White water rafting is a common outdoor activity amongst extreme sports enthusiasts. And several locations have gained notoriety for their exhilarating and difficult rivers. In fact, almost every country with river rapids has whitewater rafting opportunities, including New Zealand, Thailand, Italy, and the United States.
As entertaining and thrilling as it may be, we must not lose sight of the fact that white water rafting involves some risk because of the forces of nature. This is why you must understand the safety precautions for whitewater rafting before dipping your paddle into a river. Of course, many people mistakenly think all they need to embark on a Huckleberry Finn adventure is a raft, a few companions, and some excitement. But that’s not the case at all. In light of this, here are a few white water rafting safety tips you should know.
Wear the right clothes
Even if you try to stay in the boat during your trip, you will eventually get wet. So, wear waterproof anti-chafing clothing to keep yourself relatively dry.
Furthermore, avoid cotton as this absorbs heat from the body and takes a long time to dry. Instead, synthetic textiles are great since they dry quickly. When it comes to footwear, choose enclosed, lace-up shoes like Dunlop volleys and avoid flip-flops, as they are quite easy to lose if you fall into the water. Ultimately, this tip gives you an excellent idea of what to wear for white water rafting and remaining dry.
Go feet first and tips up if you fall out of your raft
If you fall from the raft, you must go downstream feet first with the tips of your toes above water. This is another reason why wearing shoes is necessary. If you run into any rocks or other dangers, you would want your feet to bear the brunt of the impact rather than your upper body.
Additionally, you don’t want your feet to drag underwater because you don’t want them to become caught or stuck. Avoid attempting to go against the water’s flow, especially in white water rapids. Just maintain your composure in this situation and make an effort to direct yourself toward the coast gently.
Consider the weather
Rafting has specific weather-related challenges. The strong river flow that results from heavy rain or swiftly melting snow may significantly alter the difficulty and characteristics of a river. In fact, you’ll face various challenges since the rapids will be more intense, the water will move more quickly, and debris may have been carried into it. On the other hand, if there has been a dry spell and the water levels are low, this can also lead to you and your raft colliding with hidden rocks and debris.
Furthermore, rafting in cold weather requires extra caution when it comes to safety. Special equipment, like full-body wetsuits or dry suits, will be required if the water is freezing. The water may be mountain runoff from snow melt in the early spring. Ultimately, the river will be chilly no matter how far downstream you are. Being immersed in frigid water causes hypothermia to set extremely quickly. So, keep an eye on the weather forecast to ensure you don’t go rafting when dangers are present.
Understand the river you’ll be rafting
Each river has unique risks that rafters must avoid. So, to ensure your rafting trip goes smoothly, learning about each hazardous segment or location is essential. To identify any potential barriers, read reference notes, internet resources, and river maps. Talking to locals is also a good idea.
If you are unclear on how to negotiate the rapids properly, it’s also a good idea to scope out the following sections on foot. Finally, remember your past experiences and don’t underestimate the river. You must be aware of your limitations and match them to the level of difficulty of the rapids you want to raft.
Never go rafting while being intoxicated
Never use alcohol or drugs while rafting. They reduce your survival reactions, decrease reflexes, and impair judgment. After all, bravery is not a viable alternative to clear thought and solid judgment. Of course, some people say that drinking provides you with “liquid courage.” However, having a clear mind and heart is the way to go. Ultimately, hold off until the celebratory glass of wine or beer until you’re off your raft.
Don’t forget your safety gear
There is a reason why safety gear is there. And its importance shouldn’t be underestimated. Sadly, a life vest failure or faulty fit accounts for a third of all rafting fatalities, and many of these incidents happen on even the easiest of rapids.
When you fall from the raft without a helmet, you can hit your head on a rock. Furthermore, you risk cutting your feet without shoes as you struggle to find footing on the riverbed. It will be considerably harder to find you if you become lost or split from the group without a whistle. Having said that, you should always don your life jacket and secure it securely. Safety gear could be the difference between life and death on a fast-flowing river.
Follow your guide’s instructions
Regardless of whether you have experienced white water rafting before, you must follow the instructions given by your rafting guide. Your guide will provide you with all the information you want, including what to wear, where to swim, and when to paddle.
They give straightforward, fundamental, and simple-to-follow instructions when rafting, such as lean left, lean right, paddle, and cease paddling. These instructions allow you to determine your raft’s direction, speed, and weight distribution. After all, rafting guides have previously experienced the dangers of whitewater rafting. They will help you get out of a tight spot if need be.
Conclusion
If going on a rafting trip appeals to you, but you’ve never experienced the thrills and spills of the river, it would be wise to follow the safety tips mentioned above. These will allow you to enjoy your rafting trip while ensuring you return home in one piece. At the end of the day, your safety is of the utmost importance while trying such an extreme water sport!
