Whitewater Rescue Manual: New Techniques for Canoeists, Kayakers, and Rafters

Looks at some of the best techniques for self-rescue and rescue of others on the river. This title teaches you when to stay with the boat and when not to; how to retrieve a lost boat; how to swim out of trouble and when not to swim; how to reach a victim by wading, swimming, or using ropes; and, how to coordinate a rescue effort.

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Regardless of skill, running rivers presents an element of danger. As whitewater paddling continues to grow in popularity and more thrill-seekers push the boundaries of the sport, accidents are inevitable. "In Whitewater Rescue Manual", two paddlers who have long been at the forefront of whitewater safety and rescue present a tightly focused look at the best, most current techniques for both self-rescue and rescue of others on the river. The authors provide well-reasoned guidance that will teach you when to stay with the boat and when not to; how to retrieve a lost boat; how to swim out of trouble and when not to swim; how to reach a victim by wading, swimming, or using ropes; how to coordinate a rescue effort; how to make sure that would-be rescuers don't become victims; how to properly perform first aid and safely evacuate injured paddlers; and much more.This well-illustrated guide is essential reading for canoeists, kayakers, and rafters of all levels - as well as river guide trainees, participants in river rescue courses, and whitewater instructors.
Praise for "Whitewater Rescue Manual" - 'This book is the most complete, detailed, state-of-the-art compilation of whitewater rescue techniques I've seen. It achieves a commendable balance between stressing the 'how-to' of river rescue skills and the judgment needed to use them. It belongs on the bookshelf of every serious paddler' - Gordon Black, Director of Instruction, Nantahala Outdoor Center. 'Whitewater paddler or rescue team member, "Whitewater Rescue Manual" makes a welcome addition to anyone's emergency library, reflecting the working association between the ACA, Rescue 3, and other professional river rescue courses' - Jim Segerstrom, Founder, Rescue 3 International.'"Whitewater Rescue Manual" looks at both the 'hard' and the 'soft' sides of river rescue, placing equal emphasis on group organization, judgment, self-rescue, and rope handling to give a balanced picture of how to avoid accidents and how to deal with them when they happen' - Bruce Lessels, Director of Zoar Outdoors. 'This is as close to real-life safety and rescue techniques as you can get without getting wet.
Few people know river rescue like Walbridge and Sundmacher, and they share their knowledge in an informative and entertaining way. This is the most up-to-date information available, and is destined to become a standard text for river runners' - Jeff Bennett, author, "Washington Whitewater, Rafting, and The Complete Inflatable Kayaker". "'Whitewater Rescue Manual" takes river rescue one step further in its evolution. The authors' focus is on practical solutions to everyday whitewater mishaps. Highly recommended' - Kent Ford, producer of whitewater instruction videos.