Venue: 
Tidal section of Hamble River – specifically shore line of River Hamble Country Park, including Hoe Moor Creek

Instructor Qualification:      

Instructor 
British Canoeing Paddlesports Instructor level 1

Assistant        
Competent adult with current first aid or lifesaving qualification

Ratio  
1 Instructor to 8 Participants

Equipment  

Rafting equipment – poles, barrels, ropes in good state of repair, paddles

Student’s equipment – Personal flotation device and helmets to be worn when afloat

Instructor equipment – buoyancy aid, rescue boat (canoe/motorboat as appropriate), first aid kit, throw bag, knife, mobile phone

Transport – should be available at raft building site

Pre Session

When planning the session consideration needs to be given to:

  • Weather: Air and water temperature, wind, outlook
  • Tide: Time of high/low water, range
  • Group ability: Individual needs, medical issues
  • Location of activity: Jetty congestion, access issues, etc
  • Condition of equipment: Equipment in good condition

Session    

  • Give safety talk at beginning of session
  • Ensure care is taken while participants are moving and handling equipment and while participants are on jetty or river bank
  • Check suitability of rafts before they are launched
  • Check personal buoyancy and helmets before going afloat
  • Personal buoyancy must be worn when launching rafts, when afloat or when on jetty
  • The raft will be securely moored at the bank / jetty until a qualified member of staff is afloat in the session safety craft.

End of Session

  • Equipment should be checked and put away after session
  • Ropes coiled & stored; buoyancy aids, waterproofs rinsed and dried
  • Faulty or damaged equipment should be labelled and/or removed from service, the fault logged and made good as soon as is practical

 THE INSTRUCTOR HAS FINAL SAY IN DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT A SESSION TAKES PLACE AND IN WHAT MANNER IT IS CARRIED OUT