Whitewater Rescue Institute's Blog

WRI November 2011 Update

2011-11-15T08:30:00.000-08:00

By Frank Preston

If you live in Missoula long enough, you stop listening to the weather report this time of year. The predictions of 12-24 inches in the mountains almost always disappoint with a third that much. You figure out what the weather is really going to do, and you rely on your own cloud-reading. Despite WRI celebrating a week of staff birthdays, I don’t know if we are ready to talk about “the ole’ trick knee acting up- gonna snow” or have our creeky old backs keep us from our outdoor pursuits.

When the weather started shifting to winter, and we knew snow was imminent, we hitched up the last three of the jet-boats and hauled them to the new warehouse for hibernation. We arrived at the Alberton Gorge Ranch to check on the progress of the WRI facility, pleased with the speed at which the building is coming along. With a 3200 sq. ft. concrete slab, 4 walls, and a roof, we knew it wouldn’t be long before all the boats would nestle inside. For now, however, we had to get them undercover.

It took some jockeying, but we got two jet-boats inside the garage, with rafts stacked high along the sides, and the rest of the boats under roofs in the barn. While only a temporary solution, the next day the flakes started coming down, and haven’t stopped. Town only has a dusting, but the mountains got anywhere between 8-12 inches yesterday alone!

The rivers are cold, and there is work to be done in the office. We are looking forward to ski season, which seems to pass the time well enough until the rivers start running in the spring.

What else are we excited about this time of year? Lots of people getting a chance to sport their brand new WRI embroidered Patagonia jackets, for one. At ski-films, out at restaurants, riding to campus, they seem to be everywhere. Big thanks to Cody and Mike for their warmth!

Missoula also played host to WRI ace, boat operator Charlie Conn for a Trout Unlimited talk about his adventures on the oil spill cleanup, fishing Yellowstone National park, and of course, Mongolia. While he has been guiding rivers for 48” taiman for 13 seasons, this monumental season marked the first time his daughter was able to go with him!

Should Canoers wear helmets?

2011-03-23T09:33:00.000-07:00

As an avid skier, I have watched the transformation of the heads in lift lines go from day glow head bands and mohawks, to wool beanies, to what we see today--helmets. It makes sense. The speed and the likelihood of falling are high. Why not protect our noggins. This same transformation has been seen with many sports--motorcycles, biking, and climbing to name a few.

Standard issue for kayakers, helmets are, however, often not worn by canoers. The reasons for this are complex. There is certainly an element of tradition and culture that comes into play. Another factor is comfort.

When learning to canoe, it is often done on lakes or gentle streams. These safe, slow moving environments do not necessarily warrant the use of a helmet. It is very unlikely that the canoe will flip, and if it does, it is even more unlikely that the passenger will strike a rock. With this logic, then, helmets do not need to be worn in these environments by canoers, right?

I see a problem with that. As we learn an activity we develop habits. Our mind creates mental scripts that will effect our future actions taken during that activity. We do this for efficiency. Take the act of driving your car. This is an action that most of us have done a thousand times. When we were learning we had to think about every step. First, I put my seat belt on. Now I turn the ignition, next I put the car in drive, now use my right foot to accelerate. Now imagine if we had to think about each of those (overly-simplified) steps every time we set foot in a car. We would be paralyzed by the process. The mental scripts that we create, then, serve the purpose of allowing us to take action.

Apply this to canoeing. If we learn to canoe on the lake up the road and never wear a helmet, then our future actions may very likely put us in a different situation (a fast flowing river) where the script we have learned does not apply. This is not to say, however, that we do not have the ability to see through this script and realize that, hey, a helmet would be a good idea here. However, this can be difficult, especially if the script we are using is powerful and well intrenched. Why not, then, set ourselves and our students up for success? If we always wear a helmet when canoeing, on a lake or a river, we will never encounter this problem.

In addition to the mental scripts that we develop, we create an identity based on the activity we choose. The activity of canoeing is not the same as the activity of kayaking. Kayaks have been labeled extreme by our society, while canoes are more docile and a tool used by the sightseer. Extreme sports require helmets, while more recreational sports do not, right? The problem is that a canoe and a kayak function in the same environment and the hazards are the same for both activities. This is a cultural problem or rather, a group think problem, and is very difficult to remedy. As individuals choosing to participate in an activity, it is important to realize that the group and the customs of the group are not always correct. To best battle this, we should attempt to make as many decisions concerning our own personal safety in isolation and prior to the event. If you come with the firm resolution that you will be wearing a helmet for this canoe trip, you will be less likely to be dissuaded by your peers.

The last problem with the non-use of helmets is comfort. Many helmets are not comfortable. Either they are too tight, the chin strap is constricting or they are hot. It is important, therefore, to find a helmet that fits you well, and that does not constrict or irritate you. The more comfortable it is, the less likely you are to take it off.

While I do believe that each individual should maintain the right to choose whether or not they should wear a helmet on a given day, as an instructor of novice river users, I find it my responsibility to set my students up for a successful and safe future. By creating an environment where comfortable helmets are used at all times, I know that my students will have the tools to make the proper decision when the time comes.

Four Case Studies by Dr. Amtmann

2011-03-15T20:15:00.000-07:00

Case Study #1
Month: Mid July
Time: Midafternoon
A commercial solo raft on the Rollercoaster section of the Alberton Gorge was flipped at the rock/hydraulic in the middle of the rapid. A customer sitting in the front was knocked backwards and struck her head on either the rock or oar frame, it was unknown which. The guide was unable to get the customers back in the boat – but was able to get them to river-right just below Mermaid rock/above Fang. The woman was responsive but was complaining of severe head and neck pain and was unable to move. At that time a guided riverboarding/rafting group approached and was able to offer assistance.
What would you do?
Outcome: EMTs were taken to the scene by local river guides where a combination of the guides/EMTs were able to transport her to a nearby takeout. Life-flight transported her to Missoula.
Relevant Questions:
Are solo trips riskier than multi-craft trips?
True or False Most medical emergencies can be handled by a solo responder, if their skills are proficient enough.

Case Study #2
Month: Mid-May
Time: Mid-afternoon
Lucas and his cousins, the Amtmann girls, were kayaking the canyon section of the Big Hole. Lucas Flipped on an eddy line and was unable to roll up. The girls were able to get Lucas and his kayak to an eddy behind a large rock and just upstream of a drop containing hazards from the remains of an old dam. The eddy where Lucas was located was about 40 feet from river-right. Lucas was unable to swim the 40 feet to shore.
How would you get uninjured but stranded Lucas and his kayak back to shore?
Outcome: First, a kayaker reached a river-right eddy and got to shore. A waist carried throw rope was thrown to Lucas and he attached it to the kayak, which was pulled to shore. Lucas then held on to the same rope and was swung to shore in pendulum fashion.
Relevant questions:
What age is appropriate for kids to be recreating on rivers?
What age is appropriate for kids to be learning about river safety?
What age is appropriate for children to learn river rescue skills?
True or False It’s okay to take children on the river, but they probably shouldn’t swim in the river – it’s too dangerous.

Case Study 3
With a cooler packed to the gills, Tom, and his friends were looking forward to having a great run down the Alberton Gorge on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Tom, who was a little gassed by the time the group passed Triple Bridges, allowed the raft to hit Split Rock sideways dumping everyone. Everyone was able to get to shore, except Tom. He swam Tumbleweed and finally washed ashore on river right about 200 yards below Tumbleweed. Tom was not moving and was not responsive to verbal calls to him from across the river. The River Ranger, who observed this from across the river was unable to reach the victim but called 911. Local guides were below Tom and were able to capture his raft and some of his gear. Tom remained unmoving.
What would you do?
Outcome: Tom was exhausted but uninjured. Private boaters stopped and picked up various members of the group, including Tom and brought them down to their raft. A detailed assessment showed no injuries – just exhaustion and the call for SAR/EMS was cancelled. Tom expressed disappointment that the beer he kept in the pocket of his PFD was lost during the swim.
Relevant questions:
True or False Physical fitness plays a role in self-rescue
True or False Physical fitness doesn’t play much of a role in your ability to rescue others?

