VIDEO: Safety For Whitewater Kayakers, Part IV
The fourth whitewater safety video from Canoe & Kayak, Jim Coffey and Mike McKay, focuses on the qualities of a good throw bag and how to properly use this important piece of equipment for whitewater rescue. It is important to always carry a high-quality throw bag and to practice throwing technique outside of emergency situations.
We recommend watching the whole video, but here is a summary of a few main points:
A good throwbag...
- is strong and durable
- has low stretch
- has a floating rope
When you throw...
- Throw upstream of the person in the water
- Throw to and through the swimmer
- Pendulum your subject into shore and away from hazards
Anchoring Technique
- Choose a good location for your throw
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Sit low to the anchor and use a body or dynamic belay
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Keep some extra rope so that you can release force on the subject
Catch and Receiving
- Use the hand closest to the center of the river to catch and hold onto the rope. This will help maintain a good ferry angle and reduce stress on the anchor