1 Paddler Development Workshop Most everything you wanted to know but were afraid to askJoanne Barta, Tim Mattson, Fred Harsman, Don Beale, David Dalbey, Bob Baltazar, Charles Congdon, etc.

2 Please Introduce YourselfName How long paddling Why you are here

3 Agenda Goals Logistics and Legal Trip PlanningTrip Levels, Skills Conditions Safety & Risk Assessment Medical Issues Group and Incident management Good organizers

4 Class Goals To introduce some of the skills needed to plan and take part in fun and safe paddle trips in the beautiful Pacific Northwest including: Finding a place to paddle Judging the conditions before and during a trip Being safe around other water users and in-water features Dealing with medical issues Managing a group Being a good organizer or paddler Being inclusive – make the trip work for everyone, even if someone is above their head To encourage you to grow as a paddler in skill and knowledge

5 Lifelong Learning – it’s more than moving the boat!Paddling is More Than: Effective Paddling Turning, Edging, and Steering Rolling You can also learn about Moving-Water Paddling Rescue Techniques Towing Tidal/Trip Planning Navigation in Conditions Group and Incident Management Teaching Physical Skills Marine geology, hydrology, and biology Native Cultures Ropes and Knots Etc.

6 Our Goals as Paddlers To make sure everyone has a great timeTo get home before serious environmental, medical, or personal problems arise To learn and grow, so we can better take care of each other and have fun To never, ever, have to call someone and tell them that their loved one will not be coming home Paddling is not without risks

7 Paddler ResponsibilitiesAll Paddlers  Know where to go, and how to get back (navigation) Good decision-making skills (experience, and appeal to the wisdom of the group) Make the trip safe—stay within acceptable risk—read conditions Keep an eye on the clock—time management. Account for weather and tides Communication: keep everyone in the loop Stay with the group Organizers Set up the trip, deal with waivers, etc. (administration) Keep the group together – “herding” and leadership

8 What if something goes horribly wrong?If there is an incident, the most experienced professional paddlers from Alder Creek, Next Adventure, Portland Kayak, Body Boat Blade, Columbia River Kayak, etc. will be witnesses for the prosecution They will be asked if the participants (especially leaders) of the paddle exercised proper “duty of care” based on industry standards, and did not lead participants into harm due to negligence or incompetence We want to be sure that all paddlers will receive a positive review from these paddling experts

9 Resources Check out the “Paddler Resources” page under the “Information” menu on the OOPS website (https://oopskayak.org/onlinepaddlingresources). There you will find: Map and charts Weather, Wind, Tide, Current, Temperature, and Pollution information Paddle Locations, Launches, water trails, suggested trips, etc. Want to learn a new skill? Check out our learning resource page https://oopskayak.org/onlinelearningresources or take a class from one of our fine local paddling stores.

10 Agenda Goals Logistics and Legal Trip PlanningTrip Levels, Skills Conditions Safety & Risk Assessment Medical Group and Incident management Good organizers

11 Running a Personal TripFigure out when and where you want to go: Check conditions, experiences of other paddlers, personal logs Decide who you want include on the paddle and maybe change your plan to suite their skills: Your new friend who has never paddled before probably isn’t up for a 20- mile trip down the Columbia At the Put-in BEFORE getting on the water: Decide who is the nominal leader and agree on signals Find out what gear everyone has and if anyone has medical issues Discuss plan and possible hazards After the trip Tell wild fish tales about what went right Discuss problems and near-misses Make sure any injuries are dealt with, and everyone can safely drive home

12 documents and trip organizer information available at: oopskayak.orgRunning an OOPS Trip documents and trip organizer information available at: oopskayak.org Before the trip is advertised: Submit your Trip organizer resume: Fill out and submit to OOPS Trips Coordinator for OOPS’ files. You only need to do this once. Fill out the trip proposal form at the bottom of https://oopskayak.org/Trips : If approved, it will be posted on the calendar and announced on the listserv by the OOPS Trips Coordinator. Once the Trip is Posted: Screen trip participants / build roster / recruit co-organizers / sign up yourself! At the Put-in BEFORE getting on the water: Every participant including trip leader fills out release form Conduct the trip briefing/safety talk After the trip Fill out the Post-Trip report at the bottom of https://oopskayak.org/Trips : Send to OOPS Trip Coordinator right after the trip along with the signed release form(s) Trip incident report: Fill out if there are incidents … even small ones. You never know when something trivial may grow into something serious.

13 When submitting in OOPS tripIf you need extra help, before you propose your trip to see if you can get some co-organizers (lets you bring more people) You and your assistants must sign up as soon as the trip is posted The participant limit enforced by the website includes you and your assistants You need to manually maintain the attendee list and check wet-exist status Wet exit status will be noted in the registration you get The website will maintain the order of signup, but won’t help you move people off the waitlist if a registered person cancels – you do this by personal communication You need to manually participants with meeting details, etc. Although you can point them to the Trips forum to work some of that out Paid events are handled a little differently – ask if you really need to know

14 OOPS in the Land of LiabilityInsurance: OOPS has liability insurance: Protects the club, its leaders and volunteers if we are sued Protection only holds if we act according to standard practice established by “experts” in the sport. See the ACA SEI risk management article. How to keep our insurance Understand and follow the rules Document EVERY trip: conditions, people, events… Same standards for EVERY trip Without the Insurance, trip-organizers and instructors couldn’t afford to risk involvement with OOPS. No insurance … no OOPS.

15 The Rules for OOPS TripsOur insurance requires us to define Policies and follow them. Those policies come from: Common sense… and professional standards Key rules (full list in the OOPS activity policy document) Equipment appropriate to the trip: PFDs, sprayskirts, bilge pump, whistle, first aid kit, food/water, etc. Dress for immersion risk. No cotton. Keep the group together! Waivers and pre-trip talks are required Every trip has a CPR certified first aid person. Fill out ALL required paperwork (there isn’t much of it) Organize trips a full level below your own ability. E.g. If you can only safely paddle up to level 3, you should only organize up to level 2 trips. Rules set minimum standards … anticipate, adapt, and stay safe.

16 The pre-trip interviewMake sure people are right for the trip … If you don’t know them, talk to them (phone or ): Ask them about: Do they have the experience they need? Where do they like to paddle? Watch out for know-nothing “experts” and over-confident “pros”. What do they do when they capsize? Do they have the right equipment and clothing? Are they in shape for the planned trip? Any medical issues – a diabetic will need to stop to eat frequently Doesn’t disqualify them, but you need to plan for this and have a trip where it is possible When in doubt, gently guide them to a more appropriate trip.

17 Sample participant questionsAfter Charles took this class, he asked people so many questions they were scared away. Here is what he asks them now if he doesn’t know them or their skill level: (Ocean Classes) What skills do you wish to work on at the coast in lumpy waters? (Ocean Paddles) What sort of coastal paddling have you done, and what do you consider your upper level? Can you tell me about some of your recent paddles? What sort of immersion gear do you have (do you have a drysuit, wetsuit, etc.)? When was your last wet exit and rescue (intentional or otherwise)?

18 Exercise: the pre-trip interviewConduct a pre-trip interview. We are going to be doing rescue practice in Canoe Pass at Deception Pass Key points to note: Be encouraging. Be realistic … remember if you give-in and let an unprepared person join the group, everyone suffers. Steer the person to a more appropriate OOPS trip if that makes sense.

19 Life in America: the Land of Litigation*The Bad and the Ugly: Trip Organizers are liable … whether the trip is with friends, an OOPS trip, or professionally guided trip. Friends, clubs, professional guides … what’s different? Consider The PERCEPTION of liability. Two extremes: Friends usually don’t sue friends (but relatives might…), so we often neglect liability protections when paddling with friends. Paid guides: High expectations … fair game for law suits What about a large club such as OOPS?  Hi Tim, Here's what Im thinking: First slide, the 'bad and the ugly': WE ARE LIABLE. Exposure to liability is the same whether we go out with friends, lead an OOPS trip, or are a professional guide. Next slide: What is different? Whats different is the PERCEPTION of liability. Nobody wants to sue our friends, we have 'vested interest' in them. So in a small club, or just a group of friends, no one carries insurance or puts much thought into the liability issue. At the other end of the spectrum is a paid guide, where the perception of liability is clear. Where does OOPS fall on this scale? In club size? In responsibility? ( a few minute discussion, hopeful result is that OOPS is somewhere in the middle). Next slide: The standard of care: Anybody remember that from the article? "to perform as a reasonable and prudent person with your level of training and experience would perform under similar circumstances'. In OOPS, we try to maintain a balance where the perception of liability is that each person is responsible for thier own safety, while at the same time taking some assurances that our Organizers will perform in a reasonable and prudent manner. What was the #1 thing in the article that we need to do to protect ourselves? (Informed consent, or 'warn and inform') What systems does OOPS have in place for this? -the waiver, signed at every trip -the rating system -the pre-trip debrief Does that about cover it? Thats four slides, and I think total 20 minutes Also attached is the Cascade Head pdf Don *From the May 2010 SEI Focus, pp 3 to 5. Adapted by Sam Fowlkes from a Risk Management Seminar given by Will Leverette at the 2004 Whitewater Symposium. Reproduced without permission as an appendix to these slides. SEI = Safety Equipment Institute

