• Turn up on time - with all your equipment and food
• Make sure you have all your required gear before you leave the gear shed double check! Also, check all your equipment to make sure it fits you properly and is in good working order. If in doubt, ask!

• Buoyancy aid that is a good fit and secured at waist to prevent riding up. A whistle is highly recommended to improve communication options on the river
• Helmet - good fit, comes well down over the forehead (to protect the area around the eyes), back and ears
• Spraydeck with pull tag
• Wind jacket
• Shoes (wetsuit/kayaking booties or trainers)
• Protective clothing to protect against cold, wet and exposure (polypro/wool, no cotton, wetsuits are best for beginners and cold water/winter)
• Boat and paddle OK (size, stability, foot pegs, comfort, no holes/splits/cracks)
• Food & drink (take some extra, in case there are unforeseen delays on the river)
• Before and after the paddle – make sure you are well fed and watered before you start and have something to eat when you get off the water
• Paddling – water bottle (very important!), muesli bars, chocolate etc. Don’t bring anything that can’t get wet ?. It’s a very good idea to make sure your water and snacks are easily accessible while you’re on the water as often there will not be a designated ‘lunch stop’ so you need to be able to snack when you get a chance
• Warm dry clothes for after the paddle, including a towel

• Listen to the trip leader, she or he wants to enjoy the trip too
• Follow the instructions given. If you don’t understand them - ask!
• If you don’t agree, say so - but once an agreement has been reached, stick to it whatever your personal opinion. In disputes, the trip leader has the final decision
• Keep your buddy in sight at all times. Never go off on your own
• Don’t tackle difficult rapids on the assumption that someone will rescue you. Obtain your buddy/group’s consent or don’t do it. More rescuers have drowned than novices
• Be prepared to go to the assistance of other paddlers (but not if it will put your own safety at risk)
• If you are feeling uncomfortable/scared - say so. Any competent paddler will think the better of you for it
• Remember that you are responsible both for yourself and for the other members of your group
• Remember the trip leader has accepted responsibility for the safety of the whole group

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• The trip leader will ensure everyone has a buddy before getting on the water. This is to ensure a paddlers absence in noticed immediately. Make sure you know who your buddy is before you get on the river
• From this point on, as well as the normal responsibility for the other members of the team, each person is particularly responsible for the welfare of their buddy
• It is everyone’s responsibility to make sure their buddy is in sight and accompanied at all times. On no account should they be left behind on the river or bank
• If you have to leave the group for any reason (i.e. emptying boat, photo, toilet, etc), tell your buddy first so the party doesn’t have to stop and search for you later
• Everyone is to watch their buddy for signs of fear, hypothermia or excessive weariness. If there are any doubts, inform an instructor and the trip leader
• If weaker paddlers in a group are feeling pushed, put them near the front of the group. This puts potential rescuers both up stream and down stream
• If a boat is not in sight, those ahead must stop and wait. They must not continue into the next rapid until the missing paddler appears. If he/she fails to arrive after a short wait, head up stream to investigate

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All paddlers should be aware of the risks of hypothermia

If a paddler is feeling very cold, take action to get off the river before the paddler starts making dangerous mistakes. In the early stages, in it’s mildest form, hypothermia can drastically affect a person’s judgement

Early warnings of hypothermia are:

• Feeling cold and tired
• Numbness of hands and feet
• Blue Lips
• Intermittently shivery

The following preventative action should be taken on all trips:

• Avoid taking long swims by careful scouting, thorough assessment of the risks involved and skilful paddling
• Maintain a suitable level of personal fitness
• Eat well before and during a river trip. Complex carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, cereals provide energy in a form that is made available to your body at a steady rate and over several hours

• Wear suitable clothing for the type conditions and type of paddling
• Buddy up and keep an eye on each other for the early signs of hypothermia (see above)