The importance of good safety equipment

The sport of prone board racing inherently carries risk.

We are paddling boards often in cold water, with strong winds and currents and sometimes, a long way off shore. In addition, we are frequently in the water for prolonged periods of time and may be sharing the water with much larger craft than ourselves travelling a lot faster than we are sometimes in poor light conditions.

These factors make our use of safety procedures and equipment very important, and the club will insist on minimum safety equipment for certain sessions and events based on the risk assessment of the coaches and committee members.

When training in calm protected inshore waters, no additional safety equipment will be mandatory, but depending on the length of the session and the ambient temperatures, a bottle cage and fluids may be recommended.

There are 2 types of bottle cages.

Cages for 12' or longer boards with a deck fin box.

https://images.app.goo.gl/cDx2ZunjEUHp9M8X9

Bottle holders which can be stuck to the deck of any board.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2FHydro-Holder-Accessories-Inflatable-Campervan%2Fdp%2FB07JGBCQVD&psig=AOvVaw3NuYd4VFK4JvVGpi0bnMWG&ust=1635774202404000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCIiqzfTj9PMCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAQ

High vis safety equipment

Junior members will be required to wear a high visibility vest during all sessions as the distances covered will be longer than in a standard surf lifesaving training session.

Seniors will be asked to wear a high vis vest when paddling off shore on downwind sessions.

Phone in a waterproof case

For longer distance sessions and offshore downwind training and racing, a mobile phone in a waterproof case is recommended. this should have tracking turned on and should be able to be voice controlled if possible as the phone does not respond perfectly when in a waterproof case being used by cold hands. Ideally this should be held in a pouch on the low back and tethered to the vest by a cord to avoid being dropped into the water.

Smoke flare

For longer offshore sessions a smoke flare should be taped to the board.

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VHF radio

For very long paddles in more extreme conditions, a vhf radio os recommended to allow communication with HM Coastguard.

Personal Location Beacon (PLB)

This is a small personal device to carry in the back of your vest to be used when you feel that all other options have been used and you feel at severe risk. This device will communicate directly to the HM Coastguard system to alert them that you are in peril. A search and rescue will be mounted to locate and retrieve you wherever you are in the world.

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