VIDEO: Safety For Whitewater Kayakers, Part V

This is the fifth installment on whitewater safety from Canoe & Kayak, Jim Coffey and Mike McKay. The video focuses on the importance and logistics of direct contact with subjects during rescue.

The three ways to reach a subject are by paddling, swimming and wading—all skills that are important to practice before you are in an emergency situation.

The video demonstrates the following wading techniques:

1. One rescuer with paddle support
2. Line of stern technique with a small group
3. Triangle of support with a small group of same sized people
4. Wedge formation with a larger group

Finally, Coffey talks about the types of downstream safety and how to set them up.