Before I started graduate school, my parents took me and my sister on a dream vacation. During this amazing trip, we visited several historical sites including the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. We made memories that will last a lifetime. Do you want to take your family on an unforgettable vacation? Consider hiring a professional travel agent to help you plan the perfect getaway. This individual can help you choose the right location based on your budget, interests, and time frame. On this blog, I hope you will discover the benefits of consulting with a travel agent before going on your next extended trip. Enjoy!
If you are planning on going white water rafting with a river guide, you still need to take steps to ensure your personal safety. Here are a few safety tips that will ensure that you stay safe if you get thrown out of the boat while white water rafting.
#1 Keep Your Life Jacket On
Many people assume that, because they can swim, they don't need to keep their life jacket on at all times when on the river or that they don't need to keep their life jacket on properly. People commonly loosen up their life jackets so that they feel more "comfortable," but this means the jackets are not on properly and thus can't protect the person if they fall into the water.
A rapid, where the water is moving rapidly in multiple directions and there can be undercurrents, is a lot harder to swim in than a nice, calm swimming hole on the river or in a pool. Even if you know how to swim, it can be difficult to keep your head above water when thrown out into a rapid. You can get thrown from the raft because it hit a rock or because someone hit you with their paddle. You never know what might happen, which is why you should always keep your life jacket on and properly tightened the entire time you are on the water.
#2 Put On A Helmet
It is a smart idea to wear a helmet when you go river rafting, regardless of if the company that is taking you on the river requires you to wear a helmet or not. If you end up getting thrown into the water while going through a rapid, a helmet will help keep your head safe if you smash into any of the rocks that are creating the rapids you are going through. A helmet will also protect you if anyone in your raft loses control of their oar; getting hit with an oar can be serious business.
#3 Keep Your Hand On The T-Grip
As you go through each rapid, make sure that you keep your hands firmly on the t-grip of your paddle. This will help keep you steady in your seat as you go through the rapids. It will also help ensure that your paddle doesn't bounce up or out of control and hit one of your fellow rafters in the head.
#4 Know How To React If You Fall Into The Water
If you fall into the water, you need to know what to do. The first thing you should do, if you are close enough to the boat, is to grab hold of the outside safety line that runs around the raft. Make sure that you know where this safety line is before you set off and what it looks like so that you know what to grab for.
If you are not close enough to grab onto the boat, keep your eyes open for someone to throw you either a throw bag or paddle for you to grab onto. If someone offers you a throw bag or paddle, grab onto it and allow them to pull you in. Try to stay as calm as possible during this process.
Finally, if you can't grab something to get back into the boat within a few seconds, get into the white water position for going through the rapids. You are going to want to keep your head above water, put your feet up and directed downstream, and lean back. You should look like you are sitting in a recliner chair. Having your feet in front of you will help protect the rest of your body from bumping into rocks as you make your way through the rapids.
Share