How to Survive Falling in a River

Posted by Anonymous , 9/5/2007 Tags:SurviveFallingRiver
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How to Survive Falling in a River

Introduction

I went river rafting on the Upper Kern once--a fantastic and thrilling voyage. Only one of us fell out of the raft during the whole trip (not me). Here are some tips if it's YOU that falls out.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Steps

1

Step One

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Be wearing your life vest. Okay, that said, once you're unexpectedly in the water, stay on your back with your feet pointed downstream and visible. That way your feet won't catch on rocks or other unseen grabbers.
2

Step Two

Ditch your pack--it will pull you down.
3

Step Three

Use your arms as oars to slow you down and pull you out of the current toward shore. If you can't get to shore, go for an eddy behind a big rock.
4

Step Four

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Stay clear of branches, logs and rock piles that can trap you. If they're unavoidable, lunge towards them head first and try to climb on quickly as you make contact.
5

Step Five

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If there are other people in your party, they need move downstream to help catch you and your floating pack, preferably in a way that doesn't endanger them, too.

Overall Tips & Warnings

  • This is one from the Sierra Club and if you have the presence of mind to do it, I say go for it: Angle your body about 20 degrees to the river's current--with your head closest to the desired shore--and with your arms as oars guiding, the current will send you across the river like a squeezed pumpkin seed.
  • Fast water is dangerous--no horsing around. If you're on a guided trip, pay attention to what your guide is instructing you to do.
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