunchingorlandingrowingshells.Thebeachmarshal(s)shallberesponsibleforcoordinatingthemannerandorderinwhichshellsarelaunchedandlanded.Beachmarshalsshallberesponsibleforcoordinatingthecarryingofrowingshellstoandfromthebeachsoastominimizetheriskofpeoplebeinghitbyarowingshell.Becausethisdualresponsibilityrequiresthatattentionbedirectedinoppositedirections,itispreferredthattherebeatleasttwobeachmarshalsateachbeachandatleastoneofthemarshalsshouldfocusonmonitoringcarriedrowingshells.Safetyboatsshallbedeployedtomonitorrowersonthewaterduringtheregatta.Safetyboatsmayormaynotcarryanumpire.Asufficientnumberofsafetyboatsshallbedeployedtoensurethatanygivenrowingshellisinvisualsightofatleastonesafetyboatatalltimeswhiletherowingshellisonthewater.Safetyboatsthatarecarryinganumpireandactingasachaseboatshallnotberesponsibleformonitoringrowingshellsthatarenotactivelyracingontheracecourse.Eachrowingshellthatisnotactivelyracingmustbeinvisualsightofanon-chasesafetyboatatalltimes.Visualmonitoringofrowingshellsshallcommencefromthetimetheylaunchuntilthetimetheyland.Visualmonitoringisusuallyweakestimmediatelyafterlaunchandjustbeforelanding,becausetherearetoofewsafetyboatstojustifystationingthemnearthebeachesandthevisualenvironmentnearthebeachesiscluttered.Onealternativeistohavebeachmarshalsberesponsibleformonitoringrowingshellsnearthebeaches.Thisalternativeshallonlybeconsideredsatisfactoryifatleastonemarshalateachbeachhastheabilityatalltimestocommunicateimmediatelywiththeon-watersafetyboats.AVHFradiotunedtoacommonworkingfrequencywillsatisfytheimmediatecommunicationrequirement.Acellphonedoesnotsatisfytheimmediatecommunicationrequirement.Atleastonesafetyboatshallcarryanoperationalmegaphone.Thismegaphonewillbeusedtoquicklypasssafetymessagestorowers(e.g.acommandtogetoffthewaterduetoanearbythunderstorm).Anumpire’smegaphonecanbeusedtosatisfythisrequirementaslongastheumpireispositionedsothattheirmegaphonecanbeheardbythemajorityofrowers.

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ForregattasthatextendoutintoIndianArm(e.g.theDeepCoveClassic),atleastonesafetyboatshallbepositionedalongtheracecourseinthemiddleofthearm.Inadditiontoitsnormalduties,themid-armsafetyboatshallberesponsibleforreportingwaterconditionsandweathertothesafetycoordinatorandregattaorganizers.Themid-armsafetyboatshallreachitsassignedpositionandmakeafirstreportbeforeanyrowersstarttorace.Themid-armsafetyboatshallcontinuetoreportallsignificantchangesinweatherandwaterconditionsuntilthelastrowingshellreturnstothecove.Themid-armsafetyboatshallberesponsibleformonitoringrecreationalboatstransitingupanddownIndianArm.Themid-armsafetyboatshalluseamegaphone,VHFradioand/orhandsignalswhereappropriatetoencouragerecreationalboatstoslowdownand/orchangedirectiontominimizerisktorowingshells.Themid-armsafetyboatshallshieldrowingshellsandusebodylanguagetodirectrecreationalboatsasdiscussedearlierinthisdocument.Thisassignmentisbesthandledbythelargestsafetyboatavailable.

AwayRegattasTherelevantsubsetofthesafetypoliciesandproceduresinthishandbook(e.g.assessmentofweatherandwaterconditions)shallapplyatregattas,trainingcampsandothereventsheldatanyvenueotherthanDeepCove.Inaddition,therearespecificprocedurestobefollowedatnon-DeepCovevenueswhenparticipationissanctionedandorganizedbytheDeepCoveRowingClub.Anappropriatenumberofcoachesand/orsuitablyskilledvolunteersshallattendtheeventalongwiththerowers.TheheadcoachoftheDeepCoveRowingClubshalldesignatethecoachesandvolunteerstobesent.Thepurposeofthesecoachesandvolunteersistosupportrowerswhileracingandpreparingtorace.Fromasafetyperspective,thesecoachesandvolunteerscanenhancesafetybyhelpingtoloadandunloadtheboattrailer,carryoars,guidebowsandsternsofcarriedshellsandcarryrowingshellsfortiredrowers.Asuitablenumberofparentsand/orvolunteersshallbesenttoprovidedaytimeandeveningsupervisionofanyjuniorrowersthatareattendingtheevent.OneofthecoachesorvolunteersshallbedesignatedastheDeepCoveRowingClub’ssafetycoordinatorfortheregatta.Thesafetycoordinatorshallacquirethesafetyhandbook,emergencyactionplanand/orequivalentdocumentsfortheeventorvenue.Thesafetycoordinatorshalldiscusssafetywitheventorvenuestafftolearnanythingthathasnotbeendocumented(e.g.newhazards).Thesafetycoordinatorshallassesstheadequacyofeventorvenuesafety.ThesafetycoordinatorshallbriefDCRCcoaches,rowersandvolunteersonrelevantaspectsofeventorvenuesafety(e.g.localhazards,rules).Iftheeventorvenuesafetyprogramisdeterminedtobeinadequateinanyway,thesafetycoordinatorshallliaisewiththeregattaorganizerstoaddressthegaps.ItmayalsobeappropriatetoestablishsupplementaryguidelinesandproceduresforDCRCparticipants.Thesafetycoordinatorshalldeterminewhetheranyadditionalsafetyequipmentneedstobetakentotheeventorvenue.Ifdespitetheseefforts,

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substantialriskremains,thesafetycoordinatorshallhavetheauthoritytoterminateDCRCparticipationintheregatta.IftheeventorvenueislocatedoutsideofBC,thesafetycoordinatorshalldeterminewhetheritisprudentforparticipants(rowers,coxes,coaches,volunteers,parents)togettravelmedicalinsurance.Ifso,thesafetycoordinatorshalladviseallparticipantstoacquireinsurancebeforetravellingtotheeventorvenue.Itshallbetheresponsibilityofparticipantstoacquireandpayforappropriateinsurance.

DCRC Coach Safety Handbook - Deep Cove Rowing Club

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