20 Thriving in the Land of Litigation*Set a high standard of care … or in lawyer speak: "to perform as a reasonable and prudent person with your level of training and experience would perform under similar circumstances”. The OOPS approach: Maintain a balance of responsibility … each paddler is responsible for his/her safety … while the club takes steps to help our trip organizers perform in a reasonable and prudent manner. From the SEI Focus article*, what is the #1 approach to protecting ourselves? Informed Consent … or “warn and inform”. How does OOPS implement this strategy? The waiver signed on every trip The trip rating system The pre-trip briefing Hi Tim, Here's what Im thinking: First slide, the 'bad and the ugly': WE ARE LIABLE. Exposure to liability is the same whether we go out with friends, lead an OOPS trip, or are a professional guide. Next slide: What is different? Whats different is the PERCEPTION of liability. Nobody wants to sue our friends, we have 'vested interest' in them. So in a small club, or just a group of friends, no one carries insurance or puts much thought into the liability issue. At the other end of the spectrum is a paid guide, where the perception of liability is clear. Where does OOPS fall on this scale? In club size? In responsibility? ( a few minute discussion, hopeful result is that OOPS is somewhere in the middle). Next slide: The standard of care: Anybody remember that from the article? "to perform as a reasonable and prudent person with your level of training and experience would perform under similar circumstances'. In OOPS, we try to maintain a balance where the perception of liability is that each person is responsible for thier own safety, while at the same time taking some assurances that our Organizers will perform in a reasonable and prudent manner. What was the #1 thing in the article that we need to do to protect ourselves? (Informed consent, or 'warn and inform') What systems does OOPS have in place for this? -the waiver, signed at every trip -the rating system -the pre-trip debrief Does that about cover it? Thats four slides, and I think total 20 minutes Also attached is the Cascade Head pdf Don *From the May 2010 SEI Focus, pp 3 to 5. Adapted by Sam Fowlkes from a Risk Management Seminar given by Will Leverette at the 2004 Whitewater Symposium. Reproduced without permission as an appendix to these slides.

21 Common Problems and Staying SafeThe six most common and significant allegations are listed below in order of importance and prevalence: Failure to “warn and inform” Failure to give proper instructions Instructor/ guide error Wrong place, wrong time Equipment failure Rescue was unduly long and exhaustive, causing pain and suffering Paddlers can build a solid defense if the points above are properly addressed The bottom line is prevention. Proper training, knowledge and experience gives paddlers the judgment to recognize when a situation is developing and the tools to take both preventative and corrective action.

22 Mandatory Organizer Tasks the Day of Every OOPS TripArrive early so you meet people Make sure everyone signs the waiver Check on equipment as it arrives (proper boats, immersion wear) Get people help taking boats to/from cars to water Pre-trip briefing (use Pre-trip Checklist and Trip Rating Guide on website) Introductions Verify everyone signed waiver Discuss itinerary, rest stops, lunch spots, bail outs Get everyone to identify possible risks, conditions, hazards, medical conditions Safety discussion (mutual comfort, capsizes, towing) Go over communication methods Equipment check, who has what, radio and zipper checks Group Expectations Give people a place to meet when launched, get someone experienced out there firsts

23 ACTIVITY POLICY QUIZ: Part 1You are organizing a level-three trip, and a participant does not have a tow belt. Is this in compliance with the Activity Policy? Yes – a tow belt is recommended but not required. Must each item in the safety checklist be reviewed prior to every trip? No – the checklist is a recommendation. Some items on it will be more applicable on some trips. You are organizing a level two trip, and are planning on twelve participants. How many Organizers or Assistant Organizers do you need? Two – a ratio of one organizer for every six participants at level two. What is the minimum Organizer/Participant ratio for level three? One Organizer to every five participants at level three, and one for every four at level four. Does an assistant need to be an approved Organizer? Yes – assistants must also be organizers or instructors

24 ACTIVITY POLICY QUIZ: Part 2True or False: One first aid person per Organizer or assistant is required.  False – one kit/person is required for every pod.  What cotton clothing item is allowed on OOPS activities on the water? An exception to ‘no cotton’ is made for a hat. For a minor in an OOPS activity, what accommodation is required? There has to be a designated ‘responsible adult’. Does the responsible adult for a minor have to have express permission to authorize medical treatment and transport? Yes. In the event of an incident, who does the Organizer notify? Who notifies the Club President? The Organizer notifies the appropriate Trips/Education Coordinator. The Coordinator then notifies the President.

25 Agenda Goals Logistics and Legal Trip PlanningTrip Levels, Skills Conditions Safety & Risk Assessment Medical Issues Group and Incident management Good organizers

26 When planning a trip, what are the most important considerations?A topic of much discussion Paddle from Safe Haven to Safe Haven Paddlers of all levels are most bothered by Wind & Waves (particularly wind) Lack of bailout options Lack of local knowledge Beginners will find it all challenging Pick short paddles on a calm day in flat water for beginners If they come home all-smiles, consider it a job well-done In time they may get better and be up to the exciting stuff.

27 Exercise Let’s take a look at the Trip Posting Form on the Website. Pretend that we are going to paddle in Nehalem Bay today. What would you enter? Looking through the form is a decent time to describe trip levels Wind waves are a bigger deal than swell The website does not automatically calculate the overall rating, which usually is the highest rating level seen 2 or more times (+1 for night and fog) You had a good trip. Let’s look at the Trip Report Form on the Website

28 OOPS Trip levels See website for definitionsCondition Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Wind Under 8 mph Up to 14 mph Up to 19 mph Up to 25 mph Sea State as seen from boat Waves up to the deck seam; water glassy to rippled, no whitecaps Waves up to armpit; light to moderate chop, scattered whitecaps Waves to paddle tops; numerous whitecaps, waves becoming longer Many whitecaps, some spray Waves, surf waves < 1’ no surf Waves to 2', Waves to 3', 2' surf Waves to 6', 4’ surf Landing Type Frequent easy landing opportunities including gently sloping, sand, gravel or grass Frequent landing opportunities including docks or moderate sloping banks, brush or overhanging trees Bad footing, surf up to 1.5’ Steep rocky shores sheltered from the waves or surf up to 4' Open Crossings No open crossings Under 1 mile 1 to 2 miles 2 to 4 miles Total Distance Up to 6 miles 6 to 11 miles 11 to 15 miles 15 to 22 miles Current None or mild (less than 1 knot) Mild currents (up to 2 knots): current increases / decreases group speed by half Up to 4 knots: paddlers must sprint to move forward Up to 6 knots Three or more level 4 conditions present Exceed any two level 4 conditions Any two conditions exceeding a level’s listing bumps the rating up to the next level. Night or limited visibility (fog) bumps the rating up one level.

29 Recommended Skills per levelPaddling Forward, reverse, sweep turns, stern rudder High and low bracing. Comfort with some edging. Efficient forward stroke. Eddy line crossings. Confident edge control and bracing. Confident boat control in wind and moving water. Reliable roll. Reliable rough water roll. Rescue Wet exit ability Confident wet exits and assisted rescues (as swimmer and rescuer). Paddle float or other self-rescue. Confident assisted and self rescues. Recently rehearsed assisted rescues in Level 3 or Level 4 conditions. Confident rough water assisted rescue ability. Group Dynamics Group positioning awareness Group positioning and dynamics awareness. Group management ability. Confident group management experience. Confident group management experience Navigation Basic navigation skills. Accurate course plotting and chart positioning skills. Night and limited visibility navigation

30 Paddles where special care is neededA level 1 trip when conditions start to worsen When one person has problems, many will follow The kayak shops see this all the time Which is why it’s always good to have a backup experienced paddler with you Any paddle (especially level 2) in an environment where the wind can come up without warning and/or there are very few or difficult outs This could quickly turn into a level-4 mess

31 Paddling from Safe Haven to Safe HavenDon’t just plan on breaks at the put-in, take-out, and lunch. Try to plan trips with places you can land about every half-hour to hour or so (every few nautical miles) so that: People can use the restroom Hot people can take off some clothing, cold people can put on some extra clothing, wet people can change People can snack (especially diabetics) People can stretch Slow people who are always “humping it” to keep up can rest Someone can go for help if needed You don’t have to land, and if you do, make it short. But make sure you have the option

32 Rate this trip: Wind riverExpected Wind is from the NW at 10 knots. Currents are 2 knots Crossing distance is 1mile.

33 Rate this trip: Wind riverWe arrive and the actual conditions are: Wind is west at 20 knot. Current at 2 knots, crossing is 1 mile Re-rate this trip for the actual conditions.

