What is water hiking in tourism. Emergencies in the water campaign

Water hikes are a type of active recreation, which we are becoming more and more popular. It is not surprising: in our country there are many rough mountain rivers, amazing beauty of lakes and seas. Sailing on a yacht, rowing on boats, canoeing, kayaking, catamarans, rafts, kayaking and rafting - the world of water tourism is very diverse. Recently, a new kind of extreme recreation has appeared: overcoming of barriers (cascades and waterfalls) in general without floating facilities, in some heat-saving suits. This article is devoted to the organization of water hikes. How to anticipate all the dangerous factors and avoid them? How to achieve that delicate balance, so that all the participants of the hike experienced strong emotions from the riot of wildlife, and at the same time knew that they were protected as much as possible?

Development of the route and traffic schedule

Preparing for a water campaign requires not only knowledge of the terrain, but also consideration of climatic and weather conditions, the composition of tourists, their experience and endurance, the choice of boats. Not all rivers are suitable for travel: small ones often contain shoals, thickets, low bridges, dams. Large ships are dangerous in large water areas. Mountain rivers, suitable for alloys, qualify by their complexity for points: from one (the easiest) to six (the most extreme). This should be taken into account when selecting a team for the campaign. Climatic and especially weather conditions can make adjustments to the level of complexity of the planned route. If there are newcomers in a group, you should not choose rivers whose slopes exceed 1.5 m per kilometer. When you plan to go against the current, on sections with a 1-1.2 m elevation angle, you need to make wiring in advance, pull a rope or put poles. It is necessary to provide also places for halts and lodging.

Organization of a water trek

The person in charge of the journey should conduct a thorough inspection of the swimming equipment. Unlike hiking, on the water all participants should feel like a single team, ready to face the danger to life. Therefore, discipline must be tough, as in the army. It is necessary to conduct a preliminary briefing, during which to familiarize the participants with the management of the floating craft, to speak out their actions in case of emergency situations, to distribute duties among the crew members.

The safety of water treks depends largely on the concerted actions of the whole group. If there are newcomers to the team, put them in a kayak or kayak together with an experienced tourist. In whatever excellent condition your water crafts were, take a group repairman with you on a hike. Such things as spare paddles, thin rubber for patches, glue and pump - are mandatory.

During the hike

The organizer and captains of individual kayaks, catamarans or rafts should be able to read navigational signs established along the coasts and along the water area, to know the elementary rules of behavior on the water. On large rivers, you need to stay close to the shore, as the movement of barges and steamers, motorized vessels creates a wave that is dangerous for lightweight flat-bottomed boats. When stopping for the night, it is necessary to pull all the floating crafts ashore and turn them upside down. The equipment of a tourist going to water trips should be more diverse. Among other things, he must stock up with mittens for rowing, waterproof hermetic bag, where to put a complete set of clothes and shoes. Products that can be damaged by contact with water are wrapped in polyethylene film. In the aft compartment is placed heavier loads, and in the bow - light. Personal things of tourists are tied to cylinders. On catamarans it is important to distribute luggage so that the load of the right and left boards is the same.

Route along the route

Water hikes must pass so that the organizer can see and give orders to the captains of individual kayaks or catamarans. The rate of work of the oars is set by the front rower. At the same time the ship is steered by the captain or his assistant. On calm water, kayaks or kayaks can move "flock", but with a fast flow they need to line up in one line. In a shallow place where dangerous stones for kayaks and a disorderly wave can be dangerous, the leader (on the first boat) gives the command: "Align in the wake column". All vessels line up with a distance of one or two corps, and follow the leader of the hike. If the catamaran ran aground, it is unloaded, led on a rope (or carried on hands) and again filled with luggage. At extreme sites, the crew leaves the ship, bypassing it along the shore. The boat is transported by drag or on a cord. The assistant to the organizer closes the boat column. He must have a bag with a repair tool.

Individual protection means

Water hikes have their own specifics. In addition to a spare set of clothes, each participant must have a life jacket or cork / foam plastic belt. If the journey passes through a turbulent mountain river, a helmet of motorcycle type is required, which protects the head from being hit by stones. Going upstream is associated with active rowing, and therefore need mittens with circumcised fingers. It should also be remembered that unlike hiking trips, the water load is not on the feet, but on the muscle groups of the shoulders, chest, arms and back. In the medicine cabinet it is necessary to have an anesthetic and warming cream.

Emergencies in the water campaign

Traveling on the water, and especially rafting down the mountain rivers, is, to some extent, an extreme kind of recreation. Therefore, all participants in the campaign must be psychologically ready for the fact that their boat will turn over, and they themselves will be in cold and stormy water. Confusion and falling before the danger harm as well as reassessment of their capabilities. Even before the start of the trip, it is necessary to "lose" with all participants all possible emergency situations in the water cruise. It is necessary to bring the algorithm of the actions of the whole team and the victim himself to an automatism with this or that danger. It is advisable to even practice in the water, developing the habit of throwing and receiving the rescue end, saddling canoes on horseback, swimming in a life jacket on a stormy current, etc.