“ What would happen if an amputee fell into the river ? Could they swim with an artificial limb on ? If not , how easy would it be to get it off ?”
PADDLER 91
“ What would happen if an amputee fell into the river ? Could they swim with an artificial limb on ? If not , how easy would it be to get it off ?”
who ran a bespoke safety course ( a sort of mini PSRC ) for some of the Steel Bones participants . It made everyone more comfortable that we would be able to cope in an emergency .
The interest in the challenge was high , and we soon realised we needed more support . So , we reached out to other local groups . Sudbury Canoe Club didn ’ t have enough canoes for all the participants , but fortunately , a local Scout group and some very generous individuals ( thanks Julian Stiff )) lent us extra boats , trailers and kit , which we couldn ’ t have done without . Colchester Canoe Club ( particularly thanks to Amanda Gilmour ) also joined in , providing equipment , essential help with planning , and extra experienced paddlers and leaders to support both on and off the water .
In the run-up to the event , we had a great deal to do and quite a few challenges of our own to overcome . We hadn ’ t run an event like this before .
HERE ARE SOME TIPS FROM OUR EXPERIENCE :
Don ’ t underestimate how much planning is needed . Put a plan in writing so you have checklists and records ( Thanks to the two Davids for the 25-page risk assessment , emergency plan , logistics plan , and all the sign-on and emergency medical papers ). Paddle UK has some good templates for risk assessment and event planning .
Try to anticipate the things that inexperienced paddlers might forget ( floaty straps for spectacles were one example ) or that you might need ( e . g . coloured tape to distinguish which kit comes from where so it can be returned at the end of the event ).
Take up all offers of help from reliable club members and supporters . On the day , in addition to the leaders on the water , you will need bank support drivers , car park marshals , helpers at portages , and many more . Fortunately , all our volunteers turned up , but it is wise to have a contingency for last-minute cancellations .
PADDLER 91