Rowing Safety Rules

1. An annual club-wide safety meeting and "tip" drill will be conducted for review of club safety procedures and practice in reboating after unplanned water entry. Maximum attendance is encouraged.
    
2. All Members are advised to review water conditions before rowing: current, state of tide, wind and waterway traffic.
    
3. Large ships and barges cannot and will not alter course or stop for rowers. Extreme caution should be exercised in the vicinity of such traffic. The best rule to use when being approached by a large vessel is to turn your boat toward shore and move as close as you can until the large vessel has passed. For Sculling boats. wakes are best taken broad on the bow, but not at 90 degrees to the wake. For longer sweep boats wakes and large waves should be taken near the beam so that the entire hull remains supported by water.
    
4. The loss of body heat when immersed in cold water or prolonged exposure to low temperatures can lead to hypothermia. Members should be able to recognize impending hypothermia in themselves and others and to proceed with corrective measures. Less body heat is lost when as much of the body as possible is out of the water. Early warming can be initiated by covering the body with blankets or plastic "space" blankets,  by heat from warm bodies and by immersion in warm water as soon as possible. Hot drinks should not be given to anyone approaching a state of unconsciousness.
    
5. When air temperatures are below 40 degrees F or water temperature is below 60 degrees F, particular care should be taken in attire, route planning, companionship and equipment. During times of these low temperatures, junior rowers are not allowed to row unless accompanied by a coaching launch or unless specific prior approval has been granted by parent or guardian.
    
6. If forced to enter the water, no rower should leave floatation to swim ashore. A float towards Southport is preferable to a potentially fatal unsupported swim against current for even the shortest distance.
    
7. Night rowing is forbidden. Rowers will not be on the water earlier the one half hour prior to sunrise or one half hour after sunset. All boats must be equipped with a flashing light.
    
8. Don not row if visibility is reduced by fog or rain such that cannot see the far side of the river.
    
9. All members are encouraged to learn and remain qualified in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.
    
10. Scullers and crews must log in and out, listing type of boat, intended route, time of departure and estimated time of return.
     
11. Unaccompanied shells should stay reasonably close to shore to facilitate swimming the boat to shore should a capsize and bailing be needed.
     
12. All boat equipment: particularly oars, riggers, stretchers, seats, shoes and oarlocks should be checked before each row.
     
13. All rowers should be familiar with forecasted weather and water conditions. A change in tide can have a dramatic effect on surface conditions on the river.
     
14. Rowing in warm weather can severely deplete body fluids. A liter of water should be considered a reasonable intake per hour of rowing in hot weather.