34 Rate the trip: Deception PassCrossing distance is ¾ mile. Wind is calm. Current is ebbing at 6.5 knots in Canoe Pass.

35 Agenda Goals Logistics and Legal Trip PlanningTrip Levels, Skills Conditions Safety & Risk Assessment Medical Issues Group and Incident management Good organizers

36 Conditions Here in the Pacific Northwest, we need to consider at least some of the following before and during every paddle (including level 1). All paddlers should come to the launch with relevant information in-hand: Weather, especially winds Water Temperature River conditions (temperatures, currents, flow rates) Tidal Factors – Height and Currents Swell & Surf Possible Landings Your one-stop-shop: https://oopskayak.org/onlinepaddlingresources

37 Weather – NOAA, Wunderground, Sailflow, VHF RadioDealing with weather is simple … always check forecasts and know your limits. It’s the wind that matters most. Key issues for understanding wind: Direction: Stated in terms of where the wind comes from (opposite of the convention with current). Fetch: the span of water the wind blows over. Longer equals bigger waves Time: How long has the wind been blowing? The longer the more waves will develop Fog, thunderstorms, precipitation can also have a big impact on your trip And don’t forget the air temperature and humidity Pay attention to how all these vary during the day Any wind over 25 knots is very tough! Only advanced paddlers working in well practiced teams should choose to paddle beyond 30 knots … and even then, you better hope you’re heading downwind!

38 Wind Waves Fetch: The unobstructed distance of water passed over by the wind The longer the fetch, the bigger the wind waves The bigger the wind waves, the more impact they will have on your progress If the waves are tall enough, your boat gets pushed by the wind on the top of the wave, and left alone at the bottom Making keeping your direction challenging Wind waves can be a bigger deal than swell – their period tends to be shorter, giving you less time to react between waves

39 Wind and Weather Find out how the wind speed will vary at Stevenson, Washington over the day? How about in two days? BONUS: Looking at synoptic charts, how do you predict the wind direction and strength to change today in Astoria? Now check your results with the NOAA hourly graphs.

40 River Conditions – NOAA, River Reports, VHF Radio, USGSBefore any river trip, note the height, flow rate, currents, wind direction, tide, and water temperature Keep a record of conditions observed after every paddle to fill in the gaps USGS reports mean water velocity in feet/second for some stations (1 f/s = 0.6 knots) Currents make a big difference Can speed up or slow down progress Can drain or save paddler energy 3 knot current – stand still at normal paddle speed 6 knot current – stand still sprinting Tides can speed up or slow down a river Wind opposing current will stand up wind waves; same direction will calm Important particularly on the Columbia Especially on larger rivers, you can “eddy-hop” to make good progress against the current Pay special attention to deep and shallow parts of the river, and river obstructions (natural or manmade)

41 Water Temperature – River ReportsPacific Northwest – rivers are only warm for a few months a year It gets warm outside long before the rivers do The resulting cold shock is a common reason for drowning on warm days Which is why a properly-worn PFD can save a life – see Medical section If it’s hot out but the water is cold, make sure to keep people in immersion wear cool, and consider denying people who are not adequately dressed if necessary Early rescue practice can be used to give people “the hint” if this is a paddle where immersion or lots of splashing may be likely Know your limits, and dress for immersion – see website for recommendations And insist on a properly closed life jacket at all times

42 River Conditions Use the NOAA website to find the predicted river height of the Willamette River Above the Falls at Oregon City in two days Use the USGS website to find the water speed on the Willamette at Newberg Use to find the water temperature in the Clackamas at Estacada Dressing recommendations for water temperatures: to-dress/How-to-Dress-1.shtml

43 Tidal Factors – Height and Currents – NOAA, Tidespy, Protides, DeepzoomTides effect most of the lower Columbia and Willamette Rivers They modify the river currents and heights They can create navigational hazards (tide races, inaccessible turns) Tides at the coast have a big influence on when/where we can launch and explore They also can amplify rip currents and currents parallel to the shore (created by the return of the surf water to the deep ocean) You can estimate the water height at a given time using the Rule of 12ths If it takes 6 hours to go from low to high tide, the water level will be at 25% after 2 hours, at 50% after 3 hours, and at 75% after 4 hours

44 Tidal Currents - Rule of thirds AKA the 50/90 ruleThe NOAA tables provide times for slack and peak. Use the rule of thirds to estimate current at other times: Divide time from peak to slack into three equal segments (~1 hr) 90% of peak after 1st segment 50% of peak after 2nd segment 0% (slack) after 3rd segment Reverse process back to peak 50% of peak after 1st segment 90% of peak after 2nd segment 100% (peak) after 3rd segment This rule interpolates abs(cos(n*pi/12)) for n = 0 to 12. it comes from David Burch, Fundamentals of kayak Navigation, 1987

45 Crossings in current When crossing a channel in current, the current will flush you along the channel as you cross. Consider the 1.5 nm crossing from Clatsop spit, OR to Sand island, WA at the mouth of the Columbia with a 2 knot ebb current (assume fixed, no wind): Estimate your paddling speed (3 knots for most paddlers). Measure distance and compute travel time (e.g. cross from Clatsop spit to Sand island, or 1.5 nm or ½ hour). Estimate or look up current moving through the channel (For this example, assume its running at 2 knots). The current will then flush you ½ hr * 2 nm/hr = 1 nm. So to cross, you could hug the shore (where the current is weak) and head upstream 1 nm and then cross … i.e. let the current flush you to your desired destination. Note: wind can complicate Get high and stay high!

46 Clatsop Spit to Sand Island

47 Tides and Currents What are high and low tides at Garibaldi?What are the current predictions for “Hunting Island, south of (PCT1216) Depth 20 ft” What are the current predictions for the Tillamook Bay Entrance? BONUS: What currents and tides can you expect at Jim Crow Point today?

48 Estimating tides: Your are leading a group of paddlers to explore the Woodard Creek estuary. You know that: From past experience, it is all mud at a 1 ft tide. Tide data: high 9’ at noon, low 0’ at 6 PM. What time must you turn the group around to avoid the mud? 1 nm

49 Estimating Tides: The rule of 12thsTide varies from low to high (and back again) according to a smooth curve called a sine wave. The rule of 12th’s approximates a quarter sine wave Divide time from low to high tide into six segments (~ on hour segments). The change after each segment (hour) expressed as a fraction of 12: High tide First hour 1/12 Second hour +2/12 Third hour +3/12 Fourth hour Fifth hour Sixth hour +1/12 cos (-pi) = Low tide Remember: If it takes 6 hours to go from low to high tide, the water level will be at 25% after 2 hours, at 50% after 3 hours, and at 75% after 4 hours

50 Using the rule of 12ths to estimate “turn-around” timeAssume: Tide data: high 9’ at noon, 0’ at 6 PM. It is all mud at a 1 ft tide. You want 2’ min depth to avoid bottom drag Group paddles at three knots Divide tide range by 12 9’/12 = ¾ ‘ Desired min depth is 3’ (2’ + mud depth of 1’) Convert min tide into “12ths” 3’ / (¾)’ = 4 By the rule of 12ths, you get to 4 segments in 2 1/3 hr or the group must be out 2 1/3 hr before 6PM or 3:40 PM. Group paddles at 3 knots, so 20 mins to go 1 nm and get out. Turn around no later than 3:20 PM Or 6.75 feet at 2pm, 4.5 feet at 3pm, 2.25 feet at 4pm 1 nm

51 Swell & Surf – NOAA, Magicseaweed, VHF RadioSwell is the collection of waves moving away from a storm in the ocean. Pay attention to the direction Swell height is an average of the largest 1/3rd of all waves 1 in 100 (1 every ~15 min) will be 1.5x this, 1 in 1000 (1 every ~2.8 hours) will be 2x this Swell period is literally the time it takes for successive waves to pass the same point in seconds. Practically, the peak period of a swell gives a great idea of how powerful the swell is and the size of the surf it will create

52 Swell & Surf – NOAA, Magicseaweed, VHF RadioDoubling the period gives about a 50% increase in the height of the breaking waves from the same sized swell (and *much* more power to the waves – there is more water in each wave).  10 seconds = 6ft breaking waves; 20 seconds = 9ft breaking waves The increase in wave height begins to occur at depths of around one half of the wavelength. In general, a wave will start to break when it reaches a water depth of 1.3 times the wave height. The steeper the beach, the bigger the waves

53 Swell and Surf What is the surf going to be like at Lincoln City in two days? What swells make it up, and what will the wind be doing as the day progresses? What is the NOAA Marine forecast for offshore of Lincoln City at the same time?