Case Study #4
A group of six friends gathered on the Alberton Gorge in April for a recreational run. Two weeks prior, the same group had gone down the gorge at about 5,000 CFS. Though the water was significantly higher this day – about 17,000 CFS – the group felt their experience and attention to safety would carry them through this section. The group had older gear, including bucket-bailing rafts, but were excited about the day of whitewater ahead of them nonetheless. The high level made for a quick run of the upper section to Triple Bridges. Once the group got to Split Rock they were unable to avoid a large hydraulic in the middle of the river – causing them to take on water. Unable to bail the water out, they lost control through Boat Eater – eventually capsizing. One of the group, was unable to self-rescue.
What are your options to assist in the rescuing the individual?
Outcome: After a long, cold swim, he was brought to shore but was unable to be revived.
More to the story: Because of the cold weather and the level of the river that day the local commercial outfitters were concerned about their safety, but the group stated their comfort in running the river because of how well they did two weeks prior.
Relevant Questions:
Having a previously successful run on a river is assurance that the next run will be successful? Why?

Use it or Lose it: Basic Cardio Training for the Swiftwater Rescue Professional

2011-03-09T20:08:00.000-08:00

John Amtmann, Ed.D., Professor, Applied Health Science, Montana Tech

The phrase “use it or lose it” is never more appropriate then in January when it comes to cardiovascular conditioning after taking time off of training for the Christmas/New Year holidays. It’s also applicable to river folks during the off-season: don’t wait until the spring to think about conditioning for spring run-off. Improving fitness through cardiorespiratory training will have a positive impact on overall functional capacity and will have a direct impact on improved maximal oxygen uptake as well as decreased myocardial oxygen cost and rate-pressure product at a given submaximal intensity. This means any physical act performed will become easier, and the cumulative effects of physical activity throughout a long day on the river becomes easier when cardiorespiratory fitness improves. On the other hand, the effects of detraining begins within only a few days of your last exercises session, and cardio training must be continue on a regular basis to maintain the training effects.

Basic Training Guidelines

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has established guidelines for promoting cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal components of fitness (2006). For cardiorespiratory fitness, the ACSM recommends activities that can be sustained for a prolonged period of time, including walking, jogging, stationary cycling, rope-jumping, rowing or similar activities. Rescue professionals should participate in these activities 3-5 days per week for anywhere from 20-60 minutes per session. Intensity of exercise is monitored by heart rate and, according to ACSM, exercise intensity could be anywhere between 40% to 85% of heart rate reserve (HRR) to improve cardiorespiratory fitness depending on your physical fitness. Heart rate reserve is the difference between maximum heart rate (HRmax) and resting heart rate (RHR). An easy way to estimate maximum heart rate HRmax is by using the formula 206.3 – (.711 x Age). Subtract RHR from the predicted HRmax and the result will be the HRR. Calculate an appropriate percentage range of the HRR and add it back to the RHR to determine target heart rate range:

Predicted HRmax = 206.3 – (.711 x Age)
HRR = HRmax - RHR
HRR intensity = HRR X 40% - 85%
Target Heart Rate Range = HRR intensities + RHR

See Table 1 for an example of how to calculate target heart rate range for a 50 year old river rat who has a resting heart rate of 71 beats/min. An individual who is deconditioned or is in poor physical condition may need to start with a lower intensity, and 40-60% of HRR may be a realistic starting point for anyone who has not exercised in over one year.

Table 1: Calculating Target Heart Rate Range
206.3 – (.711 x 50)= 170.7
171-71 = 100
100 X .4 + 71 = 111
100 X .6 + 71 = 131

The goal of exercise is to expose the body to an overload stimulus in a safe manner. The body, given appropriate rest and recovery, will respond by becoming stronger, improving endurance or enhancing efficiency in the activity that caused the stimulus. As you improve physical fitness, the intensity may be increased to continue improving cardiorespiratory function. Increasing the intensity to 60-70% of HRR for the same river rat would change the target heart rate range to 131-141, assuming the RHR remained unchanged.

Warm-up and Cool-Down
To prevent injury it’s important to pay attention to the warm-up and cool-down. The warm-up increases the body’s temperature and prepares the body for the more intense training to follow. An effective warm-up is to perform the activity you have chosen as your fitness activity, but at an easier intensity. So, if mountain biking is what you’ve chosen to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, then biking a slower pace on a gentle grade (or lower intensity) for 5-10 minutes will be a good warm-up. The cool-down gently guides the body back toward a resting state by lowering the intensity of exercise for 5-10 minutes. During the warm-up you can palpate your pulse to ensure that your heart rate is increasing toward the target range, and decreasing toward resting levels during the cool-down. It is during the cool-down that stretching exercises can be done to improve flexibility and reduce soreness from exercise.

RPE
If monitoring heart rate during the exercise session is difficult, the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) scale could be used as an adjunct to adjusting exercise intensity. An RPE scale is a measure of perceived exertion, and is defined as the degree of heaviness and strain according to a specific rating method. One scale that is often used is a 15 – grade scale ranging from 6-20 (Borg, 1998, pg. 31):

No exertion at all
Extremely light

Very light

Light

Somewhat hard

Hard (heavy)

Very hard

Extremely hard
Maximal exertion

To use the scale the individual simply assigns a number to how hard they feel the exercise work rate is. The average RPE range associated with improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness is 12-16.

Progress at a logical pace. As your fitness improves the same level of exercise intensity may no longer be enough to increase your heart rate to within your target heart rate range. This means that you are adapting to the exercise training by improving cardiorespiratory fitness – that’s the whole point! These improvements will be more pronounced in lower fit individuals. Updating your program by gently increasing the intensity of your exercise and/or the duration will allow improvements to continue. When you’ve reached your optimum fitness level you can continue that program to maintain the cardiorespiratory fitness changes you achieved.

Try This
If you have been exercising on a regular basis and would like to challenge yourself by increasing the intensity of your cardio training, try interval training. Interval training combines higher intensity work segments with lower intensity active recovery/rest segments. The work to rest ratio can vary depending on individual preference. For example a 2:1 ratio may involve 20 second, 60 second, or 2-minute second sprint followed by 10 seconds, 30 seconds or 1-minute at a slower pace, respectively. Developing an interval training program to suit you allows you to be creative with your program. The higher intensity segments of interval training increases metabolic demand, which means you’ll be expending more calories during and following the training session.

For example, if you can jog comfortably at a 5 mile/hour pace for an extended period of time, then try this 11-minute interval training session:

6 miles/hour for 2-minutes
5 miles/hour for 1-minute
6.5 miles/hour for 2-minutes
4.8 miles/hour for 1-minute
6.8 miles/hour for 2-minutes
4.8 miles/hour for 1-minute
7.0 miles/hour for 1-minute
4.8 miles/hour for 1-minute

The objective of interval training is to increase intensity so only add this if you have been exercising on a regular basis for at least four months. Also, the speeds involved in developing an interval training session would be experimental – it’s always advisable to be conservative! Don’t do too much too soon, but don’t be afraid to push yourself a little as you improve your physical fitness. Interval training can be implemented using any mode of exercise: cycling, stairstepping, swimming, rope-jumping or any other aerobic activity.

Conclusion
Improving cardiorespiratory fitness is one step in improving overall health status and can greatly improve the functional ability of rescue professionals and these general guidelines should help any rescue professional improve cardiorespiratory fitness. The key to developing fitness should be safe and logical progression in the methods used. By this we mean that you should not progress too quickly. Listen to your body, and only increase volume and/or intensity if you feel absolutely comfortable in doing so.

The principle of overload states that when demands are made on body systems that the systems are not normally accustomed to, instead of “wearing out” or becoming weaker, the system responds by becoming stronger given appropriate nutrition and recovery time. That’s the objective of the guidelines for cardiorespiratory training outlined in this article. On the other hand the principle of reversibility states that physiological gains are lost when the load against which a system is working is reduced. The common term for this situation is, “use it or lose it”, and is appropriate to all of us, including rescue professionals.

References

American College of Sports Medicine. (2006). ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescriptio 7th Edition. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.

Borg, G. (1998). Borg’s Perceived Exertion and Pain Scales. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Londeree, B.R., Moeschberger, M.L. (1982). Effect of age and other factors on maximal heart rate. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sports. Vol. 53 (4), pp. 297-304.

