Extreme water sports in the United States are gathering more and more fans every year. But with increasing popularity, the number of accidents is also increasing. Beginners, not knowing all the safety rules and equipment selection rules, often neglect consulting with professionals.
How to Protect Yourself on Rafting
Rafting is a popular water-based activity on mountain and lowland rivers on a special boat or raft, both of which have high buoyancy and water resistance. People who have never engaged in rafting think that a raft is a regular inflatable boat. In fact, it is not. The main difference is that it consists of several inflatable independent parts. And the material itself is much durable than rubber. Thus, the “vessel” has a solid inflatable bottom, side-balloons and two or three transverse cans. If one of the cylinders fails, the raft is still kept afloat.
“Your protection should fit perfectly to the figure, and the helmet to the head. In no case should you use equipment that is larger than your size. During the rafting do not try to take off your helmet or vest. Do not forget to bring along a few pairs of sneakers, backpack, sunglasses and warm clothes,” said one instructor.
Beginner rafters often do not know that it is very easy to injure yourself or a member of your team with an oar. To prevent this, one hand should be held ten centimeters from the blade of the oar, and the other hand on the handle. And you can always find more information on this site.
What to Do If You Fell Out of Raft
The main danger of rafting is the risk of falling out of the craft. “In order not to fly out of the raft, in the event of a blow or collision with a stone or snag, you must hold on to the rope, which is located along the perimeter of the vessel. If you, however, fell out of the boat, try to grab this rope as quickly as possible. If this is not possible, a member of your crew should give you a paddle,” the coach says.
But there are more dangerous moments when there is no opportunity to grab the oar. In such cases, you need to ask team members to drop your rescue rope. As soon as you grab it, roll over onto your back.
If you are a beginner and have never engaged in this sport, leave the idea of self-rafting, even if all your team members are experienced rafters. The first three or four rafts must be completed with the instructor. After that, you can go to the river by yourself.
Where to Look for Places Suitable for Rafting
The countries most accessible and adapted for safe, but exciting rafting among beginners include Turkey, Russia, USA, Croatia, Abkhazia and Nepal. The main thing you need to learn to kayak — this is the right rowing. In the process of learning, make sure that the oars are turned by the blades at a right angle.
