What personal Safety and Rescue equipment would you recommend carrying for whitewater, also what would you recommend the size and diameter of the rope that you would use to make Prussiks from, thanks for any help

I recommend carrying atleast these on harder whitewater:

- 20-25m throwbag
- 4-5m knotted sling
- one locking carabiner and one clip-gate carabiner
- a knife

On top of these I carry:
- couple of carabines (locking and clip-gate)
- 2 x prusik loops
- 120cm and 240cm sewn dyneema slings
- 2 x pulleys

6mm cord is good for prusiks

here's a good article in french on security

www.quebeckayak.qc.ca/artDomSecu.htm

some other things to think about...

WHISTLE

CELL PHONE (might or might not work, be sure to BAG IT, so it doesn't get wet and ruined when u need it)

TRIP PLAN - Make SURE someone knows where you are going, what you are doing, what your alternative plans might be, WHEN U ARE TO RETURN. Be sure that they UNDERSTAND where the put in/tale out is (sometimes these aren't so simple to explain to 'non-paddlers'), and to expect your call or such when you are SAFE off the river. Make sure to make that call. It has been long suggested by the mountain S&R folks that you leave a note in your glovebox explaining who your group is and where you are going, what time to return etc....

FOOD and FIRE pack - a buddy put together a VERY nice VERY small kit containing lighter, firestarter stuff (like BBQ chemical block), thermal blanket, energy bars - IF you have to spend even an extra hour on shore with an injury or injured party, a fire is HUGE, so is some energy food...

TRAINING - I've said it before, and everytime - SRT trained folks are welcome in my paddle group anytime. TAKE A COURSE - be it a 'rescue for river runners' a full SRT or a CPR course - the more the better. If you truly want to improve as both a kayaker and an 'outdoors' person - first aid and rescue training is tops!


Educate yourself, and promote the same with your paddling partners.
Ask your local club to organize safety workshops, hold a throw bag tossing contest at your next riverside break, challenge your friends to tie a prusik (check www.chockstone.org/TechTips/prusik.htm ) and make safety your first concern at the start of every paddle day!

GREAT TOPIC!

Rescue equipment is very dependent on where you plan to go boating. In the UK there is not very much wilderness boating and a lot of rivers run nearby roads.

The bare minimum I take with me on a playboating run is:

Carried on my person: Sling and krab, Knife, Whistle, Moblie & canoe tape

Carried in my boat: Throwbag, Krab,

On harder runs I would add to that any of the following:

Small First aid kit, Pulleys, Prussiks, more slings, Break down paddle, more krabs, Small folding Saw, more canoe tape and a dry hat and gloves in the UK as it's often so cold!

If it's really cold then a group shelter would be good if it's a longer day trip with a break for lunch or if there are beginers on the trip who might be swimming a fair bit.

For lots of great information on safety and rescue you can't go far wrong with Franco's book \"whitewater safety & rescue\"

Sorry forgot about the pussiks question.

Generally the cord you use for your prussik loops should be 2 or 3mm thinner than your main line.

For kayak rescue I would use either a 5mm or 6mm cord from your local outdoor shop. Between 1.5 and 2m for each loop. If you can get it I find that mammut cord has the best friction for pussik loops.

Try it out in your back garden to see if it works with your throwbag when it's wet, before having to try it out on the river.

Also don't forget that 4 people pulling on a 3:1 MA sytem that uses a throwbag as the main line can break the rope. Polypro rope ain't that strong!

Be safe out there when your having fun,