How to Buy Swift Water Rescue Equipment

2011-03-02T20:00:00.000-08:00

Swift water poses many dangers to the rescuer. It is a dynamic environment, and one small mistake or misjudgment can snowball into catastrophe.

In past years, one third of drowning victims in the United States were would-be rescuers. Many of these victims either lacked proper training or equipment. It is paramount, then, for rescue teams to not only purchase the proper equipment, but also to train and practice in swift water.

Levels of Training

NFPA standard 1670 outlines three levels of training for swift water rescue:

Awareness
Operations
Technician

Before purchasing equipment, your agency should decide which level of training you will pursue, for there is a different equipment list for each.

Equipment list for each level

Awareness: This level of training is designed for Agencies and rescuers who have a minimal exposure to swift water. Typically, the requirements to reach this level of training are an 8 hour course. Awareness level rescuers will not be entering the water, but may be operating in proximity to the water.

Minimum Equipment:

Helmet
Personal Floatation Device (PFD)
Proper Footwear
Throw-bag

Operations: This level of training is designed for agencies and rescuers who will be assisting in-water rescues and could be exposed to accidental swims. Typically, the requirements to reach this level of training are a 16 hour course.

Minimum Equipment:

Helmet
PFD
Thermal Protection
Proper Footwear
Throw-bag

Technician: This level of training is designed for agencies and rescuers who will be conducting in-water rescues, either swimming or by boat. Typically, the requirements to reach this level of training are a 24 hour swift water course and 24 hour technical ropes course.

Minimum Equipment:

Helmet
PFD
Thermal Protection
Gloves
Proper Footwear
Throw-bag

What to look for in Swift Water Rescue Equipment
Helmets: There are many manufacturers of water sports helmets, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The most important factor when deciding on a helmet is comfort. An uncomfortable helmet will usually end up unbuckled or taken off, either way, it will not be doing its job.

After comfort, the helmet should be assessed for coverage. There are an assortment of styles, from full face to over the ears. One of the most important aspects of coverage is that of the forehead. Many helmets will slide back, leaving the forehead exposed. This is not acceptable in whitewater.

The final consideration for helmets should be whether or not a skull cap or beanie will fit underneath it. In the west, many rescues occur during spring run-off, when the water is 30-40 degrees fahrenheit. Extra warmth is a necessity during these rescues. Many helmets allow you to easily adjust the padding inside to accommodate this.

Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs): The U.S. Coast Guard has developed standards for PFDs. It is necessary that the PFD chosen is designed for whitewater use and is a Type III or V (Type V will generally provide more floatation).

The PFD should fit comfortable on the rescuer, and should be snug when adjusted. The typical way of testing this is by pulling the shoulder straps upwards. If the PFD pulls up the torso and covers the rescuer’s chin, then it should be tightened.

A Swift Water Rescue Technician should consider purchasing a rescue PFD. These PFD’s are outfitted with a quick release harness, allowing the rescuer to perform a tethered swim. Caution: Tethered swims require training to perform. If your agency does not have a Technician level rescuer, avoid the purchase of a rescue PFD. This will prevent the misuse of the harness.

All PFD’s should have a whistle and knife attached to them.

Beware of purchasing a PFD with too many pockets. Although they can be convenient during rescue operations, they can often become a nuisance or entrapment hazard in the water.
Thermal Protection: There are really only two choices here: wetsuit or drysuit.

Wetsuits:
Benefits:

Relatively inexpensive
Provides abrasion and impact protection
Provides warmth in the water
Relatively comfortable
Durable

Weaknesses:

Does not provide significant warmth out of the water
Can be restrictive and increase difficulty with swimming

Drysuits:
Benefits:

Provides for maximum warmth in and out of water
Non-restrictive and ease with swimming
Provides Body Substance Isolation
Entire body coverage (except for hands and head)

Weaknesses:

Expensive
Latex gaskets around neck and wrists can be uncomfortable
No impact/abrasion protection
Can tear and become ineffective in water

For rescue teams functioning in cold water, the decision is fairly simple. Drysuits provide for the maximum amount of thermal protection.

Gloves: Simple neoprene gloves will protect hands from rope burns and provide warmth. Avoid other materials.

Footwear: Footwear is the most overlooked, and perhaps most important part of the swift water ensemble. Most injuries on the river occur, not in the water, but on loose, jagged rocks on shore. Proper footwear should be worn by all members of the rescue team.

There are many options for river shoes. Most are constructed out of neoprene. Rescuers must balance foot protection with flexibility for swimming. Large lace up water rescue boots are great for walking and working on shore, but can be difficult to swim with. Thin neoprene booties are great for swimming but provide little protection for walking.

If swimming fins are a consideration for the rescue team, then assure that the river shoes fit inside the fins.

Throw-Bags: Throw-bags come in many different shapes and sizes, and are made of many different materials. The minimum length for a rescue team should be 50-60 feet of rope. Consider purchasing a more expensive low-stretch rope like spectra or dyneema. This will allow the rescuer to use as a tensioning tool if necessary. Technician level rescuers should consider a belt-bag. These bags fit around the waist, allowing the rescuer to swim while transporting the bag.

Conclusion

There are many choices in swift water gear. It is important that each agency and individual assess their potential use of the gear, and choose appropriately. Keep in mind, though, even the best, most expensive gear is only as good as the rescuer using it. Swift water rescue requires training and practice.

Case Study: Vallecito Creek, Colorado

2011-02-23T19:46:00.000-08:00

Vallecito Creek
Durango, Colorado
Class V-V+
500-1000 cfs
250 feet per mile

River Description-
Vallecito Creek is a popular 1 mile stretch of class V whitewater in Southern Colorado. Paddlers start the trip at the take out and hike upstream. Typically, paddlers put in at the top or bottom of Superboof rapid. Regardless, there is only a few hundred yards of class II-III rapids before Entrance Falls. Entrance Falls is an 18 foot waterfall into a large pool. Behind the falls on river left is a cave. It is common for paddlers to end up in the cave. After Entrance Falls the creek quickly drops through Trash Can- a jumble of rocks and holes. After Trash Can is Pick-up Sticks, Fuzzy Little Bunny, Boofant, Paddle Bitch, No-Way-Out Gorge, and Finish Line. Once a paddler runs Entrance Falls there are only a few opportunities to escape the gorge overland.

Case Study-
On a late August afternoon, a group of experienced paddlers heads up to Vallecito Creek. Two of the paddlers, Mark and Bob have run Vallecito numerous times, the other paddler, Ted, has yet to run it. However, Ted is an accomplished paddler and has run many class V sections.

It has been raining the past few days and the creek has been rising accordingly. That morning rain had soaked the surrounding areas and large rain clouds can currently be seen to the north--the headwaters of the creek.

 Vallecito does not usually run this time of year. But the fall rains have brought it up. The paddlers know that there is a short window before the creek drops back down to unrunnable levels.

The team of paddlers conducts a visual inspection of the creek and the gauge. The creek is running clear and the gauge reads 2.5 (old gauge). This is the highest level paddlers boat the creek, but both Mark and Bob have run it at this level and feel confidant in Ted’s abilities. The group decides to suit up and run the creek.

While suiting up, Bob mentions that he forgot his throwbag. Ted tells Bob to carry his.

Ted and Bob are using new boats. They test their sprayskirts in the parking lot. Both skirts fit, but not extremely well. They seem to pop off with very little effort. The group discusses this and decides that it should be alright.

“Just don’t miss your boof,” cracks Bob.

After the one mile hike up-stream the team reaches the put in. The hike is strenuous, with steep up-hill climbs at roughly 7000 ft elevation. Upon reaching the put in, the paddlers begin to suit up. Each individual paddler scouts the first rapid, but they do not discuss. Bob notices that the water is no longer clear, but rather muddy. Again, this observation was not discussed. The paddlers put in.

Questions:
Are any mistakes being made?
What are the paddlers options at this point?
What might complicate this decision?

Through the warm-up rapids each paddler stretches and prepares himself for the coming gorge. At the last eddy above Entrance Falls it is decided that Mark will go first with Ted following close behind. This will let Ted see the line necessary for the falls. Bob will sweep.