54 Conditions and Trip planning (OOPS or personal)Weeks or months before: Talk to people who have been to the location before, post questions on the listserv, and look on https://oopskayak.org/Location- Information-Forum Look up average air temperatures, guess water temperatures Sunrise, sunset, possible landings Tides & currents If the idea looks reasonable, submit your trip proposal 1 Week before the trip: Start checking weather forecasts, especially wind Check currents forecasts, water flow if applicable Check surf and swell forecasts

55 Conditions and Trip planning (OOPS or personal)2 days before: Go/no-go based on weather, wind, currents, flow rates, surf, and swell Day before and Morning of: Continue to check weather, wind, currents, flow rates, surf, and swell and switch to Plan B if necessary Write down pertinent information on your boat (tides, weather, etc.) The Day After: Document at https://oopskayak.org/Location-Information-Forum for the next person File your trip report

56 Agenda Goals Logistics and Legal Trip PlanningTrip Levels, Skills Conditions Safety & Risk Assessment Medical Issues Group and Incident management Good organizers

57 Safety: general principlesEverybody is responsible for safety: but the trip organizer has special responsibilities. Three key principles Hazards: Anticipate and avoid them, but don’t assume you can always avoid hazards … be prepared to deal with them. Risk Assessment … have a system to quickly assess risks and keep updating your assessment as the trip unfolds. Medical emergencies … Understand the most common medical emergencies OOPS members are likely to face and be ready. All of this applies to private paddles as well as club paddles

58 But First, for everyone’s peace of mindBefore you go out, tell someone where you are going, and when you will be back. Call if you are going to be late, and make sure your phone is on. For more elaborate trips, file a float plan Float plans Electronic Float Plan with State of Oregon: Plan.aspx Official Coast Guard Float Plan:

59 Risk Assessment: Keep it simpleThere are many systems out there: NOLS Body Boat Blade PEG: People, Environment, Gear BBC: Bodies, Boats (and equipment), Conditions The Mother Principle (worst case scenario analysis) Pro Tip: These Assessment Systems are also good planning checklists The key is to have a system that helps you remember ALL the key issues you need to consider. Find one that works for you … and use it Before the trip At the put-in Throughout the day

60 Example: Risk Management TriangleAssign stop-lights to each side of the triangle based on risk relative to the conditions inside the triangle. All green is “good to go”. Red is “no-go”. Yellow is “proceed with caution” Sea Context Atmosphere Wind Temperature Precipitation Fog Shore, sand, rock Boat traffic Bailout options Accessibility to emergency services Swell, period & size River levels Water temp Current Tide Communication skills Attitude Pressures and goals health gear People Assign red, green or yellow to each side of the triangle Source: NOLS,

61 Example: The BBB Risk Assessment Bulls-eyeThe Body Boat Blade Safety Bulls-eye Source: Body Boat Blade International Create a check list of risk factors (see next slide). Evaluate group relative to each category Place a mark for each category Green: go Yellow: caution Red: no-go A bulls-eye with a bunch of red marks would be an obvious no go situation.  One with lots of green and a couple of yellows might be a go.  WEATHER BIG PICTURE - SYNOPSIS Improving Worsening WIND Speed Now / Later Direction On Shore Off Shore Relation to currents RAIN / SUN Temperature Psychology VISIBILITY Fog Night/Dusk THUNDERSTORMS OTHER HAZARDS LAND LANDSCAPE Terrain Remoteness OUTS Roads Help? LANDINGS Swell Beach Type Tide WILDLIFE OTHER FACTORS Sunset / Sunrise Time WATER SWELL Size Period WIND WAVES In relation to Currents TIDES High Low Range Relation to off shore boomers Relation to on shore break CURRENTS Relation to wind waves Relation to Swell Relation to Races and Over falls BOAT TRAFFIC AND SHIPPING GROUPS LEADER/S (Know your limits – 5 Star assessment) Walk in Park? Can you pick up the pieces and or pull the group out? BEHAVIOUR OF INDIVIDUALS IN FORECAST CONDITIONS STRENGTH Physical Mental Skills PERSONAL EQUIPMENT OF GROUP Body Boat Safety Visibility HEALTH CONCERNS

62 Risk Analysis: The BBB Check listWater Swell Size Period direction Tides High, low, range Relation to off shore boomers Relation to on-shore break Currents Speed and direction Relation to wind, swell Tide races and overfalls Boat traffic and shipping Other hazards Weather Big picture improving, same, degrading Wind Speed … now and later Direction … now and later Off-shore or on-shore Relation to currents Rain/Sun Temperature Psychology Visibility Fog Night/Dusk Land Outs Terrain Remoteness Roads Help Landings Swell Beach type Tide Other hazards Groups Leader/s Walk in park? Can you pick up the pieces and/or pull the group out? Behavior of individuals in forecast conditions Strength Physical Mental skills Personal equipment of group Body Boat Safety Health concerns Other Factors Time of day Sunset/sunrise times 5 Categories: Weather, Land, Water, Group, Other Factors. Evaluate each and record results (go, no-go, caution) on the bulls-eye

63 Some Hazards you are likely to faceWind, Waves, Current, Weather Rocks, sticks, wreckage (sticking up and under the surface) Bridges Piers Dams Strainers Boat Traffic Tidal Shallows that can strand you for 12 hours (Sauvie Island, Willapa Bay)

64 Exercise Use one of these systems to rate the risk involved in a trip to Jetty “A” from the Cape Disappointment State Park Boat Ramp or Waikiki Beach today

65 Boating “Rules of the Road”Channels are for Big Ships A vessel shorter than 60 feet is required to not “impede the passage of a vessel that can safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway.” Keep out of the way of anything less maneuverable than you (most everything) Any vessel under oars (or paddles) shall have “ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing white light, which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision.” But not a constant white or colored light – they mean something different All mariners and paddlers are responsible for ensuring safe navigation in all waters and must take appropriate action to avoid a collision. More at:

66 Sound signals – how vessels signal intentUnlike automobiles, horn blasts often have a specific meaning on the water. They do not necessarily mean get out of the way: Vessels are required to sound signals any time that they are in close quarters and risk of collision exists. The term “short blast” means a blast of about one second. The term “prolonged blast” means a blast of from four to six seconds. The following signals are the only ones to be used to signal a vessel's intentions ( inland rules only). One short blast - I intend to change course to starboard Two short blasts - I intend to change course to port Three short blasts - I am operating astern propulsion (backing up). Five or more short and rapid blasts - Danger (someone doing something dangerous) or doubt signal (I don’t understand your intent).

67 Meeting Head to Head – Inland RulesVessels signal intent by horn blasts: Passing to Port Passing to Starboard Meeting Head to Head

68 Overtaking – Inland RulesThe slower vessel being passed must maintain speed and course, while the passing vessel signals intent and passes Both vessels verify intent with horn blasts These rules apply even when the overtaking vessel is not propelled by an engine "I intend to pass you on your port side" 2 short blasts (1 sec.) "Agreement" 2 short blasts (1 sec.) "I intend to pass you on your starboard side" 1 short blast (1 sec.) "Agreement" 1 short blast (1 sec.) If someone coming up behind you “honks,” they may not be jerks – they may be telling you something useful. Show them you understand and make all kayakers look better.

69 Crossing Courses The vehicle to the right has right-of-way and stays on course The other vessel should alter course to pass the stern of the other boat Powered vessels should always cross behind unpowered craft (but don’t count on it)

70 Are we going to collide? Daytime: NightTimeAngle from bow to oncoming boat unchanging – YES!!! Make radical course change (45 to 90 degrees) Angle between bow and boat getting smaller – No Will pass in front Angle between bow and boat getting larger – No Will pass in back Boat too big to calculate angle – let it pass and pray or take evasive action NightTime Green on left, red on right – YES!!! Red = Port – moving left Green = Starboard – moving right High white = headlight

71 Your brain on the outdoorsAdapted from: and Except in the earliest stages of learning a skill, your brain does not “assess the situation”, “brainstorm alternatives”, “develop a plan”, “execute the plan,” and “evaluate”. This type of analysis takes a lot of time and requires a lot of information. When a possible threat is present (saber tooth tiger), this can kill you So your brain takes shortcuts, especially when under pressure, or if the situation is fluid: your brain robs energy from the reasoning part of your brain to power hyper-alertness and reflexes: You literally don’t have the brains for complex reasoning and detailed plans So we use rules of thumb (“No less than three, go to sea,” “Measure twice, cut once,” “be off the peaks before noon,” “Don’t paddle at the mouth of Netarts Bay during the ebb tide”) Problem: When a rule of thumb gives us a grossly inaccurate perception of a hazard, we fall into what is known as a “heuristic traps”: situations where even trained people repeatedly ignore obvious clues to danger and proceed when the signs are screaming at them to scout, stop, or turn back.

