Swift Water Rescue Course- Day 1

Monday, April 12, 2010
Met at GCC and watched a 1990s swift water rescue video. Got on the road mid morning heading to below the  Zoar Gap.

First we practiced throwing throw bags on land in various ways; underarm, sidearm or a combo, while overhand and throwing as a football if you've earned a Heisman. We headed to the water in groups and took turns swimming in our yellow dry suits while the rest of our group tried to tag us with a good throw. After that we learned ways to cross the river, or at least ways to try and cross. One was using your paddle and holding it angled in the water in front of you giving you a 3rd point of contact as you sidle across. Then we tried a 3 and 4 buddy crossing by holding each others PFDs as we crossed and circled. The current was pushing and crossing became more difficult as we got into deeper water. The last variation we tried was the V-crossing. One person is in front using a paddle as a single person did. Then 2 people get behind and hold that person's PFD straps and 2 behind them and so one. Some communication is needed and we learned that people with less body fat are less inclined to float up and away. Our dry suits filled with air so when we did all lose our footing, some more than others were so buoyant that it made swimming and finding our footing more difficult. The only way to get rid of the Michelin Man look is to stick a couple of fingers in your neck gasket and squat down to let air out. But I was able to swim back to shore though the neck gasket and PFD kept getting in the way. And, without the PFD, I would have been pushed down the river in the current and a real rescue would have ensued.

Evan had us up the ante with actual swims and tethered rescues which in some instances are necessary but potentially dangerous given the possibility of ropes getting caught in rocks. The staff did a demo and Evan was the first to swim. The goal was to scout the best area to jump into--look for rocks to avoid. Jumping from a low rock would help him to actually get out into the current faster and toward an eddy behind a larger rock where he could rest or climb up on the rock. The jump has its own technique. . . try to look like a skydiver with limbs up and out and land on your chest which presumably has a PFD to protect it. We watched Evan jump in and hit chest first and then barrel roll to get through the eddy current to safe upstream waters. He climbed up on the larger rock and waited for the rest of the staff to be in place and then jumped back in again so that Beth could time her jump downriver to save him. Beth did the same chest thump jump and swam to Evan and hauled him in to shore.

We were all to cycle through as swimmers, tethered rescuers with back ups, and throw bag throwers. . . challenge by choice our option. My first job was as back-up to I forget who, and we needed to choose a stable place with good footing, maybe even sit down. Austin said I did it well. I was grateful that he was anchoring me because the current was strong as I held the two on the tether. Suddenly things moved fast. Austin or someone said we need a tethered swimmer and looked my way. Oh, well, yeah, I guess I'll be the tethered swimmer. Hooked up I got out on the rock and had little time to think about it as Katee Huggard jumped from her rock and needed rescue. I timed my jump and as far as I know my PFD hit the water first. I swam hard out to her and my timing was good so I didn't have to wait or catch up to her. I pulled her in with some kind of stroke, combo sidestroke and I don't know what else. At one point I think she may have taken some water before we got to shore. But I did it! Couldn't quite believe it and again, was wishing I had a video. Aaron said I could use his camera if I wanted to do it again and that was my plan but we ran out of time after getting everyone through.

Tomorrow we're getting into more technical rope and zip-line kinds of rescues and may be using boats. Felt good today and very different from last week. I think my realization of what was bothering me has helped. I'm looking forward to tomorrow even though it will involve ropes and knots. We'll be in the water a lot longer and it sure did feel much colder today than last week. We'll all have to wear more layers and maybe bring hot drinks. May the sun warm us all.

Meanwhile, 3 days of ropes course review this week and then my group leaves on Sunday for the sea kayaking trip. So much to get ready--food, clothes, still don't own a sleeping bag, and clothes for the AEE Regional Conference that some of us are going to directly from the kayaking trip. I'm going because I was awarded a scholarship otherwise I wouldn't be making the trip.

Oh, and then there's job search, too. . . .