PURPOSE OF AWARD
This award has two purposes. Firstly, to provide a paddler with
the necessary safety awareness which will enable them to ensure
the safety of themselves and others. Secondly, to provide a paddler
with rescue skills which can be used to help themselves and/or
others in difficulty.
VALIDITY
This award is valid for 3 years from the date of the test. A current
award is a pre-requisite for the BCU Level 1 Coach and Level 2
Coach awards at the time of assessment .
STRUCTURE
The syllabus consists of three training modules and an assessment.
It is expected that the training modules will take approximately
4 hours to complete and the assessment will take approximately
1 1/2 hours with a single candidate. All four parts may be taken
in a single day or separately over a period of 6 months. In the
latter case, a suitably qualified trainer must sign the candidate’s
logbook for each module. The training modules are mandatory and
must be completed before the assessment. However, the training
modules do not need to be repeated for renewal of an award that
is still current.
TRAINER/ASSESSOR
A Canoe Lifeguard Trainer or a Canoeing Safety Test Assessor can
train and assess up to 8 candidates. A Level 2 Coach with three
years experience or a Level 3 Coach can be appointed as a Canoeing
Safety Test Assessor after they have directed two Canoeing Safety
Tests (including each of the training modules and the assessment)
under the supervision of a qualified assessor.
PRE-REQUISITES
Hold the BCU 2 Star Test for the craft the candidate is paddling.
Be able to swim 50m in normal canoeing clothing suitable for the
prevailing conditions, including a buoyancy aid if normally worn.
A First Aid certificate is not a pre-requisite. However, the holding
of a First Aid certificate, such as the BCU Aquatic First Aid,
is strongly recommended to all paddlers. Be at least 14 years
of age. (Note. The Junior Canoeing Safety Test is the appropriate
award for those under 14 years of age.)
4. MANUAL HANDLING
All Canoeists need to raise their awareness of Manual Handling
and that damage can occur to joints and muscles, particularly
when they are moving or lifting people or any equipment related
to the sport of Canoeing. This could, of course, include a body,
especially when performing rescues. In addition, Risk Assessments
of how to prevent harm and injury to paddlers should be undertaken
as a matter of routine. In Civil Law there is a Duty of Care towards
your students and others who paddle. This includes, loss, harm,
damage and injury. Coaches are charged with the care of paddlers,
and as such, Coaches need to identify where there is a risk of
the ‘duty’ being neglected or abused. The BCU has prepared
an information leaflet which gives a brief outline of procedures
to assess and evaluate Manual Handling operations. In addition,
a one day Injury Prevention Course has been developed which should
ensure that information in respect of lifting and carrying and
all Manual Handling issues are being disseminated throughout the
Coaching Service
Venue
Assessments should be conducted on placid water, grade 1 rivers,
and sheltered coastal waters or similar. Training modules can
also be conducted in swimming pools, although it is recommended
that at least some of the training take place in an outdoor environment.
SYLLABUS
This award may be taken in any open cockpit kayak, closed cockpit
kayak or open canoe and the certificate will be endorsed appropriately.
Where there are specific requirements for candidates in open cockpit
kayaks, closed cockpit kayaks or open canoes, this is indicated
using the abbreviations OCK, CCK and CN, respectively. However,
for brevity the syllabus often uses the term’s “canoeist”
and “canoeing” generically. Similarly, references to
buoyancy aids can be taken to also include lifejackets.
1. GENERAL THEORY AND SKILLS
This training module covers the following topics:
a. The safety features of canoes/kayaks, buoyancy aids, and other
canoeing clothing and equipment.
b. The hazards that may be encountered on placid water, grade
1 water, and/or sheltered coastal waters or estuaries.
c. The effects on paddling and paddlers of different weather conditions,
e.g. rain, wind, fog, etc. In particular, the effects on the paddler
of sudden immersion in cold water and/or prolonged exposure to
the cold, precautions which will reduce those effects, and what
to do if someone becomes dangerously cold.
d. The use of simple signals for “come to me”, “go
left”, “go right”, “stop”, “go back”
and “acknowledge”.
e. How to handle a basic canoeing emergency, including the safety
of the rescuer(s) and how to summon help.
f. The various services and other assistance which could be called
on during an incident.
g. Good lifting techniques. This includes not only emptying boats
in deep water, but also safe handling of craft on land, for example,
onto a roof rack. (See BCU Guidelines)
h. The value of holding a first aid certificate and where one
can be obtained.
2. LIFESAVING
This training module covers the following topics:
a. How to coach a swimmer in difficulty to shore. How to perform
a safe reaching rescue, using either a rigid or non-rigid aid.