72 Decision-Making Traps with Big ConsequencesRules of thumb that give us a grossly inaccurate perception of a hazard Scarcity Trap:  "I've driven 3 hours to get here, so I'm going to launch no matter what the conditions are! “ False Familiarity Trap: “I was down this river last fall, so I don’t need to scout the next corner this spring“ Expert Trap: "Sean is a very experienced paddler, he would never take us to a hazardous place“ (e.g. "Don't let your leader lead you to your death!")

73 Decision-Making Traps with Big ConsequencesRules of thumb that give us a grossly inaccurate perception of a hazard Ego Trap: "Well, if Sam made it through that rapid, then certainly I can make it through too“ Social Pressure Trap: “Joe and Patty have already made it through the big surf. I guess I’ll go ahead and launch -- I don’t want to look like a wimp” Momentum/Laziness Trap: “Tom and Paul are here, and have already taken their boats off their cars -- let’s go ahead and launch anyway” With your mind focused on one of these traps, you literally don’t have the brain power to think of the big picture – fight or flight again Much more on this: Read "Decision making for wilderness leaders: strategies, traps and teaching methods" and "Heuristic Traps in Recreational Avalanche Accidents: Evidence and Implications," both by Ian McCammon, Ph.D.

74 Exercise Give an example where you fell into one of the decision-making traps Charles: canoeing snake river with n00bs

75 Avoiding Decision-Making Traps 1Be Vigilant Work hard to note when you, or those you are with, start falling into these traps Absence of Evidence is not Evidence of Absence Just because you ignored the warning signs and got home safe, doesn’t mean the risk wasn’t there. You got lucky Remember Dirty Harry: "Did he fire six shots or only five?“… you've gotta ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" “Well, do ya, punk?” Reassess Regularly reassess your plan and the risk during the trip. Your inclination will be to continue on. Should you? Really? Pay attention to your gut – it’s OK to say “No”

76 Avoiding Decision-Making Traps 2What people in high-stress professions do to avoid the traps is replace rules-of-thumb with “pattern recognition” Recognizing a situation from a distinct set of clues, and respond based on training, practice, and experience How to build this experience: Reflection: Figure out why things went well. How? Can you repeat? Did risks exist that never came to a head? Debrief each other. Figure out what when wrong. Go beyond the simple answers Do Mental Exercises – Paper Scenarios

77 Avoiding Decision-Making Traps 3How to build this experience cont. Keep a logbook with all these observations, plus conditions (flows, tides, weather, who was there, etc.) Conduct a Pre-Mortem with the entire group Imagine that your plan was implemented as you intended but still failed. Why? What could cause this (unexpected weather, bear at proposed takeout, etc.) Imagine that the easy parts of your plan went fine, but the challenging parts were a mixed bag. What happens to the rest of your plan if you miss a key crossing at slack tide? Pre-Mortems help you spot weaknesses in your plan, and expose unknowns Prediction, Experience, and Reflection accelerate the process of recognizing key patterns

78 What’s a Wing Dam? They look something like this

79 Example Pattern Recognition ExercisesA paddler is floating sideways towards a wing dam or downed tree and cannot get away . What should they do? A paddler gets stuck on a wing dam or downed tree and is still right-side up. What do you do to rescue her? A paddler flips approaching a hazard. There isn’t enough time to get them in their boat, but there might be time to do something else…

80 Pattern Recognition ExerciseIt’s the OOPS Skamokowa weekend. Your group is coming around from behind Welch Island when dense fog hits. How do you find your way back to town? Thinking out these things ahead of time is one of the reasons the organizer asks participants about possible hazards before starting the paddle

81 Remember Reevaluate Risk from the time you enter the parking lot until you get home again. Use a system that works for you on and off the water Looked good when you left home, but it’s bad when you get to the put-in If you did your homework this isn’t a surprise On the water Wind may make getting boats on cars dangerous If people are really beat, don’t let them drive home without some food and rest

82 Some things to consider when paddling in the Portland AreaDressing for water temperature (typical water temps for different times of the year and locations) Boater’s right away / shipping and small-boat traffic (worst congestion areas, etc.) Avoid the Willamette downtown on a hot day Wing dams and bridges - what they look like, what to avoid, what to do if you can’t Winds tend to rise in the Gorge, on Willamette, at coast in the afternoon Tides and mud flats (Sauvie Island, Scappoose Bay) Fines if you don’t have your Invasive Specifies Permit or Sauvie Island pass Water cleanliness / where to check for warnings esp for the Willamette River When the rivers are flowing too fast Hunting Season, off-limits areas/times of year for wildlife refuges Sometimes you get ticketed if parking in a trailer spot (even when doubled up) Some boat ramps are free, some are not, some require a NW Forest or similar pass

83 Agenda Goals Logistics and Legal Trip PlanningTrip Levels, Skills Conditions Safety & Risk Assessment Medical Issues Group and Incident management Good organizers

84 The most Common Medical IssuesInjuries from the car to the put-in Including getting into/out of boat To avoid Two+ people carries Hold onto boat if there is a wind when taking on/off car Help less-experienced paddlers launch, or get out Sunburn Heat and Cold Challenges

85 Medical Emergencies Red Cross training is for an Urban environment:Professional medical care is minutes away. Medical emergencies: Wash your hands, dial 911, know CPR. Kayaking is more exposed: Professional medical care may be hours to days away. Medical emergencies: deal with it … you are on your own! Be prepared for what you might encounter on an OOPS trip: Cold water plus wet and stormy weather The demographics of our paddlers Most OOPS members are middle-aged or beyond Most of us are “desk bound” and not in the shape as we’d like

86 The “Most Likely” Medical EmergenciesSome of the more severe issues you may see on a paddle: Cuts, bruises, strains, breaks Heat Challenge (Hypothermia/Overheating) Diabetic Reaction Heart Issue Stroke Anaphylaxis Sea Sickness/Nausea Drowning The Bad News: all of these are higher risk/likelihood in the over-50 crowd (most of OOPS)

87 For All Medical Issues Insure scene safetyDon’t treat the patient while caregiver or patient are still at risk Expand your awareness to the max! Don’t increase the number of patients! The leader should stay apart from treatment Or delegate overall group coordination to someone else if the leader the most skilled medical provider present Don’t make the patient worse Watch out for hypothermia while treating/transporting patient Biohazards - Take appropriate precautions If it’s wet, and not yours, don’t let it get on you (goes both ways) Use Your Eyes first! Do they look sick? How sick? Is it safe for you to help?

88 Disclaimer The following are not a substitute for professional medical training

89 Cuts, bruises, strains, breaksIssues The longer you wait to treat, the greater the complications Symptoms Usually pretty obvious Treatment Expose the wound so you can accurately assess Look for other injuries beyond the source of compliant – consider mechanism of injury Treat appropriately for wilderness conditions Keep dressing dry/on if possible Don’t allow patient to use treated part if possible Seriously consider safest appropriate bailout option to get patient to definitive treatment

90 Heat Challenge (Hypothermia & Overheating)General Issues The body starts to malfunction – the patient cannot help themselves Easily turns fatal if not addressed Don’t swing things too far the other way when treating Patients loose heat 25x faster in water than air Symptoms Coming up Treatment Need to immediately remove the challenge and turn things around The worse the patient gets, the more fragile they become

91 Heat Challenge (Hypothermia)In the Pacific Northwest, hypothermia is the most common medical emergency faced by kayakers. Issues Recovery gets exponentially harder the colder the patient gets Patients loose heat 25x faster in water than air Abrupt movement of a severely hypothermic patient can cause cardiac arrest Patient’s mental status degrades Symptoms Normal: Shivering Mild: Shivering, pale, and “umbles” Severe: Not shivering, pale, everything slows down Treatment Remove challenge: Get out of wet clothing, insulate, warm Stoke the internal fires: Simple sugars, hydrate (slowly with warm liquids), exercise if safe Studies show external warming is of limited use and could result in another patient

92 Treat hypothermia aggressively … It does not “fix itself”.3 levels of Hypothermia Core Body Temp 98.6°F 96°F 90°F Normal Cold Response Mild Hypothermia Severe Hypothermia Shivering but normal mental state. Shivering, pale cool skin. Mental state deteriorates: watch for the “umbles*”. No Shivering. Decreased vital signs. Limited consciousness (or totally unconscious). Treat hypothermia aggressively … It does not “fix itself”. *umbles: grumbles, mumbles, stumbles

93 Hypothermia in the fieldBe vigilant and watch for paddlers shows symptoms of hypothermia. Lunch breaks are a particularly vulnerable time … What’s up with this person?

