DRAGON BOATS VICTORIA

SAFETY DRILL & TRAINING NOTES  

No participant is to enter a dragon boat without having first been taken through a drill in accordance with the process set out in this document by an experienced and authorised dragon boat participant

A. NOTES

• The Team Captain should ensure that all team members have read the Safety & Training Notes (which can be obtained from the website).

• No participant is to enter a dragon boat without wearing a PDF.

• No participant is to enter a dragon boat without having first been taken through a Safety Drill in accordance with the process set out in this document by an authorised dragon boat participant.

• Teams may apply to the Victorian Dragon Boat Association for authorisation of particular people to deliver the capsize drill.

1.5 Know your Number, Know your Buddy, Paddle Safely.

1.6 Conditions: The team captain is responsible for deciding that weather conditions are safe enough to take a boat out. If in doubt, a boat should not be taken out.

1.7 Capsizes do happen

Capsizes happen occasionally and in situations such as:-

• when dragon boats collide.
• when a submerged item is struck
• when teams neglect to use the "Brace" stroke.
• when dragon boats are subject to excessive wash from other boats.
• when a dragon boat changes direction too quickly.
• when paddlers move so as to unbalance the boat.

1.8 The essence of this process is that, in the event of a capsize, everyone on board must know what is expected of them.

B. SAFETY DRILL

Participants must be taken through the following points and should not be allowed in a boat unless the captain is satisfied that the person has participated satisfactorily in the Safety Drill and properly understands the requirements of a person on board a dragon boat.

Where possible the Safety Drill should be undertaken with a full complement of paddlers so as to best simulate boating conditions. Paddlers are to be encourage to participate even if they have been through the capsize drill previously.

1 THE SUPPORT STROKE: "BRACE"

The brace stroke stabilises the boat and prevents capsizes. You should use this stroke at all times when not paddling.

To "brace" you should hold the paddle with the blade flat on the water and the shaft resting on the gunnel of the boat. Practice hitting the water with the paddle and feel the paddle supporting your weight.

You need to use the "brace" stroke:

when people are getting in or out of the boat, or are moving, within the boat

after a race, a sprint or a practice set

at all times when not paddling.

This stroke must be demonstrated and practised.

2 THE EMERGENCY STOP: "CHECK" THE BOAT

When the Sweep calls "check" or "check the boat", all paddlers place their paddles into the water and hold steady against the current. The vertical paddle acts as a brake stopping the boat.

This stroke must be demonstrated and practised.

3GETTING INTO A DRAGON BOAT

Points to be discussed :

• Know the seating position before getting into the boat.
• Paddlers must be alert and ready to help others.
• Two people (the strokes) to hold the bow of the boat and make it steady while the team enters the boat (boat facing stern into the water).
• The Sweep (Steering person) is in command of the boat at all time.
• Sweep to appoint second-in-charge (in case the sweep is hurt in a capsize).
• Only ne person at a time, holding their paddle, is to get into the boat.
• Walk on the Ridges not on the floor of the boat.
• As soon as you have reached your seat, sit in the middle of the bench, put your paddle in the water (Brace Position) , hold both sides of the boat with your hands and wait for your partner to get to their seat. Only then do you move into your correct seating position.
• Sit at all times with your outboard hip held firmly against the side of the boat .
• Strokes and Drummer push off and enter boat last.
• Before paddling commences carry out the Head Count.

4 KNOW YOUR "BUDDY"

Points to be discussed:

• Your Buddy is the person sitting next to you in the boat.
• Always remember who your buddy is and have a basic description in mind (male, tall, dark etc).
• You need to look out for your buddy if you capsize.
• Your Buddy's personal safety depends on you and vice versa.

5 HEAD COUNT

Head Count process is to be discussed and demonstrated:

• When all the team is in the boat including Drummer or Coach, the Sweep will call for a `Head Count' .
• Numbering starts with the front right paddler as Number 1, front left as Number 2, second row right as 3 etc. Then after all paddlers have been counted the Sweep is counted followed by the drummer who will have the highest number.
• Repeat the process until everyone knows their Number.
• Calls need to be loud and decisive.
• The number allocated to a person is that person’s number throughout that race or training session even if people change positions within the boat unless a renumbering by the sweep has taken place.
• The headcount should be repeated upon the boat returning to shore and prior to disembarking.

6 SIMULATED CAPSIZE

Points to be discussed, demonstrated and simulated where possible :

• A dragon boat will not sink.

• Paddlers are to stay with the boat (and not swim to shore or to another boat) unless it is unsafe to do so.

• A dragon boat, right way up in the water, will hold 2-3 injured people even if semi filled with water.

• An upturned dragon boat may spin uncontrollably causing injury or distress to paddlers and care should be taken by those in the water who are holding the boat or using it for support not to pull on the boat excessively so as to cause it to spin.

• Paddles are unimportant and can be discarded. They will float and can be collected later. During a capsize you must let go of your paddle to prevent injury to yourself or another paddler.

• The Sweep is in charge. If the sweep is injured or cannot be located, the allocated second in charge will assume control.

• Sweep is to assert authority, create order and prevent panic.

• Paddlers are to look for their buddy. If you cannot locate your buddy, inform the Sweep or the second-in-charge.

• Paddlers are to spread around the boat fairly evenly, holding the boat for support, but being careful not to cause it to spin. If all paddlers hold on to one side, the boat may spin.

• In spreading around the boat, paddlers must not swim under the boat.

• The sweep will call for a headcount, pausing and then proceeding if a number is not called.

• The sweep will call for a second head count.

• The sweep will then decide whether to push the boat to (a nominated site) on the shore or to swim as a group to (a nominated site) on the shore.

• Once on shore, the sweep will call for a further head count.

• If anyone is unaccounted for, send for immediate help.

If another dragon boat is near, the following applies :

• Follow the normal safety drill.

• The Sweep or second-in-charge on the second boat should call for assistance.

• The Sweep or second-in-charge on the capsized boat should tell the sweep or second in charge on the second boat if all members are accounted for.

• If a team member is missing the second team must raise the alarm.

• If you see a capsize, your role as the second boat is to help with communication. The second boat is not a rescue boat.

• All of the second boat's team should remain in the boat

If you capsize during a Race, the following applies :

• On Race Day, Safety Boats will follow all dragon boats.

• Follow the usual process.

• The team members should calmly await the arrival of the Safety Boat.

• When the Safety Boat arrives, the Sweep or second-in-charge should identify themselves to the Safety Boat and convey both the result of the head count and the state of the team.

• The Safety Boat will take the paddlers to the bank or will direct the team to swim or push the boat to a particular place on the bank where paddlers will remain until all paddlers are taken from the water, whereupon a further head count will be taken.