Safety

The safety of the persons using the reservoir is paramount. This includes both water safety and health safety. Any violations, possible safety issues, possible violations of the RRC Athlete Safety Policy, or safety questions should be reported to and resolved with the coach or other RRC representative person.  Incident reporting should also be done using the link on Boathouse Connect.

All current requirements for RRC members who participate in rowing on the Rivanna Reservoir shall be maintained (e.g., swimming certification, liability waivers, flip tests for single-scull rowers).

Viewing of the US Rowing Safety Video is required.  This can be found on the US Rowing website (www.usrowing.org) under SAFETY and using the Safety Video link.  The video is about 40 minutes long and the section regarding rowing in the cold is extremely important to watch prior to the start of our on-the-water season.

The U.S. Rowing SafeSport Training program is required viewing for all RRC coaches and athletes. It takes about 30 minutes and must be completed every year. It is an interactive program and very informative regarding identifying and preventing various forms of misconduct.  It can also be found on US Rowing website by clicking on the SafeSport link on the home page.

The following safety videos are also very helpful.

• Life Jacket Use

• Flip Test

Emergency Equipment

• Every coach will have their cell phone on them while they are both coaching on the water and on land.  Ringer should be loud enough to hear over the noise of an engine and megaphone.

• Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is located in the UVA Women’s bay at the bottom of the stairs on the life-jacket shelf

• Every coach will wear a life jacket while coaching on the launch.  These are located above the black box, on a hook on the red bookshelf.  

• Every launch has a safety kill switch and this should be attached to the coach’s life jacket.

• Emergency contacts with phone numbers will be posted on every launch for quick reference.   

• All launches will include a paddle, minimum of 4 PFDs, and a megaphone with a siren.  

• Any safety event that occurs should be quickly reviewed by coaches and AHS boosters to discuss the appropriate “lessons learned”.  Once reviewed and if deemed needed, the safety plan will be amended.  

Emergency Action Plans

• Emergency contacts with phone numbers will be posted on the shed.

• Launches should include a first aid kit and a cell phone. Launch drivers are responsible for these.

• Any safety event that occurs should be reviewed by coaches and RRC board (or AHS Boosters for Juniors) and appropriate “lessons learned” reviewed with the RRC members.

Emergencies requiring EMS

• Stabilize emergency as appropriate

• Call 9-1-1

Boathouse address:  276 Woodlands Road, Charlottesville, VA

Refer to safety cards on the launch if you are not near the boathouse and emergency is such that EMS should come to another location (i.e., dam, judges dock, little bridge, etc.)

Once you are at the BH, have one person in the driveway to direct EMS to the injured person(s).

Call the injured athlete’s parents.  There is a blue binder in the black box that has all the “Emergency Card Cards” for each athlete.

Heat Illness Emergency

• Submerge in cool water:  Rivanna River OR the showers in the bathrooms

• Ice source location:  back of the erg room near the back door

• Immersion technique:  if the river temperature is below 65 degrees, full body immersion into the Rivanna River (one coach in the water with the  athlete).  If the temperature is above 65 degrees, the athlete will be cooled in the showers with cold water and ice (athlete will sit in shower with bag of ice at neck and groin in the cold water shower).

Weather Emergency

• Lightning Policy

Evacuation at electrical storm activity of 10 miles as notified by the WeatherBug app.  

Safe location:  Boathouse

Athletes will leave the water ASAP and proceed to boathouse until there is a 30 minutes clear

Launching will NOT occur if there is storm activity within 15 miles.

• Tornado Policy

Evacuation upon Tornado warning as notified by the WeatherBug app.

Safe location:  UVA Men’s or Women’s locker rooms/back wall (closest to the parking lot)

Actions Before Launching

It is good practice for rowers or a coxswain to carry a whistle, a cell phone, and some boat tools. Requirements for coxswains regarding wearing PFDs and carrying tools and communication devices are described in the section “Coxswain Safety Requirements” below.

When using club boats, if not in a coached program rowers should record the boat name and rowers’ names on the log at the Sculler’s Desk. Also make sure to put name, date, time out and expected return time on the wipe board at the Sculler’s Desk. After rowing, the return of the boat and rowers should be indicated, by erasing name from the wipe board.

Rowers should be familiar with the waterway, traffic direction, other users of the water, and other boats and launches on the reservoir when they are rowing.

In & On the Boats

• Bow ball must be in place and secured.

• Heel restraints must be secured – no more than 90° to shell keel.

• When rowing before dawn or after dusk, starboard/port lights must be in place on the bow and a white light on the stern or coxswain.

• Each crew, including coxed shells or blind boats must carry sound producing device – horn or whistle.

• Riggers should be checked before boating to ensure they are secure. Swivels/oarlocks should be operable.

• Button/collar on the oars should be firmly secured.

• Hatches/bungs should be closed before launching and opened when boats are on the rack.

Know Your Water

• Understand traffic patterns. Refer to posted Reservoir diagram.

• Know the established locations of all buoys. Red/orange buoys indicated shallow or protected waters. White/red buoys map no wake zones. Stay on land side of white/red buoys.

Equipment Safety Rules

• Be mindful of all equipment as you remove oars from the rack

  • Always carry oars with the blade/spoon in front of you, one oar in each hand (Novices)

• When walking in and around the boathouse

  • NEVER step OVER a boat. Always go around it OR push it gently out of the way

  • NEVER go UNDER a boat.  To get to the other side, always take the time to go around the boat.