94 Hypothermia - TreatmentNormal Cold Response: Easy to “nip in the bud” Remove the cold challenge. Dry off, fuel up, exercise. Put on additional protective clothing.. Mild Hypothermia: Immediate action is needed, but you can still fix this in the field. Remove the cold challenge. Get them dry, insulated, fueled and active. Warm drinks, chemical heat packs (on the chest, armpits and groin), water bottles full of warm drinks and body-to-body contact are all helpful. Severe Hypothermia: Death is imminent, rapid evacuation is essential Severe hypothermia is a very fragile medical state. Rewarming is dangerous and requires specialized equipment. The heart is particularly fragile. Stop further cooling and gently transport the victim to medical care. The victim should be transported flat, as this causes the least strain on the heart.

95 Cold Water Safety Wrong excuses for not wearing a properly secured life jacket I can swim well, I am a skilled boater, I am close to shore, it’s only necessary if boat moving Facts about drownings 88+% were not properly wearing a life jacket 34% (1 in 3) die in water between 50 and 68 degrees 60% drown in water under 50 degrees 43% where less than 7 feet from shore/safety (shore, boat, dock, etc.) 66% were less than 50 feet from shore/safety Only 30% of those people could not swim Source:

96 Surviving Cold Water (water under 68 degrees)Hypothermia takes time … but you also have to worry about the body’s initial response to immersion in cold water… cold shock: Rapid, uncontrollable breathing (Hyperventilation, Gasping Reflex) Constriction of the capillaries under the skin causing an immediate increase in blood pressure and heart rate When you fall into cold water … remember the rule: 1 minute to control breathing – most don’t survive this without a life jacket – nearly impossible to swim 10 minutes to get out of 50-degree water 1 hour to lose consciousness due to hypothermia in 50-degree water Falling into *ice water* you only become severely hypothermic after 30 minutes…if you have life jacket on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1xohI3B4Uc Photo credit

97 A properly Fastened Life JacketAll buckles buckled and zippers zipped Bottom strap tightened securely under rib cage Shoulder straps room for some fingers under them, but no more Properly fastened, a person can be lifted from the water by their shoulder straps. And when they are in the water the PFD does not ride up around their head.

98 Heat Challenge (Overheating)Issues Patient’s mental status degrades as temperature approaches/passes 104 High heat, humidity, dry suits, drinking too much/little can bring on Symptoms Fatigue, weakness, headache, dizziness, nausea, irritability, thirst, cramps, seizure, stop sweating (heat stroke) Treatment Remove challenge: get in shade, stop exercising Cool. In the case of heat stroke, aggressively (ice bath, full immersion – caution, patient unable to swim) Patients loose heat 25x faster in water than air Hydrate slowly with electrolytes (8-15 oz every 15 minutes)

99 Heat Issues Signs and SymptomsConditions Heat Cramps Heat Exhaustion Heat Stroke Muscle Cramps Yes No Breathing Varies Rapid, Shallow Deep, Then Shallow Pulse Weak Full, Rapid Weakness Skin Moist – Warm, no change Cold, Clammy Dry, Hot Perspiration Heavy Little or None

100 Diabetic Reaction Issues Symptoms TreatmentA well-controlled diabetic can become uncontrolled with unusual exertion Lightweights may be more susceptible (smaller reserves) These people need to eat regularly – plan this into your trip! Uncontrolled diabetics have partial/total loss of feeling – unable to tell when injured Symptoms Weakness, shaking, sweating, headache, nervousness, hunger, altered mental state (often combative) Diabetics usually know when they are having problems and can tell you about it Treatment Start with 8-15 oz of fruit juice. If no improvement after 15 minutes, repeat and measure blood sugar After symptoms subside give more substantial food (peanut butter and jelly sandwich an excellent start) If symptoms do not subside get to hospital. If they do, then patient can carefully continue trip

101 Heart Issue These symptoms match many problems. If patients are at high risk of heart disease (i.e. they are a typical OOPS member) and if it comes on suddenly with exercise, assume it’s the heart Issues Don’t let these people exert themselves even if symptoms “go away.” Make sure these people bring their medications and that they are easily accessible (plus backup medication in case primary dropped in water) Symptoms (some or all of) – “atypical” in women, elderly, diabetics Chest pain/pressure (30% do not!), radiating pain in jaw or arm, rapid/shallow breathing, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, dizziness, feeling of doom, denial, lower abdominal pain, pain in lower back, heartburn/indigestion Made worse by exertion Treatment Rapid evacuation is essential. Keep patient calm and exertion low and get help FAST. Flag down power boats! Call for help! Time is of the essence! Help administer medication if they have any (nitoglycerine) 325mg aspirin (chewed!!) can improve outcome Detect and intervene early … before CPR is needed (=they die)

102 Stroke Issues Symptoms TreatmentPatient confused, frightened, maybe unable to communicate Time is of the essence Symptoms FAST: (F)acial droop, (A)rm drifts when held out in front/one hand squeezes more weakly, (S)lurred speech. RECORD THE (T)IME when the patient first showed symptoms! Most important information needed by hospital Also suggestive: Over 45, no history of seizures, atypical in past 24 hours, OK blood sugar (diabetic emergency can look like stoke) Treatment Calm, keep warm Fastest evacuation possible – best outcome if they get drugs within an hour; 3-4 hours on the outside Do NOT administer aspirin! Protect numb/paralyzed limbs – patient won’t know if damaged

103 Anaphylaxis Issues Symptoms TreatmentThe patient is about to suffocate and you can only slow it for minutes Make sure two EpiPens and Benadryl are easily accessible Symptoms Difficulty breathing and swelling in face/throat Itching with or without hives, flushed or pallid skin without respiratory distress is “just” an allergic reaction Shock symptoms (increasing heart and respiration, decreasing blood pressure before Epipen administered) Treatment Apply EpiPen for 10 seconds as soon as breathing problems start Second EpiPen if no results in first 5 minutes; otherwise will need to administer again in ~20 minutes (once needed again) Use Benadryl to prolong effect of EpiPen MUST GET TO AMBULANCE IN minutes to survive. PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS TO GET THEM TO ADVANCED MEDICAL AID (anyone with epinephrine)

104 Sea Sickness/Nausea Issues Symptoms TreatmentUnless you have good medicines, patient will be unable to paddle and extremely miserable. Trip over. Vomiting over the side = patient drowns Symptoms “Green,” pale, sweating, miserable Treatment Look at horizon Ginger or better Get off the water Try to determine if this is brought on by motion or food poisoning Vomit on spray deck and rinse off.

105 Drowning Issues Symptoms TreatmentYou need to get them breathing again before their heart stops (because you have no way to restart) Symptoms They inhaled water and they are unconscious Treatment Make sure there is nothing stuck in the mouth to prevent drainage Turn on side to drain Chest compressions may help push water out Breath for them and check for pulse, possibly in combination with the above.

106 Exercise Appearance Breathing CirculationIs this person sick? The Patient Assessment Triangle – do this before touching the patient and while sizing up scene Appearance Normal eye contact, muscle tone, behavior, movement? Seems to be making sense? Breathing Does it seem to require great effort? Unusually fast or slow? Position of comfort eases breathing (tripoding)? What sort of breathing noises? Circulation Healthy skin color, or pale, mottled, or bluish? Signs of trauma or bleeding?

107 Exercise How would you quickly fix the following issues on the water?A cut/blister Low blood sugar/diabetic emergency Mild Hypothermia Dehydration Missing hatch cover Patch a hole in the hull Deal with broken paddle

108 Pop Quiz Patient sweaty, pale, nauseous, acting odd?Heat exhaustion, heart attack, diabetic issues? Patient looks an odd color and has stopped paddling Seasick? Something more? Ask what they are feeling Patient incoherent, scared, paddling in circles Stroke? Or just wigged out? Altered mental status Heart issue, hypo/hyperthermia, diabetic issues, stoke? Trouble breathing Allergy? Choking? What is the definition of “Cold Water” Under 68 degrees – Oregon waters for most months of the year You don’t need to be a doctor to know if someone looks really unusual, or sick

109 Agenda Goals Logistics and Legal Trip PlanningTrip Levels, Skills Conditions Safety & Risk Assessment Medical Issues Group and Incident management Good organizers

110 Groups that work A group of people working together with a common goal. Our target: A group that is greater than the sum of its parts A common result … cat herding The four stages of Group formation Form: the people come together Storm: the initial chaos … individuals working in proximity Norm: Individuals pulling together with a common goal The collection of people become a pod. Perform: The pod is greater than the sum of its parts A good leader deliberately drives a group through these stages … quickly: Clear communication Consider games to “form the group” and get them to the Norm stage ASAP

111 Assessing Participants on the WaterYou’ve done the interviews, and you know some of the people, but what about the ones you do not know? How they load and get into their boats will tell you a lot. As will how they hold their paddle and the first few strokes Consider an on-water warm-up exercise and some games In a circle, bows to a common point; paddle back 4 strokes, turn 360, return bows to same point as fast as possible Eyes closed in boat – take off spray skirt, or put down paddle and wave hands around Shields and Aliens while traveling Pairs of crack-the-whip, paddle in circles, figure 8s Assess your paddlers early and adjust the difficulty/length/etc. of your trip so that everyone has fun and isn’t pushed too far outside of their comfort zone This also helps form the group

112 Exercise: Trip-organizer/Participant responsibilitiesWork in pairs to list the responsibilities for the trip organizers and the participants on a trip. Compare lists to the following slide. How many items on your list match the OOPS list (on the following slide)? What are the most important items on the lists? Did we miss anything important on our OOPS list?

