River Safety and Education by Jim Cole

1. River Safety and Educationby Jim Cole

2. River Safety and Education • Background • Past President and current Membership Chairperson of RICKA. • ACA Certified Instructor. • I have taken canoeing and/or rescue classes every year for 15 years. • 20 + years teaching Canoeing and Kayaking. • 20 + years of teaching rescue and self rescue techniques. • 15 + years of white water canoeing experience. • Author of Paddling Connecticut and Rhode Island. • Paddled 300 + miles of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. • I have seen hundreds of paddlers capsize during rescue practice • as well as accidental capsizes on canoe and kayak trips.

3. River Safety and Education

4. River Safety and Education Inflatable PFD’s – What you need to know. • Types • Uses • Maintenance (before each use) • Maintenance (At least annually) • Replacement parts $$$$ • Common Sense Suggestions -Try it out.

5. River Safety and Education Types of inflatable PFD’s • Auto Inflatable PFD’s This type will automatically inflate when submerged in water. It can also be inflated using a rip cord. An oral inflation tube is also provided. • Manual inflatable PFD’s This type requires the user to pull a rip cord to inflate. An oral inflation tube is also provided.

6. River Safety and Education Uses for inflatable PFD’s • Used on commercial aircraft in case of water landings. • Approved by USCG for use in most watercraft. • Not approved for anyone under age 16. • Not approved for use with swift water sports including: • waterskiing or other towed devices, • PWC (personal water craft), • small sailboats, • sailboard, • white water or • kayak surfing.

7. River Safety and Education Maintenance (before each use) • Auto Inflators – inspect the auto inflator “bobbin”, and arming device. A RED indicator means the inflator or arming device needs to be replaced. Green means GO. • CO2 cylinder – inspect for signs of corrosions or rust. Check weight of CO2 cylinder. • Bladder – Check for signs of wear, puncture, scraps, or cracks. • Oral inflators – check to see value is closed.

8. River Safety and Education Maintenance (at least Annually) • Manually inflate in fall and leave inflated for off season to prevent dry rot or cracking of bladder. • While inflated check for leaks (leave inflated for minimum of 24 hours to find slow leaks). • Coat CO2 cylinder with Vaseline to prevent corrosion. • Check the inflator (and bobbin on auto inflate models)

9. River Safety and Education River Safety and Education Replacement Parts (in waterproof container) • Always carry at least 1 spare CO2 cylinder. ($6.95) • Always carry a spare arming kit for auto-inflators. ($19.95) • Always carry a repair kit (if recommended by the manufacturer). • On multi day or wilderness trips, you may want to carry a spare PFD.

10. River Safety and Education • Common Sense suggestions – Try it Out • Try the PFD on in the water. Yes, jump in the water and inflate your PFD. That way you will know what to expect in an accidental swim. • Re-arm the inflation device. You don’t want to try and figure this out in the middle of no-where without the instructions. • Replace the CO2 cylinders. Again, don’t wait for the emergency to try and figure it out. • Practice restoring the bladder to the un-inflated condition.

11. River Safety and Education • Problems encountered with inflatable PFD’s • Accidental inflation because of weak “bobbin”. • Accidental inflation because of ripcord catching • another object. • No rearming kit or CO2 cylinder available. • Unable to put on an inflated PFD. • PFD unable to stay inflated.

12. River Safety and Education As a result of several problems, the following organizations not longer allow inflatable PFD’s on their Canoe and Kayak Trips: • Rhode Island Canoe Kayak Association • Blackstone Valley Paddle Club • Southern New England Paddlers

13. River Safety and Education • Questions ? • Comments? Thank You