Canoe and Kayak safety test Award

This award is both useful as an indicator of a level of knowledge and skill appropriate for anyone planning on going boating without an instructor, and is a prerequisite for BCU Level 2 Coach Award. The award structure is based on the candidate completing 3 training modules, and then proceeding to assessment. All candidates must be at least 14 years of age, and hold the BCU 2 star test. The training modules are expected to take between 4 to 6 hours.

The training modules are:

General Theory and Planning

Safety features of canoes/kayaks, buoyancy aids, and other canoeing clothing and equipment.
Hazards which may be encountered on placid water (grade 1), and sheltered coastal water and estuaries.
The effects of weather. Immersion in cold water and prolonged exposure, prevention and treatment of hypothermia.
Use of simple signals.
How to handle basic canoeing emergencies, to include basic rescues and how to summon help.
The various services and other assistance which could be called on during and incident.
Good Manuel Handling techniques applied to canoeing situations
The value of first aid qualifications and how to get training.

Bank Based Rescues

How to coach a swimmer in difficulty to the shore. How to perform a safe reaching rescue using an aid.
How to correctly pack a throw line into it's bag and use it to execute a rescue over a distance of 15m with sufficient accuracy to land within reach of the casualty.
How to correctly correctly coil an unpacked throwline and use it to execute a rescue over a distance of 15m with sufficient accuracy to land within reach of the casualty.
How to safely approach a struggling swimmer when paddling. How to effectively transport a casualty using various techniques such as bow tow, bow carry, and be able to apply these techniques appropriately.

Boat Based Rescues

Deep water rescue techniques for dealing with upturned canoe/kayak, and returning the casualty to their craft.
Eskimo rescues (kayak only) Leaving and re-entering your canoe without losing contact with it, in deep water and without assistance.
Towing systems and methods of returning a tired paddler to the shore.
How to execute an "all in rescue".
How to rescue a paddler from and upturned CCK from either the water or your boat.

Assessment

Theory

Candidates must answer a selection of questions to indicate that they understand the theory covered in the training modules.

Practical

Demonstrate a throwline rescue over a distance of 10m, to a struggling casualty in deep water. There is a time limit of 60 seconds in which to land the line within reach of the candidate, but there is no limit to the number of throws allowed.
CCK only. Demonstrate an Eskimo Rescue both as casualty and rescuer.
Demonstrate a deep water rescue of a casualty and a capsized craft. The candidate must place the casualty back in their craft, but may have the assistance of another paddler of similar standard.
Return an upturned canoe/kayak 50m to the shore.

Unknown Incident

Deal with a simple boating incident involving up to 2 casualties.

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Email: info.@.jointadventures.co.uk