113 Everyone is Responsible to the groupA trip organizer is responsible for: Rating the trip for expected and actual conditions Interviewing/screening the participations Making sure the appropriate equipment is on hand (first aid kit, tow belt, etc) .. Both for the organizers and participants. Proper immersion wear. Check Weather forecasts and evaluate at the put in. A trip Participant is responsible for: Having appropriate equipment. Proper immersion wear. STAYING WITH the GROUP. Following the leaders instruction. Reading the trip plan, understanding the agenda, and asking questions. Communicate concerns early and often. Know weather forecasts. Be reasonably self sufficient. Everyone is an active member of the pod OOPS does not run a guide service

114 Repeat after me Everyone is responsible for group managementGood groups need good leaders and good followers. Communicate problems, concerns, plans. Nobody leaves the group without permission (not even the leader) Everyone should be counting heads every few minutes

115 Helping keep things togetherUse games and activities to keep the group together Aliens and shields Paddling in changing formations Exchanging favorite foods in a speaking voice with someone else by name Take turns drafting each other as closely as possible Group navigation exercises Use pods, or buddies Everyone counts off and remembers their numbers Pair people – pairs are responsible for knowing where the other is at all times (don’t necessarily need to paddle together) Consider a “slow pod” and “fast pod” who have to meet at various milestones. Each needs proper organizer and first aid ratios

116 Spotting Paddlers who are in TroubleSigns: Paddling differently: Was relaxed and taking in the scenery, now is stiff, collapsed in on themselves, and looking straight ahead or slumped and paddling slowly Has stopped paying attention to the group Tunnel vision and powering ahead Saucer eyes, fixed grimace If you and your help are struggling, likely so is everyone else

117 Dealing with Paddlers who are in TroubleWhat to do: Try to engage in conversation, “train spotting,” etc. Get someone who is still OK to buddy with them – the psychological tow Teach them combat breathing: inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, release for 4, hold for 4. Results in an autonomic drop in heart rate by about 20 bpm. If enough people are having problems, raft up and have them secretly show comfort level from 1-5 (fingers up behind back or with eyes closed) Pull the plug and head for your closest bailout with the group close together doing activities Listen to your gut

118 Exercise Discuss a time when you were in trouble. What happened, what were you aware of, and how did someone help you? Charles: Tillamook crossing from 3-graces to lunch spot

119 The Positive Leader/PaddlerLook Positive Look where you want to go Naturally adjusts your body and boat to go where desired Point Positive Point in the direction you want others to go Because remember #1 – if you point at the hazard, they will go towards the hazard! Speak Positive when coaching someone to grow Mention only where you want to go/what you want to do The time to show the true severity of hazards is either during the on-land scouting (risk assessment) or during later reflection The heat of the moment is definitely the wrong time – freaked out paddler not a safe paddler Save the war stories of other paddles for the bar afterwards Don’t direct someone to their peril

120 Some Group Management IdeasUse point, sweep, and wing paddlers for beginners and hazardous situations. Point looks behind him/her-self … sets pace so slowest paddler can keep up. Outriders can also form a “pen” to contain other paddlers Have fun … don’t be a control freak. Conditions dictate how tightly you manage the group. Be assertive and take charge when needed Games are a way to keep group together without being a control freak Give the control freak participant or the worry-wort something to do Assign them as Sweep, wing? Empowering them keeps them busy, helps keep the group together – assuming they don’t become an even bigger pain

121 Management Challenges – The TurtleWeak Paddler/Wrong Boat Use them to set the group pace…from near the front; or lead paddler should go at speed of turtle Maybe pair with fast paddler or have them draft in the middle of a single-file line (follow as closely as you can) Have the group paddle in changing formations In a wind, paddle upwind of them to break some of the wind and make it easier for them to control their boat May need to tow at some point while they paddle – use your rabbit for that! Afraid Give them a relaxed buddy or provide instruction (while keeping your radar going) Talk to them! Try to make them see beyond the bow of their boat Play a game like Aliens and Shields, favorite fruits, etc. to help them break their fear Ideas on Managing a group with slow paddlers Ramp down the trip level Slow group down by exploring shore Shift the group towards activities rather than travel – try to accommodate Red flag if you have critical timing on parts of the trip (need to make tidal slack at a certain point in journey) Will likely require a change in the itinerary Remember – navigate from safe haven to safe haven…including the ones behind you.

122 Management Challenges – The RabbitIdeas: Have rabbits race each other around the group if situations allow, or condusct scouting missions to check something out, then come back and report Maybe we just need to give them something to do…other than set pace. Have them tow the slowest paddler, or you, to slow them down Never tell them your heading – shift the entire group 45 to 90 degrees at random so these guys end up “behind”. Do this early on, keep them guessing, and they’ll catch on. Give them the longest paddle and the shortest/widest boat? Talk to them about leadership, how you don’t need to be the fastest to be strongest, and have them act as a buddy for a slower paddler Challenge them to paddle backwards A leader who says “follow me” and then powers off into the sunset not looking back is not a leader – assume authority and form your own pod We want to be inclusive, but if keeping rabbits in check endangers the group or makes the paddle hell to manage (such as splitting up the group to chase them down), you may need to cut them loose Carefully – important to stress keeping with the group in pre-trip briefing

123 Management Challenges – The Butterfly- Collector / Birder / PhotographerFor some, giving them the responsibility of running sweep may cause them to keep up with the group Let them wander if they say within voice distance Pair the wander with someone that can talk and paddle to shepherd them In low visibility, give everyone a number and have them call it off during “count off”. Use prearranged “where are you” and “I am here” whistle signals. Try to find these folks during screening, and create a trip/pod with objectives that can accommodate their…dallying We want to be inclusive, but if they cannot keep focused enough to keep with the group, you may need to cut them loose Carefully – important to stress keeping with the group in pre-trip briefing

124 Management Challenge – the Storyteller / Life of the PartyA double-edged sword May slow down the group or cause people to split apart But can also help with group cohesion, and help keep people paddling close to each other This paddler can also help ease the fears of some novice paddlers…assuming they don’t make people feel inadequate You may need to break in to make the enthralled group aware of a course change or hazard avoidance Or you can subtly herd them, putting yourself between them and the hazard You might be able to use your rabbits to herd them – making it a game – how far can you get them without them noticing?

125 C.L.A.P Key aspects of a well managed group: C.L.A.P.Communication: agree on communication plan up front, all can hear Line of sight: Keep the group members in line of sight. Avoidance/Awareness: Its easier to avoid trouble than deal with it. Position the leader for maximum effectiveness The trip leader

126 Scenario 1 You are leading a trip to the Salmon river and around Cascade head. Conditions: Mid morning in October NW Wind 10 kt. AM growing to 20 kt. in the afternoon W swell 3 ft, 8 sec period Morning fog burning off in the afternoon. Low tide late in the day

127 Cascade Head What are the hazards? Where would you position yourself as you take a group around the head? How do you take the group around the head? North Salmon River Conditions: Mid morning in October NW Wind 10 kt. AM growing to 20 kt. in the afternoon W swell 3 ft, 8 sec period Morning fog burning off in the afternoon. Low tide late in the day

128 Scenario 2 You are leading a trip along the southwest shore side of Puget Island (on the Columbia River). Late morning in mid-April Sunny and clear W wind, 15 kt. Low tide late in the afternoon

129 Columbia River/Puget IslandLate morning in mid-April Sunny and clear W wind, 15 kt. Low tide late in the afternoon What are the hazards? Where would you position yourself as you take a group along the island?