Mark and Ted proceed. Mark has a good line and eddies out above Trash Can. When he turns around to watch Ted’s line, he sees him miss his boof stroke and melt down into the hole. Mark then quickly gets out of his boat and grabs his throw bag. Ted resurfaces in the hole at the bottom of the falls. He makes several attempts to escape the hole in his boat before his skirt is blown. He comes out of his boat and continues to be recirculated in the hole.

Bob comes over the drop. He lands and sees Mark on shore with a throw bag pointing to the hole. Bob looks behind him and sees Ted recirculating in the hole. Ted again makes several attempts to escape the hole, but is pulled back and recirculated.

Mark makes a throw bag attempt, but the distance is too far. Bob chooses to paddle as close to the hole as possible and tow Ted out. This works.

Upon getting Ted to shore, the group rests for a moment and discusses their options. Ted no longer has a boat or paddle. They have disappeared downstream. Mark and Bob have heard stories of boaters climbing up the wall on river right. There is a chimney that is near vertical for approximately 100 ft. Ted assesses the climb and decides that he can make it. Mark and Bob will continue in their boats downstream. They will meet at the take out.

Mark and Bob now scout Trash Can. This drop is a jumble of rocks and drops 20 feet in about 20 feet. Upon scouting this drop, no rocks are visible and the drop is a river wide hole. At this point, they discuss the fact that the river is higher than they have ever seen it.

They put in their boats and proceed. The creek is flowing fast and their are very few eddies. The two remaining paddlers don’t have time to discuss lines, they are more or less on their own.

At Fuzzy Little Bunny Mark is in the lead and Bob is close behind. Fuzzy Little Bunny is a 10 foot waterfall into a narrow slot at the bottom. Bob runs the drop and his sprayskirt come off. He lands upright and attempts to paddle out of the slot. However, his boat begins to sink and he is being pulled back upstream into the hole at the base of the drop. He quickly gets out of his boat and is able to self rescue on river left with his boat and paddle. The paddlers take a few moments to regain composure and then proceed.

Both Mark and Bob make it to the take out without any other complications. They discuss the fact that the creek was enormous and much higher than either had ever seen. They then head upstream to find Ted.

They find him hiking on the trail near the take out. He is covered in dirt and has numerous scrapes and and wounds. He states that he had multiple overhanging rocks to deal with in the chimney and that he nearly fell three times. It was by far the hardest climb he had ever done without a belay.

The creek, which was running at 2.5 when the group checked the guage, had spiked to 2.9 while they were hiking up. This is the highest recorded decent of that creek, but was done without full knowledge and by mistake.

Questions:
What mistakes did this group make? What clues should they have been paying attention to? Why do you suppose they ignored those clues? What would you have done in their position?

Decision Making

2011-02-16T19:38:00.000-08:00

When working or playing on the river, safety is always our first priority. We know that most accidents are not caused by one single action, but rather a series of small mistakes, that can ultimately lead to a devastating outcome. It is fair to say then, that our safety is contingent on our ability to see any given situation clearly, and make effective decisions.

We are experts at making decisions. A thousand times a day we decide what to eat, what to wear, what to say, and so on. In recent years there has been a significant amount of research conducted on our abilities to make decisions. And from this research, there are some interesting insights into human beings decision making processes that are very applicable to the river.

Most of us think that a good decision is one that has been thought through thoroughly. When making that decision, we would like to know everything there is to know about the decision and what its outcome will be. If we are buying a car we may ask: How many miles are on it? How many owners? When was the last maintenance? How much will it cost to repair? Perhaps we will even write out a list of pros and cons, and even weigh the potential cost of each. However, for most of our decisions, this technique is not applicable. We either do not have the time or the desire to ponder every possible outcome and rarely do we have all the information.

This is very true on the river. Our decisions must be quick. Should I go right of the rock or left? Rarely do we have even a fraction of all the information. There may be a submerged log in the river right channel. And we almost certainly have indefinite outcomes. If I go right, I may float over the log, or I may get pinned.

Researchers have found that one technique we use to make these quick decisions is to create rules of thumb, or as the researches call them--hueristics. These hueristics allow us to make snap decisions by using our past experiences to make a judgement. An example of the similarity hueristic would be that we know we enjoyed a book by a certain author, then we will decide more easily to purchase a book with a similar theme, plot, or characters.

These hueristics are effective and save us a significant amount of time in our daily lives. However, we should be aware that this kind of decision making can lead us in the wrong direction and possibly cause an accident.

In the outdoor industry, avalanche researchers have been the first to jump on this. What they found in avalanche fatalities was that 95% of the slides were caused by the victim or the victims party. They also found that the group usually had at least one member of the party that was trained and experienced. Furthermore, they found that the group had at least three clues that a slide was possible--there was sliding in the area, the forecast was considerable or higher, there was wind loading, they were skiing in an obvious slide path, there were terrain traps, etc.

From this research, they were able to identify six “hueristic traps” that the victims fell for. The acronym FACETS was developed as a tool to avoid future accidents and can be directly applied to river use.

Familiarity Hueristic- “Don’t worry, I have run this river 100 times.” We are more inclined to take risks if we are on familiar terrain. However, on the river, just as on the mountain, conditions change, and our experience before may not pertain to the current situation.
Acceptance Hueristic-When in a group, we choose not to speak up so that we gain approval from friends and peers. We don’t want to sound scared or overly worried, and we don’t want to go against the grain.
Commitment Hueristic- We have driven four hours and hiked two with these boats on our shoulder. We have come too far to turn back now.
Expert Halo Hueristic- “The lead boater has a lot more experience than I do, and he has been here a bunch, I don’t need to worry.” This, however, may not be the case, and if you are worried, then say so.
Tracks (Scarcity Hueristic)- “This is the last day the river will be at this level, we have to go now.” For avalanche terrain this refers to the possibility of others getting the first run down a fresh powder field.
Social Proof Hueristic- This is the lemming approach. “Everyone else ran the rapid, I should be fine.”

As you can see, these traps can easily be applied to the river. Although the research has not yet been done concerning river accidents, it is a logical conclusion that these factors could have played a role. I am sure you can think of a time that you have said at least one of these things to yourself. Next time recognize that this is a possible trap, and that this rule of thumb might not apply today.

Conditioning Tips for Rescue from Dr. Amtmann

2010-11-06T08:42:00.000-07:00

Sports, mainstream and non-mainstream, can be very challenging mentally and physically. I admire the athleticism of the non-mainstream athlete (climber, kayaker, skier, etc…) as much as the mainstream basketball or football player. It is essential that coaches of all sports understand the requirements of their particular sport, and when I work with athletes I always set up the training program to prepare the athlete for the worst case scenario, but hope for the best overall outcome. For example, a grappling athlete needs to be able to out-work his/her opponent for the full duration of the regulation match AND the overtime round if needed – possibly 6-8 times during a tournament, but hope for a quick win by pin early on in the match. Successful coaches realize this and take the steps to prepare the athletes during the sport practices as well as additional strength and conditioning sessions.

It is just as important for the rescue professional to physically prepare for the inevitable rescue that will require solid physical conditioning. If you think about it, athletes competing on a regular basis have an advantage because they know when they’ll be expected to perform. For some athletes, it’s weekly or bi-weekly during the season. Some athletes have a full 12 weeks to prepare for their event. It’s easy for the coaches to maintain a consistent training regimen when the dates of the events are known. For the rescue professional the big call could be today, tomorrow or 10 months from now. Despite when that call actually is, you will have to be physically prepared.

When I work with the general public, I am much more forgiving when developing exercise programs. If the exercise program is too intense for the 50 year old administrative assistant who hasn’t exercised in over 20 years, the person will usually just end up quitting – so it’s better to gently train with low intensity than to not train at all. With athletes and/or rescue professionals, however, we have to train with the thought that we are preparing for that worst case scenario. Let’s not fool ourselves, a high level of physical fitness is beneficial in performing the basic duties of swiftwater rescue.

The tips I would like to emphasize specifically for the professional rescuer for this edition include:

• Cross Train – train for cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, and strength endurance. In future issues we will provide you with time-efficient programs that will address all of these components in one training session per day.
• Train the entire body in a balanced fashion – don’t ignore any major muscle group. When the entire body improves in strength overall structural integrity improves and resistance to injury is enhanced.
• Train consistently – realize that your conditioning is directly related to your abilities as a rescue professional. Make it a part of your daily routine…I guess you can take Sundays off.
• Train with intensity – Prepare for the worst case scenario…

….but hope for the best.

