No more victims! That was the message repeated over and over Saturday and Sunday, April 13 &14, during the 16 hours of swiftwater rescue instruction that 13 individuals of our paddling community participated in on the lower Mulberry River. Through one-on-one instruction, demonstration and a hands-on trial and error approach knowledge on safety was dispensed from qualified American Canoe Association instructors.
Right away the calls for "Help, Help!" came from behind our seats as Mulberry Theater kicked in with the first re-enactment of an event that cost rescuers their lives in an effort to save a victim. No more victims was the lesson. The scenario included individuals attempting to save another. A very poor decision was made to tether themselves together and hastily attempt a rescue. Fighting the current and strainers nothing was saved and all were lost.
No more victims! That was theme that continued to be present when instructors Marcell Jones of Little Rock, Dee Tucker of Sheridan, Arthur Bowie of Bentonville and Jim Simmons of Shreveport, La. shared and taught ideas, concepts and methods that related to our Swiftwater Rescue Class.
The four men shared the rule of S-ReThRoG-Helo. Say what? Self, reach, throw, row , go and then helicopter. That phrase was Greek just 20 minutes earlier to myself and guessing up to 75% of the class participants. It was basic knowledge to our accredited instructors and something that we needed to know. Receiving that basic knowledge was why I was there. I needed a foundation to build upon. Others expressed reasons of participation that included possible further certification, to gain the ability for self-rescue and the ability to rescue others.
Like many paddlers, I had only a basic knowledge of self-rescue after having swum an occasion or two or three or whatever. But the knowledge of rolling over an eddy line or using ferry angles to reach shore I had never knowingly used. Simple techniques practiced by an individual can aid in self rescue. Other classmates concurred.
At this time I would like to state that the class was voluntary. Not one individual was obligated to do anything or participate in any activity that they deemed unacceptable. There could be risks. We are dealing with a river. For me however, I was just happy to be there. I registered late. The class was full. I mailed in my check anyway and Arthur called when someone dropped out.
"Put your head down in the water and give it four or five good strokes" was the beginning of the swiftwater swim. This was followed by looking up, taking a breath and then swimming some more. That was fun, refreshing and like running a 40 yard dash after just rolling out of bed. I would say there was a little heavy breathing.
Different ways to wade through moving current were up next. The technique of using a paddle to aid crossing as an individual and as a group was demonstrated for the group. This we needed to practice and practice and practice. After all, it was warm and everyone in the class shared a common interest: Water. So, move out and feel the current. "Who can make it across?" Well, the guys from Fayetteville gave it a shot and if it werenıt for a loose riverbed we would have made it. So swim! Get in a self-rescue position and break that eddy line when the opportunity arises.
Concept number two: Self, team, then victim.
We had discussed and practiced self rescue and safety. We began to touch on the team concept. Now we were going to implement techniques to save victims.
Safety ropes were implemented and methods of belay, buddy belay and vector principals were all reviewed and demonstrated with hands on instruction. Everyone had a chance to rescue and be rescued.
This was also a time in the class when one could direct many questions towards themselves. "When is the last time I threw my rope and for that matter, when was the first time?" What type of safety equipment do I carry?² I believe we discovered that not just carrying gear such as locking carabiners, webbing, prusik loops was important, but having the knowledge to use it went hand in hand.
Class ended Saturday with the review of dealing with a strainer. Everyone enjoyed trying to claw there way over a PVC pipe coated with duct tape. Spinning around and letting the current try to bury you underneath an obstacle attempting to fill your lungs up with Ozark mountain river water.
Anyone thirsty?
I was and so were a few other classmates. Besides, a pot of road kill stew was brewing in the middle of our campsite gratis from the property owner Mike Riley of Ennis, Texas.
Now the phenomena. We were students. In our midst were instructors. As long as the two are in the same relative area, class will continue. So why don't we all pull up a chair and tie knots. Yeah, Itıs Saturday night. Letıs tie one on. Some were simple, some were complex and some were just sexy! I mean Iım talkinı about good olı multiple point load sharing knots!
Wow!
Anyone thirsty?
Day two began with a brief review of the day before. Comments from our instructors included the phrases ³begin to be a rescuer, continue to build on what we have learned and communicate.²
We reviewed the z-drag, double z-drag and rescue techniques for entrapment at the campsite.
We returned to the river and split up into two teams to begin putting some of the those sexy knots into play. Our team instructor Dee Tucker used the playboy knot right away to distribute the load of a zip line on one side. A couple of wraps on a tree, a prusik loop for a brake and the second end of the rope was secure. At this point we were moving team members tautly across the river.
It is now Sunday afternoon. We were ready to face scenarios. One team made their way up to camp and the other stood by as a safety. We were about to be willing participants in Mulberry theater. By each team trading roles as rescuers and safeties we played out our parts. A total of four acts. Canoes tipping, unconscious swimmers, stranded kayakers and entrapment.
Confusing? Yes.
Constructive? Yes.
We began our lesson two days earlier with a scenario on paper. We finished with a hands on simulated re-enactment that hopefully brought our instructors to their feet for a standing ovation. O.K., I am pushing it.
Final comments by participants echoed that the combination of written materials, group discussions, role playing and simulated river emergency scenarios over the past two days gave us all a sound foundation in which to build and increase our rescue skills.
Thanks go out to Dan Gallagher of Mulberry for behind the scene support. Thanks to Stephen Zisner and Tammy Graham, two other volunteers that did not have a chance to watch the Masters Golf Tournament that weekend.