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475 Posts
Hello --
Twice in 2 weeks I witnessed careless hucking of throwbags to struggling swimmers-in-need at Double Trouble on the Big South. Once, about a week or two ago as a buddy broke his paddle on the first part of the drop & went for the big ride. And the second yesterday (Saturday) as a member of a huge party didn't break a paddle but went for the big ride anyway. On both occasions an on-shore safety bagger in the river-left eddy pitched a throwbag to the swimmer while the swimmer was waaay under water, with no eye contact, & with no warning whatsoever.
Couple problems with this panic-induced technique:
(1) It usually results in a wasted throw as the swimmer pops up somewhere other than where the bag/line is floating. Your bud pops up from the depths thinking "I could use some oxygen" first, & then, "I'm ready for that bag now" but little does he know that the bag was already thrown & it's 10 feet away from him. The bagger must recoil & fire again, wasting precious seconds in an emergency situation. ... and ...
(2) Careless bagging also creates a very real hazard, especially in situations involving swimmers in bad hydraulics. Becoming entangled in a poorly thrown rope as you go for round three at the bottom of Double Trouble could be fatal. ... and ...
(3) Hmm, well I don't really have a "3", but I'm sure there's something else that a fella could come up with.
So please, ALWAYS be sure that your swimmer makes eye contact with you before you fire a bag at him or her. It helps to yell "ROPE!!!" or "HEY, CHAUNCEY!!!", or blast a whistle -- whatever it takes to get his attention before launching your assault/assistance. This is very rudimentary swiftwater rescue technique.
Stepping off of soapbox now ...
Todd G.
Twice in 2 weeks I witnessed careless hucking of throwbags to struggling swimmers-in-need at Double Trouble on the Big South. Once, about a week or two ago as a buddy broke his paddle on the first part of the drop & went for the big ride. And the second yesterday (Saturday) as a member of a huge party didn't break a paddle but went for the big ride anyway. On both occasions an on-shore safety bagger in the river-left eddy pitched a throwbag to the swimmer while the swimmer was waaay under water, with no eye contact, & with no warning whatsoever.
Couple problems with this panic-induced technique:
(1) It usually results in a wasted throw as the swimmer pops up somewhere other than where the bag/line is floating. Your bud pops up from the depths thinking "I could use some oxygen" first, & then, "I'm ready for that bag now" but little does he know that the bag was already thrown & it's 10 feet away from him. The bagger must recoil & fire again, wasting precious seconds in an emergency situation. ... and ...
(2) Careless bagging also creates a very real hazard, especially in situations involving swimmers in bad hydraulics. Becoming entangled in a poorly thrown rope as you go for round three at the bottom of Double Trouble could be fatal. ... and ...
(3) Hmm, well I don't really have a "3", but I'm sure there's something else that a fella could come up with.
So please, ALWAYS be sure that your swimmer makes eye contact with you before you fire a bag at him or her. It helps to yell "ROPE!!!" or "HEY, CHAUNCEY!!!", or blast a whistle -- whatever it takes to get his attention before launching your assault/assistance. This is very rudimentary swiftwater rescue technique.
Stepping off of soapbox now ...
Todd G.