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Report name	Adventureworks water safety and skills course
Date submitted	May-09

Pre-2009 For the past three years, Adventureworks has provided water safety awareness training to all leaders, leading expeditions to destinations where the possibility of encountering water is likely. Over the years, the content of the course has evolved.

January 2009 This year has seen a very positive step. The Expedition Providers Association (EPA) of which Adventureworks is a member, made contact with the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) with the aim of working in partnership to develop a water safety award that would meet the needs of Expedition Leaders. The RLSS already delivered an Emergency Response Activity Supervisors (ERAS) Award, which provided a robust framework from which to commence this process. A pilot ERAS course was delivered to a number of experienced leaders from within the EPA membership. The result of which would lead us to what follows.

May 2009 Adventureworks produced a Water Safety Awareness Training Booklet as a resource to deliver its training this year. This was based on previous years of delivery of the course and the framework within the ERAS award booklet.

The RLSS acknowledged this and provided an RLSS Trainer/Assessor /Consultant to support the delivery of its training course to enable them to understand the industry needs.

The course consisted of four modules: Lake, River, Swimming Pool & Sea over a two day period. The programme was intense which much practical ‘hands on’ experience.

16 Adventureworks leaders turned out for a weekend of wetness in North Wales. Based at Rhos y Gwalia in Bala, the course kicked off with introductions at the centre where the course philosophy and ‘core principles’ were addressed, thus setting the scene for what was to follow. We were soon off to Llyn Tegid where risk assessments took place in advance of its use. With all in agreement that it was safe to use and having completed some bank based throw line drills, we donned our wetsuits for a casualty recognition and rescue session. Despite the weather conditions and the cold water, the leaders got on with the job in hand.

With all leaders suitably wet, it was time for a short drive to the National White Water Centre on the Afon Treweryn for another risk assessment, followed by a scenario for all the leaders to cross the river, in two groups. A site above the ’chipper’ was agreed on and the leaders put procedures in motion to allow all to get across. This was achieved with much discussion and practice on dry land, prior to getting in the water. Success was achieved by all. As confidence grew, so we all moved into faster flowing water, pro-actively swimming before being rescued by those leaders, suitably positioned on the river bank, with throw lines at the ready.
The day was not over for us, as it was off to a swimming pool at the Urdd Centre in Bala for the final session of the day, where yet another risk assessment was carried out before its use. Here we looked at spinal injury issues, together with rescues and tows. This session came to its conclusion with all in need of a hearty meal.

Day two commenced with an introduction to the beach environment and the associated hazards/risks. Suitably informed, it was off to Llandanwg Beach, situated in the north west between Barmouth & Harlech. This beach proved to have all we needed. After that customary risk assessment as we walked down the beach, the scene was set. We all had to get ourselves across a 50m deep channel, which was affected by an incoming tide. A range of methods were used to cross this channel. Whilst all seemed to work, it was evident that event the most innocuous piece of water can cause its problems. With a number of lessons learnt, we headed back across the channel, with great success. Further scenarios were set up to enable the leaders to experience effecting a rescue in the sea from beyond their depth.

The weekend was now complete. All leaders had completed their training and all were awarded their ERAS Awards for the environments used.

The Future The partnership between EPA and RLSS can only grow stronger as this water safety awareness training continues to evolve. Adventureworks is committed to providing relevant ongoing training for its leaders and look forward to continuing the relationships with the RLSS.