Throwing a buoyant object to a casualty. Wading to get nearer
to a casualty.
b. How to correctly pack a throwline into its bag and then use
it to execute a throwline rescue over a distance of 15m with sufficient
accuracy to land within reach of a casualty.
c. How to coil an unpacked throwline and then use it to execute
a throwline rescue over a distance of 15m with sufficient accuracy
to land within reach of a casualty.
d. How to safely approach a struggling swimmer when paddling.
How to effectively transport a casualty using various techniques
such as the bow tow, bow carry, stern tow and stern carry and
the suitability of these techniques in different situations.
3. CANOE/KAYAK RESCUE SKILLS
This training module covers the following topics:
a. Deep water rescue techniques for dealing with a capsized canoe/kayak,
including returning the casualty to their craft and the suitability
of a variety rescue techniques (‘X’ rescue, ‘H’
rescue, ‘T’ rescue, ‘The Curl’, etc.) for
different situations (solo or assisted, different craft, different
paddlers, etc.).
b. (CCK only) Eskimo rescues, including both paddle presentation
and bow presentation.
c. (CN only) Exiting the canoe in deep water, leaving it upright
and without losing contact, and re-entering without assistance.
d. Towing systems and alternative methods of getting a tired canoeist
to land with their craft including an effective release of a towing
system in an emergency.
e. How to execute an “all in rescue”.
f. How to rescue a paddler in an upturned CCK in deep water, either
as a swimmer or from another canoe/ kayak.
4. ASSESSMENT
The candidate must present themselves suitably equipped for the
assessment and normal canoeing kit should be worn throughout the
practical parts of the assessment.
4.1. Theory
a Answer a selection of questions to show an understanding of
the theory covered by the training modules.
4.2. PRACTICAL
b. Demonstrate a throwline rescue of a struggling swimmer in deep
water over a distance of 10m. There is a time limit of 60 seconds
for the throwline to land within reach of the casualty, but there
is no limit to the number of attempts allowed within that period.
c. (CCK ONLY) Demonstrate an Eskimo rescue, both as a casualty
and as a rescuer.
d. Rescue a paddler in an upturned CCK in deep water.
e. Demonstrate a deep-water rescue of a capsized craft, placing
the casualty back in their craft. (OCK only, this may be performed
with the assistance of another paddler of a similar standard.)
f. (OCK, CCK only) Capsize the kayak, retaining all equipment.
Swim the upturned kayak, etc. 50m to shore. (CN only) Capsize
the canoe, retaining all equipment. Paddle the canoe 50m to shore.
4.3 UNKNOWN INCIDENTS
g. Deal with a simple canoeing incident involving up to two casualties.
Notes for Trainers and Assessors
Modules 1 and 2 are expected to take about 1 hour each. Module
3 is expected to take about 2 hours. The assessment is expected
to take about 90 minutes with a single candidate. In Module 3,
part a, it is expected that the trainee will be introduced to
the difficulties of dealing with a variety of different craft.
The assessment is intended to ensure that the candidate has understood
the training material and can apply the knowledge and a selection
of skills when called upon to do so. The emphasis is on the candidate’s
ability to deal with a variety of situations by selecting and
using suitable, safe techniques, rather than a rote demonstration
of all possible skills. Ultimately, the examiner is assessing
the candidate against two questions: “are they safety aware?”
and “could they apply their knowledge and skills to save
another’s life in a basic water borne emergency?” Thus,
while maintaining an overall balance, the assessor is encouraged
to vary the actions of the casualties so that there is an element
of the unknown throughout the assessment.
1. THEORY
When the assessment is for a renewal, ensure the questions cover
any areas of theory where current thinking might be different
to the time of the original assessment. There should be at least
two questions drawn from Module 1, “General Theory and Skills”,
and at least one question drawn from the other two training modules.
As a rough guide, these are expected to take about 10 minutes
per candidate.
2. PRACTICAL
b. If the candidate uses their own throwline, it must conform
to current guidelines.
c. For the Eskimo rescue, the participants should not agree beforehand
whether a paddle or bow presentation will be used.
d. The casualty may or may not be conscious.
e. Although the candidate is expected to paddle their usual craft,
there is no reason why the craft being rescued needs to be similar
to the candidate’s.
3. UNKNOWN INCIDENTS
The key word is simple. Casualties may be unconscious, injured/unwell
(e.g. suffering from hypothermia) or in difficulty (e.g. a struggling
swimmer or capsized canoeist). Optionally, there can be an additional
participant (with canoeing skills up to 2 Star) who will assist
as directed by the candidate. Candidates are expected to use first
aid techniques where appropriate. However, a candidate should
not be failed for poor first aid techniques, although their shortcomings
should be pointed out and they should be strongly encouraged to
get a first aid certificate. Each candidate must be in charge
and demonstrate correct decisions throughout the assessment. Candidates
must not have prior knowledge of the incident. Thus, if the same
incident is used for each candidate, they must be assessed separately.
The candidate is required to deal with the previously unknown
situation in an appropriate manner.
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