Risk Management Plan

 

   View Emergency Locations on River Routes in a larger map

 Hikes

  • Lead guide must have CPR and First Aid certification.
  • Lead Guide must have a complete First Aid Kit.
  • Lead Guide must carry cell phone and recorded GPS locations for 911 services.
  • Lead guide must have a whistle and do whistle orientation with group before hike.
  • Leadguide will assign a rear person (everyone else stays between guide & rear person)
  • Lead guide will do headcount at start, during rest breaks and end of trip.
  • During orientation Lead Guide will ask if he/she needs to be aware of any medical concerns within the group.
  • If someone is injured the entire group walks out with that injured person to the 911 meet point.
  • Max guide ratio of 1:24 without chaperons.

Water Activities

Acceptable Operation Conditions

  • No operations below a water temperature of 10C
  • Canoe/kayak trips shut down at flow rate 70 cu/m/sec
  • SUP shut down at flow rate 30 cu/m/sec
  • Rafting maximum flow rate 100 cu/m/sec on Nith River, 200 cu/m/sec on the Grand River

Staff Skill

  • Lead Guide certified by Ontario Recreational Canoeing Association
  • At least one guide trained in emergency first aid and CPR.
  • Pre-scout routes to be familiar with potential hazards and emergency exit points.
  • Water temperature, flow rates and weather are monitored before trip with on-line data
  • Guide Staff ration of 1:10 for canoes, 6:1 kayak & paddleboards
  • We use a guide ratio of 1:2 for rafts (up to 1:16 people)

Orientation Talk Before Trip

  • No one goes past leading guide
  • Proper technique for floating down the river in fast water.
  • No pushing people out of the boats
  • No diving out of boats
  • Before paddling the guides reviews emergency whistle system

                         One Whistle... stop, we want your attention

                         Two whistles... come to us

                         Three Whistles... pull over to the river bank immediately and wait.

  • Discussion on any safety awareness hazards on the river.
  • Guides ask to be discreetly informed of any medical awareness factors at risk on trip.

Re-Active Measures  (if a tip or injury)

  • Guide blows 3 whistles and moves to assist over turned boat.
  • Guide insures paddlers are safe to shore
  • Sweeper rounds up tipped boat and equipment.
  • Guide confirms everyone okay
  • A head count is done to confirm all are present
  • If serious injury or paddler fearful, guide phones land base or 911 pending situation need.
  • Cell phone used to direct emergency vehicle to nearest entry point (note hospital within 30 minutes within any section of the water we paddle).
  • Victim made comfortable until help arrives
  • Lead teacher carries emergency contact forms completed by participants.
  • Lead guide assesses situation with rest of group to exit or continue.
  • If continue... one staff stays with injured person and exits out with them

In this part of Southern Ontario, Wilderness First Aid is pre-empted by Emergency Care First Aid & CPR... because of the nearby availability of hospitals and walk-in clinics, plus the many take-out points along the Grand River System. Emergency Care First Aid & CPR are more practical to sustain an injured person until trained medics arrive.  

Equipment Supplied

  • Boats are supplied with life jacket, paddle, bailer (except in self-bailing rafts), floating rope and whistle
  • Guides have first aid kits, throw rescue bags.
  • Guides & chaperons carry cell phones for river communication.
  • Guides in cold water conditions carry a set of dry clothes and blanket, water and fire starting equipment
  • Guides have an emergency phone contact list for land based support staff

Self-Guided Trips

  • A simple top map given to each customer with recognizeable land marks and takeout points so that rafters can give river staff approximate location on the river if a problem or emergency.
  • Staff will review map and emergency features with each raft before launching.
  • Staff will insure each group has required safety equipment... 50ft of floating rope, 1 litre bailer, whistle, lifejackets and paddles
  • Staff will insure that all life jackets are properly fitted for the customer.
  • Staff will insure each group has a cell phone in a waterproof container before launching.