Whitewater rafting can be a fun outdoor activity for many reasons — including the fact that you might end up in the water at some point. If you have a high sense of adventure, there's a good chance that you'll enjoy the excitement of tipping out of your raft and landing in the water. This is something that is highly common in whitewater excursions; typically, your expedition leaders will talk to you about the probability that you'll end up in the water. While this experience can be fun and refreshing, you need to know how to react so that you remain safe. Here are some tips to remember if you find yourself in the water.
Get To The Side Of The Raft
If you fall out of the raft, there's a good chance that you'll end up very close to it. Your first movement should be to get to the side of the raft as promptly as possible. If you can do so simply by stretching out either arm, you can grab the edge of the raft and pull your body toward it. In some cases, you may be able to extend your paddle toward the raft so that someone can grab it and pull you in. Hanging onto the edge of the raft will allow you to quickly get back in so that you can continue your journey down the river.
Identify A Safe Area
There can be rare instances in which the raft isn't easily accessible once you end up in the water. There's no need to panic. Your personal flotation device will keep you above the water as you scan your surroundings and identify a safe area to move toward. Depending on the current, you may be close to the edge of the river. If so, climbing up onto the riverbank is a smart move. Upon getting out of the water, you can walk along the riverbank to meet back up with the raft.
Communicate With Your Expedition Leader
While you might be laughing about ending up in the water and some of your friends who are still on the raft may be doing the same, it's important to look toward your expedition leader and await their commands. You'll have plenty of time to laugh about your adventure afterward, but now is the time to take action to ensure that you're safe. Your leader will assess the situation and provide you with calm, clear commands that you can follow.
For more information on how to prepare for whitewater rafting, reach out to a professional.
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