Club Water Safety Advisor: Richard Berkley

Incident Reporting:

• Online through the ARA/British Rowing website
• Through the safety officer at the club

With effect from the 1st Jan 2009, all incidences must be reported online through the ARA website. It is no longer just the responsibility of the coach or CWSA to file a report. Anyone who is involved with or witnesses an incident can make a report and it can be done anonymously if required. The ARA expects any such report to be filed within 24 hours of the incident occurring.

So what constitutes an "Incident".? The answer, according to the ARA, is anything; The guide quotes; collisions (with anything), near collisions (with anything), capsizes, swampings, health issues, equipment failure, land based accidents in weights room, bays, running, cycling, choking on a biscuit! (Actually the last one isn't quoted but you get the gist). We, of course, have to be sensible and balanced. The online system is very easy to use however, and takes little time to complete. Just click on http://incidentreporting.britishrowing.org/.

Safety Launch:

The club has a new safety launch. It is manoeuvrable, stable, almost unsinkable and totally fit for purpose. It is also quite easy to launch and recover. There is nothing in the ARA Guide to say that launches must always be launched but the Junior coaches have now agreed that it must be on the water and the engine warmed up before any junior outings.

Coaches please carry phones with numbers for the Club and other coaches. It may also not be your oarsman that needs help,..we have a collective duty to all river users.