Shaker Rowing Association Handbook - 14-17

SAFETY PROGRAM

I. First Aid

• All coaches are required to be certified in basic CPR/First Aid on a yearly basis consistent with guidelines of the American Red Cross.
• At least one First Aid kit will be inventoried and restocked at the beginning of each season, and should travel with the teams.
• Each coach is responsible for checking the medical release book for any medical conditions. However, the coach is not responsible for administering any medicine.
• The medical release book shall accompany the team whenever it travels.
• Any incident will be documented by filling out a US Rowing INCIDENT REPORT (attached) and the President of Shaker Rowing Association shall be informed following completion of immediate actions to stabilize the event.
• Local authorities shall be notified if needed.
• Shaker Crew will make every effort to have a parent volunteer RN or LPN serve as Nurse Liaison.

II. Water Safety

• Before any athlete is allowed to row, he/she must submit a medical release form, physical examination form, and rowing waiver.
• The athlete must demonstrate that he/she is a capable swimmer, by passing a swim test performed by the coaching staff or by presenting certified Life Guard cards to attest to level of swimming ability. This is to be documented.
• During the swim test the athlete must prove that he/she can swim 100 yards, the first 50 with clothes on and be able to tread water for ten minutes.
• Before any rower is allowed to row, he/she must watch the safety video and show complete understanding of what to do in the event of an incident. This is to be documented.
• Rowers will attend any/all safety workshops as deemed necessary and appropriate by coaching staff throughout the season.
• The Head Coach will determine if the water is safe for rowing, considering wind, current, debris, air temperature, water temperature, and experience level. In addition, the weather radio should be monitored for the threat of inclement weather.
• All coxswain s are instructed on the docking traffic pattern, and the 'rules of the river'. This will also be documented. Each coxswain is required to have a whistle and instructed on when and how to use it.
• All crews are informed that in the event that they can no longer see their coach, they are to STOP immediately, and after a few moments they should head back towards their coach.
• ROWERS ARE INSTRUCTED TO ALWAYS REMAIN WITH THEIR BOAT IN THE EVENT OF AN INCIDENT!
• No coach is permitted to work with more than four (4) boats at any given time.
• Each launch shall carry one (1) Kippy Liddle Bag which contains eleven (11) adult personal floatation devices, a rescue throw bag, a waterproof flashlight, an air horn, nine (9) emergency rescue blankets, and a first aid kit in a waterproof box.
• All engines will be inspected seasonally.
• Launch operators must meet the State requirement of being at least 18 years of age, or possess a NYS Boating Safety Certificate. In addition, if the operator is going to use the launch by his/herself (i.e., new coach, rower), he/she must demonstrate complete understanding of the given launch to the Head Coach. All coaches should be familiar with each launch.

III. Equipment Maintenance and Repair

• All equipment, including launches, shall be serviced prior to the start of each rowing season to ensure everything is in safe working order. Records of this shall be maintained.
• The launches are to be cleaned out on a daily basis.
• Procedures for the safe handling of potentially hazardous materials shall be conspicuously displayed in the appropriate places.

IV. Rowing Shells

• All boats should have properly sealed bow and stern compartments.
• All shoes should be equipped with heel tie downs.
• All shells should be equipped with bow balls.

V. Inclement Weather

• Coaches should be cognizant of the weather forecasts prior to practice.
• The Head Coach shall determine if the water is safe for rowing, considering wind, current, debris, air temperature, water temperature, and experience level. In addition, the weather radio should be monitored for the threat of inclement weather.
• If thunder or lightning is detected before practice, crews should wait at least thirty (30) minutes after the last thunderclap before launching.

VI. Incident Procedures (It is understood that every incident has different circumstances, and may call for different protocols and actions.)

• If boat should take on water and begin to sink, coaches should:

  a) Send the other crews they are responsible for directly into the dock under the supervision of other coaches.

  b) Call for help.

  c) Approach the swamped shell from down wind/stream.

  d) Coaches should immediately hand out life jackets to every rower and coxswain while taking a head count.

  e) Coach should instruct the rowers to untie, sit easy and relaxed, stay with the boat, and watch out for his/her pair (coxswains should be paired with stern pair).

• If the boat has completely swamped and the rowers are in the water, the coach should remove the rowers from the water over the Gunwales using a 1-2 'dip and haul', being careful to keep passengers evenly loaded in the launch. Coach then:

  a) Should call for help, and have someone contact authorities if needed.

  b) Taking only the recommended number for the launch, rowers should be shuttled to land. If needed, transfer removed rowers to another launch that is helping with the rescue to speed return to dock.

  c) If threat of hypothermia exists, have rowers huddle together on floor of launch (wrapped in emergency blankets) - check for signs of hypothermia. If positive, or if other injuries exist, call for ambulance ASAP.

  d) Once back at the launch site, treat hypothermic rowers according to first aid guidelines (warm trunk separately from limbs). Wait for ambulance. One coach or parent, and medical release from, should accompany rower(s) to the hospital.

  e) The boat should be left in order to tend to the rowers first.

  f) If cold, the rowers should be escorted to a warm area as soon as possible.

  g) File Incident Report form.

• If a rower is injured:

  a) Call or radio for help.

  b) Remove rower from shell.

  c) Take rower to nearest emergency access facility.

  d) File Incident Report form.

• Rollovers:

  a) Rollovers are handled in the same manner as any swamped boats, the obvious difference is that the head count becomes extremely crucial, and the rowers are instructed to make sure that their pair has safely released from the footstretchers and resurfaces.

  b) Again, the athletes are instructed to stay with the boat until they are pulled from the water.

  c) Rowers should be checked for signs of hypothermia and appropriate actions (as stated above) should be taken.

  d) The boat should be rolled right side up, and 'towed' to the nearest appropriate location for safe removal.

  e) In smaller boats, such as singles and doubles, it is very often easy to flip the boat, bail it, and put the rowers back in.