• When using the slings and/or the ladders

  • Do not leave them in the aisles (this is a hindrance and safety hazard to other boat users)

  • If you leave the slings outside as you row, make sure to return them to the back of the boathouse after your row/before you leave

• Always sign out on the whiteboard before you row and erase your name when you return (participants in programs don’t need to do this step)

• Do not EVER step into the BOTTOM of a boat

• Always have at least the minimum number of rowers that are in a boat carrying a boat

  • • Double (2x) = 2

    • Quad (4x) = 4

    • Four (4+) = 4

    • Eight (8+) = 8

Boat Equipment Safety (check daily):  

• The bow ball must be in place and secured.

• Heel restraints must be secured - 3 inch rule

• When rowing before dawn or after dusk, lights must be in place on the bow. 

• Riggers should be checked before boating to ensure they are secure. Swivels/oarlocks should be operable.

• Button/collars on the oars should be firmly secured

• Hatches should be closed before launching and opened when boats are on the racks

Weather Considerations

The “safe” threshold temperature for combined air/water temperature is 100°F.  Whenever this combined temperature is below 100°F, the decision to allow rowing will be a collective decision by the coach. If rowing is allowed with the combined temperature of 100°F, we will employ the “four oar rule” - no less than four oars must be in each shell this includes two singles or a double.

Rowing should not be started or should be curtailed with the appearance of lightning within about 15 miles of the reservoir. 

Rowing during darkness (early morning hours) results in added danger and risks. Boats must be equipped with proper running lights.

Watch the Weather

• Always check the weather conditions/forecast – temperature and wind.

• If rowing in fog or limited visibility make sure to use appropriate lighting and wear bright clothing. 

If lightning is within 10 miles do not launch.

If on the water, return to the dock immediately.

In Warm Weather

• Always have a water bottle with you in the boat.

• It is recommended that you wear light colored clothing and hat.

• Apply sunblock.

Sculling Safety Requirements

• The coaches or Boathouse Captain determine if a sculler is experienced enough to row without a coach.

• All scullers, who wish to row a club single must pass a flip test.

Know Your Water

• Understand traffic patterns. Refer to posted Reservoir diagram.

• Know the established locations of all buoys. Red/orange buoys indicated shallow or protected waters. White/red buoys map no wake zones. Stay on land side of white/red buoys.

Coxswain Safety Requirements

Coxswains must wear PFDs in the cold temperature seasons.  It is highly recommended that coxswains always wear or bring a PFD.

• Dress for sitting still in the weather, whatever it may be.

• Coxswains should always have a whistle and preferably a cell phone as well.

• Keep the boat with other boats when practicing in the dark.

• When it is dark, make sure there are lights on the boat. The bow has the correct color on the correct side of the boat (port red starboard green), stern has a white light on the deck or a headlamp on stroke or stern loaded cox.

• If the coxswain is not comfortable with the weather conditions they should consult with Coach. If they are on the water, the coxswain or the coach may terminate the practice if either feels conditions are potentially dangerous.

Rowers & Coxswains

• Understand distress signals.

• Understand launching and docking protocol. Follow commands of coxswain or steerperson for your crew.

• If there is no coach in a safety launch you row at your own risk and accept all liability. The ‘buddy system’ is always encouraged.

• Stay with your boat in case of a capsize – use the shell for floatation until all rowers have PFDs on or are moved to a safety launch by the coach. Use the buddy system.

• Always have a towel and change of clothes in your car.

• Wear reflective/light colored clothing during before dawn and after dusk rowing.

• Steerpersons in blind boats and all single scullers must be certified to bow by a coach or the Boathouse Captain.

Coaches

• Responsible for crew safety.

• Communicate an action plan for any emergency.

• Follow local, state and federal regulations concerning boating safety.

• Maintain all equipment and safety launch.

• Sign out program (and number of boats) on the wipe board.

On the Launch

• Ensure launch has sufficient PFDs for coach, passengers and recovered athletes.

• All launches will include a paddle, minimum of 4 PFDs, and a megaphone with a siren.  

• Ensure launch has bailers, paddle, throw lines, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, flare kit, thermal blankets, spare gasoline.

• Ensure stern and bow lights are available for before dawn and after dusk conditions.

• Carry cell phone for communication and possible rescue.

Guidelines for Coaches

• If you have a novice boat, a boat bowed by a novice or a less experienced bow person, or a boat coxed by a less experienced coxswain, ALWAYS be on the dock when the boat is put the boat in the water (protecting the skeg) AND during their LANDING approach in order to guide them in or catch them if necessary.  

• When coaching any boats, make sure all boats are within eyesight.  Boats should be no more than about  50 meters away when there is any kind of obstacle (logs and/or debris fields) on the river. Novice crews need special attention when going through bridges and around sharp turns. 

• If it is a hot day, or the humidity is extremely high

  • Limit the number of warm up hills the athletes do before getting on the water

  • Provide frequent water breaks while on the water

  • Check in with the athletes often and ask how they are feeling 

  • Pay attention to how the athletes look - extreme pale is a sign of heat exhaustion 

  • If a rower is feeling faint or looks pale, have them sit out and return to the dock.

• When in doubt always error on the side of safety - row by pairs instead of all four, or by threes in a quad.   It is important to give rowers a stable platform to learn by - going by all four or eight too early causes frustration for all involved.  

• Make sure you instruct your rowers to follow the equipment safety rules above.

Novice Rowers

RRC classifies every rower/sculler a Novice for 12 months following completion of a Learn to Row (LTR) or Learn to Scull (LTS) class. Rowers may be reclassified by the Boathouse Captain or their program coach, based on time on the water and demonstrated skill level.  

• Novice sweep rowers or scullers may not row between Nov 1 and March 31 in any boats unless in a Coached Program. 

• From late August to mid-May (UVA’s crew season) novice boats may not row before 9 am or after 4 pm on weekdays, or before 12 pm on Saturdays.