Wilderness Medicine Semester with Aerie

2010-10-22T21:06:00.000-07:00

Aerie’s Semester in Wilderness Medicine is a completely unique program in the wilderness medicine field, providing students with industry-leading certifications earned through unparalleled experiential learning opportunities. The rigorous academic program employs realistic scenarios, interactive lectures, as well as clinical observations in a variety of settings, including an urban American emergency room and advanced life support ambulance service, as well as in a developing-world rural health clinic to ensure a well-rounded, challenging and rewarding educational experience. The goal is not only to provide professional-level certifications, but also a broad education in wilderness skills to ensure that our students are capable of preventing and responding to emergencies in any environment.

Costa Rica highlights including staffing a health clinic based in the community of Mastatal, Costa Rica and making house visits for patients too ill or remote to walk into the village center. The clinic is an outstanding opportunity to practice patient care skills under the direct instruction of Aerie's Medical Director, emergency room physician Dr. Greg Moore, and volunteer RNs, aided by language translators for non-Spanish speaking students. Semester students additionally spend several days on community health work addressing chronic respiratory disease related to the longstanding practice of cooking indoors over wood fires.

Returning to Montana, students augment their EMT skills with instruction in avalanche and swiftwater rescue, managing patients in winter environments, and formal search and rescue training, including helicopter rescue operations. Aerie's strong community relationships allow us to offer human anatomy instruction at the University of Montana cadaver lab and vehicle extrication practice with local firefighters. You will not receive a more comprehensive education in wilderness and emergency medical skills anywhere.

Whitewater Symposium

2010-09-24T22:20:00.001-07:00

WRI will be heading out to NOC for the Whitewater Symposium. We are very excited to be participating in this great event again. The Symposium is a unique opportunity to sit down and listen, discuss, and share thoughts about the whitewater industry. We hope to share some of our river safety knowledge, but even more than that, we hope to learn what else is happening on rivers. If you're in the area, come and visit. Should be fun!

Spring Has Arrived!

2010-04-27T14:53:00.000-07:00

We have been busy since February, with courses in Costa Rica and here in Missouls. May looks to be even busier. We are offering a variety of Swiftwater Rescue Courses througout May, June and July.

We are very excited to announce a few new additions to the 2010 schedule. First, we will be offer two Advanced SWRT courses on the Gallatin River on May 15-16 and May 30-31. We will also be offering an Advanced course here in Missoula sometime in July.

Next, we are excited to be working with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad again. We are working with their containment teams in Havre, Montana and Guernsey, Washington. We will be helping them safely set up boom in case of derailments in streams.

We are also happy to be working with Sierra South in Kernville, California to offer the southern Sierra paddlers a boaters safety course on June 26-27.

We hope you too are having a great spring and we hope to see you out on the river.

Don't forget to visit us at www.whitewaterrescue.com! And stay tuned to YouTube for course videos. For the latest go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7u8b8zrfm8

Montana River Association

2010-01-14T10:48:00.001-08:00

The Montana River Association (MRA) is up and running. It's mission is to provide education, stewardship, and advocacy for the river recreation community of western Montana.

MRA will be hosting a series of Rolling/Paddling session in the Currents Pool in Missoula. The first session is on Sunday, Jan 24th from 6-8pm. MRA will be asking for a $5.00 donation from members and $15 donation (this will include a membership) from non-members.

You can check them out at mtrivers.org or become a fan on facebook.

Snake River Ranger Job Posting

2010-01-07T06:11:00.000-08:00

River Ranger, Snake River

US Forest Service, Jackson Ranger District, Jackson, Wyoming

Summer Season 2010

Positions: Multiple positions are available!

Start Date: End of May End Date: minimum of mid-August, usually mid-September latest

Work Schedule: This is a 40 hr/week position, with every member of the crew working at least one day of the weekend.

Pay: GS-4 or GS-5 which is dependent on experience and education

Housing: Forest Service housing is available south of Jackson near Hoback Junction

Daily duties include, but are not limited to the following:

· Make professional visitor contacts to provide and gain information

· Enforce non-commercial and institutional group permit program = education first & citations if we must

· Maintain all recreation day use sites in the Snake River and Hoback Canyons – this includes cleaning bathrooms, picking up garbage and pulling recycling

· Assist on any projects as needed (fence repair, minimal trail work, boat ramps, weeds, aquatic nuisance species facility maintenance, facility repair)

· Patrol canyon corridors via vehicle, including boat ramps, dispersed sites and trailheads. Clean, maintain sites, educate visitors, enforce FS regulations.

· Accurately monitor all outfitted use to ensure following permitted activities

· Occasionally patrol on-river in USFS rafts and duckies to make visitor contacts, enforce rules, monitor visitor and outfitter use, pick up garbage, do camp inspections. (Typically, on-river patrols occur once a week – this is greatly dependent on crew skills.)

· Work closely with the Snake River Fund to implement projects and education programs along the river and in the community (Summit on the Snake, 5^th grade float trips, Snake River Days camp)

This position is mainly an on-land river position with infrequent on-river patrols, which are largely dependent on boating skill levels of crew members. The priorities are working with the public on boat ramps, outfitter monitoring, and maintaining day use sites. Being a river ranger on the Snake River in Jackson WY requires a person with great communication and people skills, the ability to be flexible with daily job duties (every day is different on the river), and knowledge in resource/recreation management is preferred. This position challenges rangers to improve their communication skills when working with the public and will give rangers a good foundation to understanding the world of outfitter/guide management, permit systems, and recreation management in general with the Forest Service. River navigating/boating skills are preferred for this position, but are not a requirement.

For more information on the river program go to:

http://www.fs.fed.us/btnf/teton/river/ngcuse.shtml

For more information about the Snake River Fund go to:

http://www.snakeriverfund.org/

To find out how to apply,

please contact:

Jeanette Langston

Lead River Ranger

Jackson Ranger District

jeanettealangston@fs.fed.us

307-739-5435

The Deminishing Desire to Help

2009-12-28T09:04:00.000-08:00

I patiently braced myself, pinched between the rock and the current. An occasional surge washed water over my head. Distracted by the din of rushing water, I did not notice them until they had already passed. I prefer to catch their attention early, so as not to alarm them. It was too late for this crew, though, they had seen me first.

I can only imagine what they must have thought. Below me, my canoe was wrapped on a rock. The green end of the Coleman sticking up into the air, and me, face down and half submerged.

In 1996, a man had drowned in almost this exact location. He too had wrapped a canoe. And as he swam past it, his shoelaces became snagged on the boat. He was entrapped and unable to free himself.

I did not want to impose this on others. I know what it is like to be falsely elevated into emergency. I had set this scenario up for training. The participants were in the parking lot, still out of site, waiting for the whistle blast to come to the rescue.

I watched, though, as this crew, continued to float past me, nearly hitting the canoe with their oars.

They must have seen me. I was only a few feet away. Yet they had passed, as if my boat and I were nothing more than additional obstacles to avoid.

At least, I thought, I did not alarm them. But what if I had been in trouble? Would they have stopped?

Perhaps this group knew that this was a scenario. It is one of our frequent teaching sites. Maybe they saw me as I scrambled out into the current to set it up. Or maybe they saw the participants, not as out of site as I had thought. I do not know.

However, after teaching these classes for the past ten years, and being a boater for over twenty, this story is indicative of an observed trend. As the river community grows in numbers, the awareness of others diminishes.

When I first began teaching, nearly every boater that passed, stopped. They would ask if I was alright and if I needed a ride back to shore. But as time has passed, those encounters have become fewer. And now it seems like the only boats that stop are the well-used ones, with grizzled, squinty-eyed captains. Newer boats, with shiny frames and composite oars tend to pass by, determined to continue their float.

Perhaps this trend is due to the fact that people new to the river lack confidence and experience, and just don’t know what to do. It could be, too, that people choose to stay out of the way. Maybe they believe that someone else will take care of the problem. There are endless possibilities.

No matter what the cause is, though, this is a concerning trend.

In 2008, my brother-in-law sat wet, shoeless and without a boat on the shore of the Colorado. Numerous boats passed by, including his own group. Not one of them stopped. Somehow he ended up back in the water, but by the time help came, it was too late.

