Get ready to paddle smarter and safer. This introductory video from Ozark Riverways Foundation gives an overview of essential river safety skills, gear, and techniques every paddler should know before heading out on the water.
Whenever you are on or near the river, always wear a life jacket rated for moving water. In this video, paddlers demonstrate the importance of proper fit and wear. Visit a paddling shop and try on several models to find one that fits comfortably and securely.
If you fall into moving water, the safest position is on your back with your bottom down and your feet up near the surface. This technique helps protect you from foot entrapment and allows you to float safely until you can reach calmer water or shore.
A rescue rope is an important piece of safety equipment for any paddling trip. In this video, it is used to help a fellow paddler in the water. Rescue ropes can also be used to retrieve boats caught in river hazards.
Strainers and rootwads are dangerous river obstacles that should be avoided whenever possible. This video shows what to do if you come into contact with one: climb on top of the obstacle rather than trying to go under or through it.
Ferrying is a paddling maneuver that allows you to move your boat from one side of the river to the other without drifting too far downstream. In this video, paddlers demonstrate how ferrying can help you avoid hazards, improve boat position, and assist others on the water.
An eddy is an area of calmer water that moves differently from the main current. In this video, paddlers use an eddy turn to enter calm water and avoid obstacles. They then perform a peel out to leave the eddy and re-enter the main current safely.