130 Columbia River/Puget Island See all the wing dams!Late morning in mid-April Sunny and clear W wind, 15 kt. Low tide late in the afternoon

131 Exercise List some of the things that can go wrong in a trip

132 Some “answers:” Things that can go wrong on a trip 1Injury getting boat to/from water – always 2-people carry! Car keys locked in car Someone gets too hot or too cold – intervene before this goes bad Rough water and windy crossings – encourage, coach, buddies Serious Illness or injury – know the signs, call for help ASAP Someone capsizes and can’t get out of boat – seconds to save them – hand of God! Group gets separated – prevent, make sure everyone knows plan, search in pairs, bring radios

133 Exercise “answers:” Things that can go wrong on a trip 2Rescuer or rescuee unable to complete rescue – get them help, try alternative methods Gasket in dry suit breaks – temporally fix with gorilla tape Zipper not fully closed and suit floods – have buddies check each other before leave, change clothing (bring spares)

134 Incident Management Maintain C.L.A.P. when something goes wrongThe leader should delegate someone else to handle the issue while they maintain global awareness, count heads, and collect the group Round folks up rather than rubber-necking in a circle – raft up for stability If the leader is the only one skilled enough to handle the problem, delegate the job of “safety officer” to someone who isn’t freaking out before jumping in. As a rescuer, your responsibilities are to S.T.E.V.E: Care for yourself (S), then your team/their equipment/other water users (T), then victim (V), then their equipment (E) in that order Don’t become part of the problem - pause and look at the big picture before responding Consider the Simplest rescue first: "Shout, Reach, Throw, Row, Go for help” Always pay attention to where the wind and current are taking you This is why you need others watching out for overall safety as well

135 Post-Incident ManagementConsider if others, or the same person, are likely to have the same problem again? Have conditions, or fatigue, pushed the level of this trip higher than expected? Or has someone reached their limit? Be honest with yourself – is it time to end the trip? Seasick, exhausted, or scared people are not having any fun…which is contagious Hopefully you will realize this and head for shore *before* there is an incident

136 Paddles where special care is neededA level 1 when conditions start to worsen When one person has problems, many will follow The kayak shops see this all the time Smile, be supportive, and get them off the water Which is why it’s always good to have a backup experienced paddler with you Any paddle (especially level 2) in an environment where the weather (in particular wind) can change quickly with our without warning and/or there are very few or difficult outs This could quickly turn into a level-4 mess

137 Agenda Goals Logistics and Legal Trip PlanningTrip Levels, Skills Conditions Safety & Risk Assessment Medical Group and Incident management Good organizers

138 What makes a good trip Organizer?Good trip organizers remember that the reason people have signed up for our trip is to paddle and have fun. It is our job to see that they are successful. Good organizers try to be inclusive – everyone on the trip needs to have fun If someone shows up that is a bad fit, it is your mistake, not theirs. Find a way to make it work if feasible Good trip organizers strive to continuously improve … Pursue continuing education: Paddling skills (strokes, etc.) Seamanship, navigation, etc. Instructor Training and Certification You should be able to coach others on how to do something, rather than doing it yourself!

139 What makes a good trip Organizer?Good leadership behaviors Awareness of the WHOLE group Good communication prior to the trip. Well Organized … knowing where you are going before you get there Review what is expected so everyone knows what’s going on. Behaviors to avoid Taking too long to get on the water … showing up late or on time but not ready to go. “Over managing” … not allowing an appropriate degree of freedom WITHIN the group. “under managing”

140 Leadership in the militaryBasic leadership tenets in the military are: Outline the mission Define the parameters / resources available ( weather, conditions, distance, etc.) Discuss personnel Delegate … and finally Supervise and monitor… This approach covers situational awareness, pod unity / cohesiveness, and interdependence of the pod members.

141 What makes a good leader? The Trip Organizer Rubric: part 1Group Management: Identifies weakest spot in group and positions self for assistance. Knows where each person in the group is at all times. Identifies behavioral changes in individual group members Acts upon new information to preserve the integrity and safety of the group Towing: Know when to tow and when not to tow. Demonstrate hooking into one or more boats. Set up an inline tow. Use a quick release. Rescues (ideally this is *Not* the lead organizer – maintain CLAP!): Take charge; give the swimmer calm, clear and concise instructions. Maintain control of boats, paddles, and swimmer Have the swimmer back in their boat within one minute in conditions one level above the trip rating. Able to rescue a paddler who cannot help themselves (scoop rescue). Make sure your group size is the same before/after rescue – did someone go paddling of?

142 What makes a good leader? The Trip Organizer Rubric: part 2Use of Planning Recourses: Charts – Know fetch, depth contours, possible landing spots, chart symbols Weather – Know at least three different resources for forecast information Tides - Know more than one resource for tide height data Currents - use NOAA website to pull information on currents, where applicable. Communication: Be polite but firm. Be friendly, positive, encouraging, patient, realistic, energetic, and tactful. Good trip leaders remember that the reason people have signed up for our trip is to paddle and have fun. It is our job to see that they are successful. Observe each member and be sensitive to individual situations.

143 Concepts of Trip Leadership 1Follow C.L.A.P. Communications, Line-of-Sight, Awareness/Avoidance, Position of Maximal Usefulness Maintain situational awareness Watch for oncoming waves, weather, hazards, shipping, etc. in all directions and anticipate/avoid issues before they arise Keep an eye on how all participants (including self) are doing Constantly re-assess risk/plans Red Flag if you struggle to maintain awareness Know where someone will drift (accounting for currents and hazards) if they dump or get separated from their boat Stay away from hazards with this in mind

144 Concepts of Trip Leadership 2Learn to dance without looking at your feet Build your skill and speed so you can keep a 360-degree watch, interact with group, and move among or around them without having to concentrate on how you are doing it Keep some gas in the tank – shorten the trip as necessary Make sure people have enough energy to get home if they are paddling in a headwind or there are more rescues than anticipated In case of trouble, follow S.T.V.E Care for self (S), then your team/their equipment/other water users (T), then victim (V), then their equipment (E) Simple to complex – or Keep It Simple Stupid Corollary for rescues and S.T.V.E: Shout, Reach, Throw, Row, Tow, Don’t Go (call for help)"

145 Concepts of Trip Leadership 3Keep a light hand on the tiller, but not too casual – take it seriously Keep the trip fun but safe. Be chilled, or authoritative, as necessary. People are more likely to comply if they know why they are being asked to do something Use tact and subtle coercion for paddlers who stray from the pod But if someone is hypothermic, warm them. If unable to make way, tow them And if someone endangers the pod, be assertive – remember S.T.V.E Become Adept at Non-Verbal Cues Learn to spot tired, sick, frightened, or overwhelmed paddlers and deal with each appropriately. Keep up a constant reassessment Navigate from Safe Haven to Safe Haven Know all the places people can rest and sort things out Learn to manage the jackrabbit and the turtle Have one tow the other, rabbit race each other around group, drafting with the turtle in the center

146 Concepts of Trip Leadership 4Pre-Trip Warmup and Paddler Assessment Use quick games/activities to form the group and observe paddlers and assess their true skill level: quick turns, tennis ball basketball, shields and aliens, crack-the-whip. Delegate, delegate, delegate Sweep, point, point-watcher, boat-spotters, pace-setter, etc. This includes not being in the center of rescues – let someone else do it while you maintain global awareness, count heads to make sure you know where everyone is, call back people who didn’t know a rescue was happening, etc. If you are the only one skilled to do the rescue, delegate someone else to count heads, corral, chase down the clueless Be there for everyone, not just your paddle buddies Make sure to spend time with everyone and be aware of their needs (such as looking for non-verbal cues)

147 Concepts of Trip Leadership 5Beware the deceptive “ease” of level 1 trips Have good co-organizers and play some quick games to let you assess everyone’s skills. Someone who struggles while fresh may cut the trip short These people will have the most trouble if conditions change Risk Assessment Have everyone be part of risk assessment at the start (what could go wrong and how we solve it) Continually re-assess as the trip unfolds – weather may change, someone may get too hot/cold, etc. Take the pre-trip briefing seriously Everyone has a first time, be it first, first time, or in a given environment,… Different types of paddlers know different signals, have different skills

148 Concepts of Trip Leadership 6Don’t be afraid to “call it” – “This Beach Looks Really Nice to Me!” If you are struggling, or are finding the group is struggling, go to shore. Likely everyone felt a bit over their head and were waiting for someone else to say so too. If someone is afraid or anxious, they are not having fun, and not paddling as well as they could Look for non-verbal cues Use anonymous votes (if necessary) to assess group comfort – eyes closed, raise hand over head – more fingers = more comfortable Listen to your gut Q: “What do I have to lose continuing on?” A: Possibly someone’s life Paul Kuthe: “Some of my best days paddling have been spent on the beach”

149 A good leader always hasA plan, a chart, and a bail out option A ‘plan B’ A tow belt, spare paddle A watch Snacks, extra warm clothes Weather/tide/current forecasts A way to call for help-- cell phone, VHF radio First aid and repair kits Good judgment – pay attention to your gut – it’s OK to say know An inquiring mind – always looking for more to learn A big smile and positive attitude.

150 Exercise Tell the group about the best leader/guide you have ever been with, or someone who just didn’t get it Charles good: Cheri and Turning taking us out to play with them. Bad: towing exercise where the leader paid no attention to the tension of the tow rope behind them or the rest of the group

151 Your feedback (positive or negative) would be highly appreciatedThank you for coming! Your feedback (positive or negative) would be highly appreciated