Hardly surprising that much of our work is in or near water, so this blog from Lucy Johnson, one of our volunteers, is very timely.
Clambering carefully up the wooden steps in the old boat house, we find a cosy space, brightly lit. A half circle of chairs surrounds Dave of the Northallerton-based River Mountain Experience, ready to deliver another insightful session on water safety. Dave delights in defying expectations, in presenting a fact then placing it in context, or conversely, turning it on its head. His enthusiasm and evident expertise in his subject comes across clearly, lighteningsome of the somewhat sobering facts he covers.
The upstairs room is peaceful, as occasional pairs of rowers glide by, visible from the balcony. The floorboards are worn, and staircases lead off in all directions. Bright sunshine comes in through the skylights angled in the wooden roof. On the walls are photographs of various rowing teams going back through time, framed newspaper articles, and a large-scale river map with hand-marked additions. Dotted around the room are loud-hailers, indeterminate plastic boxes and a covered pool table. There is also an A frame stand, which turns out to be Dave’s, not part of the general fixtures and fittings.
Dave runs over some of the key facts related to drowning in the UK, and highlights that traditional Health and Safety regulations target fixed not dynamic situations such as water environments. We created a lengthy list of specific water environments and hazards we might encounter, with everything from livestock to World War 2 ordinance. Next we assessed a series of photographs showing a range of water environments, including weirs, tidal rivers and becks covered in vegetation.
We discussed the drawbacks of using PPE, and the importance of staying alert to weather conditions. Different hydrology features were discussed, some of which can easily catch the unwary out, such as the rolling movement at the bottom of weirs.
Next was an equipment run-down, split into things that keep you dry and things that keep you afloat. Waders can actually cause accidents as they will fill with air if you slip. We looked at life jackets and buoyancy aids (the difference is in the amount of buoyancy they provide) and tried various models on. We also checked the internal workings and discussed the various ways in which they operate.
Cold water immersion is a key factor in water safety in the UK, as the water temperature is often below 17°C. Different factors affect the onset of hypothermia but it is a real risk. The fire service is responsible for river rescues, but access points may not always be ideal. Be prepared to provide as much location information as possible, such as postcode, grid coordinates and a what3words location.
The final part of the course was spent outside in warm sunshine reliving school sports days. We lined up one by one to carefully throw a tow-line using the correct technique to a hand-made, red-painted wooden casualty, who obligingly had his arms up in the best position to receive the rope. This is a skill worth having; take up the chance to practise on a practical volunteer day with one of the Trust’s tow-lines.