As community members we need to spot this trend, stop, and change it before it is too late.

Z-Drags and the Secret Knowledge of Swift Water

2009-12-14T20:35:00.000-08:00

For better or for worse, Z-drag has become synonymous with the words “swift water rescue.” Nearly every student that signs up for a swift water rescue class, hopes the veil of mystery that keeps the mechanics of the z-drag hidden from view will be pulled away and that they will leave the course with the secret knowledge of the rescue world.

This is not completely unfounded. Z-drags, or mechanical advantage can be a very useful tool in a river rescue. They have undoubtedly saved many a kayaker or rafter from hiking out of the wilderness, and have probably directly saved a few lives along the way. However, mechanical advantage is merely one single practical skill out of dozens taught in swift water rescue courses. And out of all those skills, none of them add up to the most important part of any safety course, the lessons learned about one’s own judgment.

I have been involved in many different aspects of the paddling community and have made my share of bad judgments. I spent a decade as a slalom competitor, I have been a slalom coach, a class V boater, I have taught kayaking, guided rafts, run gear boats, and most recently taught swift water rescue. And through all this, one theme rises to the surface—safety on the river is not dependent upon the practical skills we each may have, but rather the self-awareness and decision-making skills we bring to the table.

We all know stories about technically adept paddlers getting into trouble. I have often heard this explained as a numbers game. They spend more time on the river; hence they have more exposure to the risk. This may be true, but there is more at play here.

A study conducted by Harvard Medicine looked at anesthesiologists and their rate of success; based on mortality and morbidity. What was found was that most mistakes occurred, not during the most difficult times of the operation—the beginning and the end—but rather during the “easier” moments in the middle of the process, when vigilance waned.

I can see this in myself countless times. One example happened just last year. After finishing the inner gorge of Big Sands Creek in Idaho, and coming out into the “boogie water,” I thought to myself, “alright, we made it!” And before I had time to finish that thought, we rounded the corner and found a river wide strainer. Fortunately, no one was hurt. But had we maintained vigilance and scouted this blind corner, this close call would have been nothing at all.

This idea of maintaining vigilance when on the river is at the core of swift water rescue, and for that matter, boating in general. A good swift water course should not only allow you to learn important and practical skills, such as the z-drag, but also give you the opportunity to exercise your most valuable skill as a boater—your judgment.

Former WRI Student Featured in National Publication

2009-12-09T10:21:00.000-08:00

Brandon Stevens, a Firefighter, EMT, and a past student of WRI, responded to a vehicle in the frozen Tongue River last March. His amazing rescue of the entrapped and hypothemic victim is featured in this month's Advanced Rescue Technology magazine. Congratulations Brandon on a job well done!! Read the article at http://advancedrt.epubxpress.com/wps/portal/adrt/

River Safety: Where do we draw the line?

2009-12-02T15:00:00.000-08:00

Spring is full of paradoxes. After interminable gray skies and snowy hillsides, the days get longer and the nights warmer. Rivers begin to rise. Driveways and car racks fill up with dusty boats as anxious boaters prepare for the season. However, despite the cumulative human desire to have the cold days behind us, and to launch our boats on swollen rivers, spring is not summer.

As was the case last May on the Gallatin River in Montana. The river had risen after a few warm days. Overnight, once vacant put-ins were populated with eager kayakers, rafters, and canoers. However, as any veteran of western Montana knows, a warm day in May can include snow flurries and freezing temperatures.

While teaching a Swift Water Rescue course, a cold front moved in and the snow began to fly. Participants in the course would swim the river, and quickly huddle beneath a tarp to keep out of the wind as we discussed rescue techniques. Fortunately, most participants had drysuits on, and their discomfort was just that, discomfort, and did not pose a significant risk to life or limb.

As we clamored in and out of the icy river, I noticed a group preparing their raft for a float down the Gallatin. I began to assess their preparedness. I watched as they inflated their raft. It was an older bucket boat, but appeared to be in good repair, and seemed adequate for the class III-IV float they were about to embark upon. I watched inquisitively as they placed three raft paddles and one kayak paddle into the boat--I had not seen a kayak. I was amazed that during this process the group remained in their shorts and flip-flops. Perhaps I was jealous of their thick Montana skin as I shivered from the cold. The group leader then changed into a wetsuit and donned his PFD.

I lost track of them for a time as we continued our class. When next I noticed them, they were preparing to launch. The leader, a middle aged man who I assumed was the father of the three teenagers carrying the boat, was carrying the kayak paddle and wore the wetsuit. The teenagers, however, were in cotton T-shirts and shorts with horseshoe PFD’s on!

It was now clear to me that these people had no idea what they were getting into. Boat flips and unexpected swims are common on the Gallatin at that level. Even if they had great lines--which seemed unlikely judging from their gear (kayak paddle, older boat, horse-shoe PFD’s)--they would still be getting splashed by 35 degree water in a snow storm. No matter how warm blooded they were, hypothermia was going to be a companion on their rafting trip.

Here was my problem. The river ethic I had been taught, included freedom. Freedom for every boater to make choices on how they want to pursue their adventure, and freedom from others telling them how to do it. The river is a frontier, a wilderness, a place to escape the rules of society and immerse yourself in the laws of nature.
The other side of this is that I am a river safety educator. My job/passion is sharing the knowledge I have gained from my years on the river with others to assist them in their future decisions, and hopefully, to make their experiences safer.

In my mind I wrestled with these two contradictory thoughts. Should I tell these people that they are crazy and ill prepared for the trip? Or should I stand aside and let them choose their own adventure?

If I chose to talk to them, would I be overstepping my responsibility? Would that be the same as someone telling me that I shouldn’t run class V? Or the same as a government agency shutting down the river for safety purposes?

I believe in safety, but I realize that safety is relative, and what seems an acceptable risk to some, is off the charts for others.

Fortunately, my co-instructor decided much quicker than myself, and approached the group. He discussed with them the issues he saw in the clothing and gear and asked them to at least rent wetsuits from the local outfitter. They agreed.

For a few weeks afterwards, I continued to question myself. Would I have stopped them? It seemed almost certain that they would have encountered trouble, if not an emergency, had they not been confronted. Would I want someone or some agency to impose their idea of a safety on my next trip? How would I have felt reading the paper the next day, seeing that an accident had happened, an accident I could have prevented?

The conclusion I have drawn from this experience, aided by the actions of my co-instructor, is that of personal judgement. Freedom is a key element to the river, and should not be abandoned to interference and regulations for the sake of safety alone. However, each situation presents itself with a different set of facts. It is our job, as responsible community members and river users, to judge the situation for what it is, and educate when necessary.

Doug Ammons Interview: Part One

2009-12-02T14:34:00.000-08:00

Doug Ammons, amoung other things, is a Father, a Ph.D., an Author, and an Expedition Kayaker. He has run some of the world's hardest whitewater, and has multiple first descents. Below he discusses what it is about the river and kayaking that has kept him energized and intrigued for well over twenty years.

Visit his website (dougammons.com) to read a few of his essays and purchase his books.

Watch Part 1 of the WRI video interview on Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1K1Zjh2buk)

Stay tuned for Part 2 and 3, where Doug describes a near miss he experienced on Golden Canyon of the South Fork of the Clearwater.

First Aid for the River Runner

2009-11-18T08:17:00.000-08:00

Dave McEvoy, Director of Aerie Backcountry Medicine, sat down with WRI to discuss what first aid skills river runners should focus on and prepare for. The video interview can be seen on Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VbFBW-lJmA).

Click here to read the full interview with Dave.

If you need to get your wilderness medicine certification, we recommend Aerie wholeheartedly. Their courses are fantastic!

Call for Nominations

2009-11-12T11:49:00.000-08:00

The Higgins & Langley Memorial and Education Fund, working in conjunction with the Swiftwater Rescue Committee of the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR), is seeking nominations for the 2010 Higgins & Langley Memorial Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Swiftwater Rescue, the highest international honors presented for flood and swiftwater rescue.

In addition to individual achievements and swiftwater-flood rescue team efforts, those who have dedicated years of service to developing and implementing swiftwater-flood rescue training programs, as well as public safety media-education efforts, will be considered for nomination. Nominations for the 2010 flood and swiftwater incident awards may include those between January 1, 2009 and February 1, 2010.

