Thank you for volunteering as an official GCA Trip Coordinator! This document represents the GCA Risk Management Plan for group paddling activities.
Here is an explanation of the contents:
1> Club guidelines for trips, which define your responsibilities as a Trip Coordinator.
2> An outline from the GCA Trip Coordination Training Clinic (ordinarily conducted during the Spring and Fall Galas) which can also serve as your checklist for running a safe trip. Admittedly a bit vague on paper; please contact me if you would like additional explanation of any of the content.
3> The GCA’s waiver/medical conditions form. Make sure that each trip participant, adult and minor, completes and signs this form. In the case of minors, have the minor’s parent or guardian and the minor complete one of the sections in the MINORS portion of the form. Minors must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or designated adult chaperone during the river trip.
4> The GCA Incident Report form. Carry a copy on the trip and use to document any incident, no matter how small.
I would also like to heartily encourage you to write a paragraph or two trip report for The Eddy Line newsletter, if your trip was memorable in any way. Good-quality photos are also welcomed
Thanks for supporting your club! Have a safe and fun day on the river.
GEORGIA CANOE ASSOCIATION, INC.
GUIDELINES FOR TRIP COORDINATORS
1. Every participant, including coordinators, must complete and sign the GCA trip waiver/medical conditions form or the specific river trip before being allowed to participate.
2. Any minor must have a GCA clinic waiver/medical conditions form signed by their parent, guardian or designated chaperon during the river trip. Designated chaperon may be anyone of majority age designated by parent or guardian on the waiver form. If chaperon is not designated on the form then the trip coordinator is the designated chaperon.
3. At the end of the river trip all waivers should be turned over to the Membership Director. The Membership Director will store all waivers for six years after the trip.
4. Participation in any river trip by any member is ultimately at the discretion of the trip coordinator.
5. Coordinators must carry the GCA incident report form on the trip and fill it out in the event of an incident, no matter how small.
6. All river trip participants must wear an appropriately fitting, well secured, approved life jacket while on or near the water. As an example, ski belts or squirt jackets are not appropriate.
7. All decked boat river trip participants must wear a helmet while on moving water or white water.
8. Every river trip must be equipped with a throw rope and suitable first aid kit. A suitable first aid kit is defined as the minimum first aid kit listed in the ACA instructor’s manual.
9. Trip coordinators will screen all participant’s equipment for appropriateness and adequacy for the particular river trip.
10. No alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs will be allowed during the river trip.
11. The trip coordinator shall ensure that all participants are informed as to the following topics:
a) Who the lead and sweep boaters are for the trip
b) Keep the boater behind you in sight
c) Location of scouting stops for the trip
d) Location of lunch stop
e) AWA river safety signals
f) River etiquette
g) Location of throw ropes, pin kits, first aid kits and other safety gear
h) Dangers inherent in jumping or diving into the water
i) Hazards or potential dangers on the river
j) That river running is an inherently dangerous activity
k) The importance of self-rescue
12. On whitewater trips at least one person on the trip must be familiar with the river, otherwise the trip must be advertised as an Exploratory Trip.
13. The minimum number of boats for any club trip is three.
14. Trip coordinators must be at least 18 years old.
15. If it becomes necessary to shift a trip to an alternate location due to high water, low water or other conditions, the trip should be relocated to a river of equal or lesser difficulty as compared to the originally advertised river.
