Practice Safety Procedures

A safety boat will be on the river for all practice sessions. In most cases, this will be provided by the Montgomery Fire & Rescue Special Operations Team. The nearest EMTs will be alerted whenever paddlers are on the water.

ALL crew members will be issued a personal floatation device to wear during practice.

If during practice a paddler near you become injured, passes out or falls out of the boat, go to Blades Up.

Dragon boats are very stable, but should a boat turn over:

1. The STEERSMAN is in charge and must get a headcount. STAY CALM & STAY WITH THE BOAT until all paddlers have been accounted for. Your crew member on your bench is your buddy and you are each responsible for locating one another in the water.

2. DO NOT get under the boat

3. DO NOT swim to shore

4. DO NOT get on another boat or rescue boat UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR

5. The safety boat will arrive.

6. AFTER EVERYONE IS ACCOUNTED FOR, you will right the boat. The steersman and two or three paddlers will enter the boat and it will be towed to shore. If the safety boat can take paddlers aboard they will, if not then paddlers will hold on to the boat while it is towed to shore.