The awards honor civilian rescuer, Earl Higgins, who lost his life in February of 1980 while attempting to save a child being swept away in the flood-swollen Los Angeles River, and firefighter/paramedic Jeffrey Langley of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, who lost his life in a helicopter accident in March of 1993.

Earl Higgins

Writer/Film Maker

1950-1980

Jeffrey Langley

Firefighter/Paramedic

1965-1993

The awards will be presented during the annual conference of the National Association for Search and Rescue at the end of May 2010.

The DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS is February 19, 2010.

All nominations must be postmarked no later than February 19, 2010. Read instructions with care to avoid having nominations disqualified for lack of completion.

There are several award categories, not all of which specifically recognize noteworthy technical swiftwater/flood rescues. Some recognize significant achievement in the development of swiftwater/flood rescue training programs, flood disaster preparedness and response, flood and swiftwater safety education programs, etc.

The Higgins & Langley Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Swiftwater Rescue

The Higgins & Langley Memorial Award is the premier internationally recognized Award for excellence in Swiftwater Rescue. It recognizes an intense dedication to the field and a genuine desire to benefit the larger community. Only one Higgins & Langley Memorial award is awarded in any calendar year.

Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award is reserved for those few individuals who make a significant and lasting impact in the field of swiftwater rescue. Consequently, lifetime achievement awards are awarded only occasionally.

Program Development Award
The Program Development Award recognizes agencies that make a significant commitment to swiftwater rescue programs in their area. This award profiles the education, training and resources to develop a successful swiftwater rescue program.

Incident Award
Occasionally, a specific Incident is recognized that clearly demonstrates outstanding skill and preparedness, as well as outstanding teamwork in swiftwater rescue.

Special Commendation Award
The Special Commendation Award recognizes the breadth of possible contribution in the field of swiftwater rescue. Awards of this type can be for media contribution, strategic planning, individual heroism or esprit de corps.

For more information, please contact:

Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards
c/o Fred “Slim” Ray, Treasurer
8 Pelham Rd
Asheville NC 28803
Email: slimray@gmail.com
Tel: 828-505-2917

Download Nomination Forms:

Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards in Swiftwater Rescue

www.higginsandlangley.org

Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards newsletter:
http://groups.yahoo.com/HigginsLangleyMemorialAwards

If you have any questions, please contact us: nominations@higginsandlangley.org

* * *

Missoula Paddling Community Meeting

2009-11-06T15:02:00.000-08:00

On November 11th, 6:30 pm, at the Break Espresso on Higgins, members of the local river community will be gathering to discuss the Blackfoot River Management Plan. For those of you who have yet to heard about this plan, we recommend that you visit the FWP website and read through it.

http://fwp.mt.gov/recreation/management/river/blackfootPlan.html

In essence, the proposed plan sets in place trigger points (40 launches a day) for the stretch between Harry Morgan and Russell Gates. If the proposed trigger points are surpassed, then a permit system could be set into place. After that, trigger points would be set for the next stretch from Russell Gates to Round-up. And again, if surpassed, a permit system could be set in place. This would continue to the next stretch and so on.

This is obviously an over-simplification of the plan, that is why you should read it yourself and decide how you feel. The comment period ends on November 16th.

Join us at the Break to discuss our options and what the paddling community should do to help better manage this great resource.

See you there!

Blackfoot River Recreation Plan Meeting: 6 pm Nov. 5th Holiday Inn Parkside

2009-10-30T12:39:00.000-07:00

There will be a meeting on November 5th concerning the purposed Blackfoot River permit system. The Blackfoot, which is near and dear to many of our hearts, has seen recreational use grow exponentially in the past few years. Please read the purposed plan (http://fwp.mt.gov/recreation/management/river/blackfootPlan.html) and come to the meeting at the Holiday Inn Parkside in Missoula at 6 pm on November 5th. Now is the time for public comment. Don't miss your opportunity to provide input for the future management of this tremendous resource!

Higgins and Langley Award

2009-10-28T16:41:00.000-07:00

WRI is pleased to announce that Cody has been elected to the Higgins and Langley Memorial Award Board of Directors. Cody said, "It is an honor and a privilege to be involved with this organization. I look forward to contributing what I can to further their mission."

The Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards in Swiftwater Rescue honor outstanding achievement in the technical rescue discipline of swiftwater and flood rescue. They are not heroism awards, but rather recognize preparedness, teamwork, and a job well done, sometimes under extreme conditions, where training is vital to the success of rescue missions, as well as the safety of rescue personnel.

The 2009 award was given to the Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department, who responded to a water main break on River Road in Bethesda, Maryland. To view video of this amazing rescue, click here. To read more about the river road rescue, click here.

The 2010 call for nominations will be coming out soon. Read more about the nomination process here.

Hands-on Education: An Interview with Dave McEvoy

2009-10-22T15:09:00.000-07:00

Dave McEvoy, Director of Aerie Backcountry Medicine was kind enough to sit down and chat with us last spring. Below is a portion of this interview. Aerie provides high-quality wilderness medicine courses nationally and internationally. We, at WRI, are honored to be partners with Aerie and are looking forward to the Wilderness and Travel Medicine semester. It is always a learning experience working with such a great organization. For more info on the semester program, visit www.aeriemed.com. To view the full text of Dave's interview, click here.

Wilderness Medicine Semester in Costa Rica: Sign-up Today!

2009-10-13T09:03:00.000-07:00

WRI and Aerie Backcountry Medicine are teaming up once again to offer the most comprehensive wilderness education program available. Join us for a semester in Wilderness and Travel Medicine! You will receive 15 University of Montana credits and travel to Costa Rica and the Swan Valley in Montana. This course will begin February 1st and continue until April 4th, 2010. While living at an organic farm in Costa Rica and a stunning homestead in Montana, students will earn certifications in:

· Wilderness EMT
· Swiftwater Rescue Technician
· Level 1 Avalanche
· Leave No Trace Trainer

Among other learning opportunities, the students will organize and run a free rural health clinic in Costa Rica and float the Pacuare River. Aerie alumni receive a $250 discount.

BNSF Swiftwater Rescue Course: Guernsey, Wyoming

2009-10-09T12:49:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, October 7th, WRI traveled to Guernsey, WY to work with Burlington Northern and its sub-contractors. This team, responsible for containment and recovery of derailed trains, is setting the standard for swiftwater awareness. With warm temperatures and enthusiastic participants, we were able to operate their 14' Jet Boat, deploy boom and practice rescue skills. Thanks to BNSF and Kennedy-Jenks Consultants for a great course!

Mass. This Weekend!!

2009-09-28T15:58:00.001-07:00

Cody is off to the Whitewater Symposium this weekend. If you are attending or in the area come and visit him. On Saturday he is presenting "Fostering Humility: A Look at Decision Making Traps." On Sunday join him in the river to practice your Strainer swims and aggressive swimming techniques. We would love to see you! Check out other Whitewater Symposium topics at www.wwsymposium.com.

FWP Swiftwater Rescue Training

2009-05-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

On May 5-7th, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks hosted a course in Kalispell. Game wardens and fish biologists from across the state attended. WRI instructor emeritus, Mike Johnston, traveled north to facilitate the training and to help make 2009 a safe season for Montana state employees. Thanks to everyone who made this course a success!

NASAR Conference

2009-05-05T21:23:00.000-07:00

WRI is looking forward to the May 28-30 NASAR conference in Little Rock, Arkansas. We will have a booth set up and will be presenting. If you are making the trip to this great conference, stop by and say hi. Click here for more info and the NASAR website.

Missoula City Fire Department: Spring Refresher

2009-04-30T15:57:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday the 29th of April, Missoula City Fire Department conducted their spring swiftwater refresher. Montana River Guides owner and WRI Instructor Mike Johnston coordinated the course. MRG guide Tommy Snyder, and Search and Rescue volunteers Elise Lowe and Becca Wallace came out to help make this a great day of training. Thanks guys! The firefighters got a chance to dust off their swiftwater skills and practice scenarios at Jacobs Island, Van Buren St Bridge and the diversion dam upstream of California Street. A special thank you to Missoula City Fire for your service to our community. Watch the video below to see how the training went!

