Canoe Wales - Canw Cymru

SAFETY INFORMATION

Water Quality

River Pollution and What to do

If you see dead or distressed fish or suspect pollution on a river - please contact the Environment Agency immediately, giving time, place and details. Use the Environment Agency Pollution Incident Line, Freephone 0800 807060

BCU Policy on Pollution

The BCU is concerned over the poor water quality on some canoeable waters and urges the appropriate authorities to continue action to bring all waters to European Union standards within the shortest affordable time span, employing the most cost effective methods. The decision as to whether or not to go afloat must rest with the canoeists and canoeing leaders, acting on their own responsibility from accessible information on water quality. It should be noted that, where deliberate capsizing is avoided, canoeing is not an "immersion" sport and poses no greater risk to participants than other "water contact" sports.

Environment Agency Offices

Environment Agency South East Wales Rivers House, St Mellons Business Park, Cardiff, CF3 0EY	02920 770088
Environment Agency South West Wales Llys Afon, Hawthorn Rise, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire	01437 760081
Environment Agency North Wales	01248 670770
Environment Agency Pollution Incident Line	(freephone) 0800 807060

Safety

Rivers are fun, but there can be dangers - learn to recognise them and always take the following precautions to minimise risks and prevent accidents:

• Wear a buoyancy aid at all times.

• Wear a helmet if you are likely to canoe in white / rough water.

All rivers receive some sort of dirty water; please make sure you:

• Cover cuts and scratches with a waterproof dressing as soon as possible.

• Avoid capsizing in still or slow-flowing water and try not to swallow river water.

• Always wear shoes or other footwear.

• Wash your hands before eating, drinking or smoking.

Be aware of the symptoms relating to waterborne illnesses and, if you do feel ill, tell your doctor that you have been canoeing.

Canoeing Safely Overview.

The following 5 key points of advice have been adapted from the leaflet "How to Enjoy Wales Safely," which has been produced by the Wales Outdoor Activities Awareness Forum, the Wales Tourist Board and the National Assembly for Wales.

Experience

Carefully match the paddling you’re planning to do with the experience level of you and your group. Consider fitness, strength, age and expertise as well as your knowledge of the area and conditions.

Equipment

Make sure that you are using the right equipment for the type of canoeing you’re doing. Dress appropriately and carry extra clothing with you. Always wear a buoyancy aid and wear a helmet in rough or moving water. Carry food, a hot drink and first aid equipment.

Conditions

The weather can be unpredictable so always be prepared for the worst. Check local, specialised forecasts and be prepared to change your plans accordingly. It doesn’t take long for a river to flood in heavy rain.

Planning

Plan according to the groups ability, not simply your own. Use as much information as you can gather from the WCA Access Officers, guidebooks, tourist information centres and local paddlers. Always be prepared to adapt your plans. Tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back.

Emergencies

In the event of an emergency, call the police by dialling 999. The will contact the appropriate specialist rescue services. Always supply a map reference if possible. Treat injuries to the best of your ability.

Canoeing Safely

Any outdoor sport has inherent risks. However, paddling is as safe as you make it.

Get proper training and Instruction: Before taking to the water get proper information and training about canoeing. You can do this by attending or joining your local canoe club or by doing a course at a WCA Approved Centre where you will learn how to deal with emergencies and how to capsize safely as well as basic boat handling skills.

Become a confident and efficient swimmer. You don’t need to be able to swim vast distances but you will need the water confidence to make sure you can deal with a capsized boat and get ashore safely.

"Fewer than 3 there should never be" has long been the rule about group sizes when paddling. It’s essential to always have a few others along in case of an emergency.

Make yourself a better Paddler. Paddlers are generally good at getting out and practicing and improving their boating, but not at practising and improving their rescue skills. You can improve your safety on the water by attending some of the many courses that are run by the coaching scheme.

These include:

Canoeing safety test, Junior canoeing safety test and Canoe rescue test. These awards are aimed at providing paddlers with the necessary safety and awareness to ensure the safety of themselves and others. Secondly, they aim to provide paddlers with the rescue skills to help themselves or others in difficulty.

Aquatic first aid. These courses provide you with the basic knowledge and skills you need to give first aid should the need arise. The courses are tailored to the demands of paddlers.

Canoe Lifeguard Qualifications are also available: link to lifeguards sections in disciplines

White Water Safety and Rescue courses. These are aimed at encouraging safe white water paddling, covering leadership and river running skills that can be applied to most whitewater situations, so that you can avoid difficulty through good paddling skills. Secondly, the courses cover a range of ways to perform rescues when the need arises. The White Water Safety and Rescue course is entirely designed around relevant skills for the river – instead of complicated rope extraction techniques, it concentrates on what usually goes wrong on a river and how to sort it out.

More Useful Safety Information

http://www.rescue3.co.uk/

Leptospirosis (Weil's Disease)

Leptospirosis is an animal infection. After recovery the animal excretes the organisms in the urine. The bacteria survive for days or even weeks in moist conditions, but only for a few hours in salt water. The infection is caught by direct contact with the urine or polluted environment. Bacteria enter through skin abrasions or via eyes, nose or mouth.

The Illness

The usual incubation is 2 to 12 days. Usually a flu-like illness occurs which resolves in 2 - 3 weeks. There may be fever, severe headache, pains in the back and calf and prostration. A few cases develop jaundice, when the condition is known as Weils disease.

Although death may occur in 15% of the jaundiced patients, death without jaundice is virtually unknown. Antibiotics during the first few days help in limiting infection. Many cases recover without specific treatment.

What to do

If you think you may have the infection, go to your doctor and tell him / her that there may be a risk of leptospirosis. The diagnosis is by clinical suspicion. Blood tests can rarely confirm the illness in time to affect treatment. They may subsequently confirm it. The micro-biologist at the local hospital is the best source of advice.

Prevention

1. Cover all cuts and abrasions with waterproof plasters.

2. Always wear footwear to avoid cutting feet.

3. Avoid capsize drill or rolling practice in suspect waters.

4. Where possible, shower soon after canoeing.

5. If in doubt contact your doctor early.

The Level of Risk

Each year, on average, 9 watersports people contract Leptospirosis, among which 3, on average, are canoeists. Leptospirosis is very rare, and its deterioration into Weil's Disease even more rare. Weil's Disease is however a very serious illness, and must be swiftly diagnosed and treated.

You can reduce your risk.