April 17-19, Powell QRU: Swiftwater Rescue

2009-04-30T15:44:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to the Powell QRU and Lewis and Clark Trail Adventures for hosting a great course on the Lochsa River. We had a bit of snow, a little rain, and perfect Idaho whitewater--could not have asked for a better weekend. Participants got the chance to riverboard and swim the waters of the Lochsa. Thanks again, and keep it safe out there.

April 24-26, Blackfoot SRT

2009-04-30T12:18:00.000-07:00

On April 17-19, Montana River Guides hosted a Swiftwater Rescue Technician course on the Blackfoot River. Much of the time was spent at Round-up Rapid, where students learned the basics of swiftwater rescue. The course was a great success with the help of volunteers Alan Bergmuller of Hamilton, Montana and Jim Biesel of Malmstrom Airforce Base. Thanks you guys for all your help! And a big thanks to the students for your enthusiastic participation. Here is a short video...enjoy.

Swiftwater Rescue Course: Rexburg, Idaho

2009-04-13T18:08:00.000-07:00

On April 9-11, the Whitewater Rescue Institute taught a course on the Falls River of Idaho. Brigham Young University Outdoor Program and guides from Jackson, Wyoming's Solitude Raft Company attended. Below students describe their experience. Thanks to the everyone for making it such a great class!

Costa Rican Swiftwater

2009-04-07T07:45:00.000-07:00

On February 25-27, the Whitewater Rescue Institute held a course on the Pacuare River in Costa Rica. Partnered with Aerie Backcountry Medicine and Coast to Coast Adventures, this course provided students with an exotic, exciting and warm environment to learn the fundamentals of river rescue. Below is a brief video of the course.

Former Swiftwater Student Saves Life

2009-04-07T07:08:00.000-07:00

Branden Stevens, a former swiftwater student, was involved in a dramatic rescue on the Tounge River this winter. His efforts in the ice covered river saved the life of the occupant of this car.

Branden said "I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE TRAINING THAT YOU PROVIDED! Without it, the patient would have died for sure, we had no water rescue training prior to me attending your course in may of 2007."

Kent Ford Interview

2009-02-06T16:35:00.000-08:00

This December the Whitewater Rescue Institute had the opportunity to speak with filmmaker and river legend, Kent Ford. Kent talked about the making of his video "Whitewater Self Defense," and gave us some tips on how to stay safe on the river. You can purchase Kent's video at the WRI store at www.whitewaterrescue.com or visit Performance Video at www.performancevideo.com.

Enjoy the interview below.

History of Whitewater Kayaking

2009-01-30T10:33:00.000-08:00

Here is a great video on the history of whitewater kayaking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEy0HoEZ9M4

Pacuare River Class Site

2009-01-05T16:33:00.000-08:00

We are looking forward to our February course in Costa Rica. Aerie Backcountry Medicine and the Whitewater Rescue Institute are teaming up to offer a unique course combining wilderness first aid and swiftwater rescue. Nestled deep in the Pacuare River gorge is "El Nido del Tigre," the site of our Feb. 25-27 course. This beautiful location offers our students the opportunity to wake to the sound of howler monkeys, rest under the shade of palms, and swim in the waters of Costa Rica's most famous river. It is an unmatched experience! "El Nido del Tigre" is a hide-a-way only accessable by river or trail. Below is our class room.

And here is the river!

Should be fun! Stay tuned for course updates!

Video of Whitewater Rescue in Maryland

2009-01-05T07:43:00.000-08:00

ABC news profiled this Swiftwater Rescue that took place just outside of Washington D.C.

Cabin John Swiftwater Rescue

A Lost Companion

2008-12-09T17:04:00.000-08:00

By now the flowers have wilted, and perhaps, floated away—downstream—mingling with the rocks and sand of the high Rockies. They were temporary, not meant to last. We put them there to remember Justin.

We had walked up river, from Radium, not twenty-four hours after Justin had been there. Not twenty-four hours after Justin had left that place, and the world. The three of us walked in silence, not knowing the words that fit with our thoughts. We went to the Colorado looking for answers, and, at least for me, hoping for some semblance of meaning from this tragedy.

The construction of the railroad, years before, had left the river right shore littered with a cobble of sharp granite. At the rapid called Eye of the Needle, the river is constricted between the railroad slag and a cliff on the left bank. At the top of the rapid, dead center, sits a rock. For a boat, there are two choices—go left or go right. Both channels have sufficient flow. The rapid is sandwiched by large flatwater pools. By anyone’s standards, Eye of the Needle on the Upper Colorado is a straight forward rapid.

Justin was in an inflatable kayak on June 20th, 2008. He had his dog Cassius and a weekend’s supply of gear: sleeping bag, pad, tent, and food. With him, was a group of thirty, celebrating the end of the spring semester at CU Boulder. Justin had more to celebrate. He had just turned thirty, was engaged and had his wedding invitations in the mail. Justin had also finished three years of school and now had his MBA. Everything was ahead of him.

I try to imagine how he felt. The excitement of a new river and new friends. The scenery spectacular. High mountains in the distance, aspen fringed meadows descending rapidly to the river, the deepening gorge of Lower Gore Canyon. The smell of earth in the gurgling waters. The birthplace of the Colorado just a few miles to the north. I can see him smiling. A river trip!
The river was busy that day. Boat after boat came through Eye of the Needle. Some fumbled, others had no problems. As Justin approached, I am certain he felt the quickening awareness of a rapid unrun.

Justin flipped as his ducky hit the rock and slid off the left side of the rock. He was first in his group. One friend saw him reflip his boat. Thinking he was okay, the decision was made to go after the dog. The next person that came through saw Justin on the right bank. They exchanged a few words, made a joke, and assumed everything would be fine. This would not be the case. This was the last time he was seen alive.

The remaining boats came through the rapid—not one had seen Justin. Thinking he hiked downstream unnoticed, the group decided to find his boat. They left Eye of the Needle, and floated downstream. His boat was on shore, half a mile away, put there by a kayaker from another group. They waited. They talked and laughed. And still, no Justin. They were not worried. This was a float trip. Class II. No need to worry. Justin would show up shortly, they thought.

Finally, on the railroad tracks, they saw someone walking towards them. Thinking it was him, everyone continued downstream—save one. Justin should have no problem getting back to his boat.

The person was not Justin.

An alarm went off—where was he? That alarm, though, only sounded in one person’s mind. Everyone else had left. With an increasing sense of urgency, this person ran back upstream.
Something was wrong.

He did not find Justin. Another group did.

They pulled him out of the water. His body battered. He was not breathing, and he had no pulse. They began CPR. Someone went to call for help. They continued CPR as they floated to the take out. They passed the rest of Justin’s group and told them.

They got to the take out just as the ambulance arrived. Despite these heroic efforts to save him, Justin was pronounced dead at Saint Anthony’s Hospital in Denver.

No one saw what happened to Justin. He was on shore and seemed to be fine. He was surrounded by tame waters—the worst of what there was was upstream. Somehow Justin drowned. Perhaps he slipped, hit his head, and rolled into the river. Maybe he had hit his head when his boat flipped, and slowly went unresponsive. We will never know. What we do know is that he is gone.

Justin’s story is a tragedy. Everything was working against him that day. He had run out of luck. With hindsight, it seems so simple to fix. If his group had stayed together, and helped him, we might be laughing about it. Or if one of the other groups that passed by and saw Justin on shore had stopped to help, he might still be alive. But that is not the case. So we must do the only option left to us—learn and prevent this from ever happening again.

By taking the steps to become a Swiftwater Rescue Technician, you will be on your way to this goal. The purpose of Swiftwater Rescue training is not to have you walk away feeling like an expert. In fact, we, at the Whitewater Rescue Institute, do not feel that there is such a thing as a Swiftwater Expert. The River is a dynamic environment where a simple mistake can easily snowball into an unbelievable disaster.

As a Swiftwater Rescue Technician, you will have this knowledge and will be able to avoid obvious hazards. You will always put on the river with a heightened level of awareness, looking downstream, ready for the worst possible event to happen. You will be able to set up safety before it happens and, God forbid, if it does, you will be ready. By doing this, you will be ensuring that your rescue team or boating partners will have the safest possible experience on the river.

Thank you for taking the steps towards preventing future tragedies. Lets get on the river for Justin!