Coasteering
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Description
Coasteering involves traversing along the base
of cliffs and is a combination of adventure swimming in swell and
waves, exploring caves, cracks, scrambling the lower levels of sea
cliffs above deep water and climbing the cliffs to jumping
locations.
Coasteering is among the fastest growing
extreme sports in the UK.
Forms
An Information and Consent
for Event/Activity form is required to
participate in this activity.
Who can
participate?
Open to Guide and Senior Section
members only.
Some activity providers have their own age,
height and weight restrictions. Where activity provider
regulations differ to those of Girlguiding UK, whichever is
stricter will apply.
Participants must be able to:
- Swim 50 metres
- Keep afloat for five minutes in the clothes normally worn for
the activity.
Participants may fulfill these rules wearing a
buoyancy aid or life jacket when either is required for the
activity.
If you have a participant with a medical
condition that will affect her ability to swim, ensure that you
inform the instructor and make provision to allow her to
participate safely.
Ratio of adults to
girls
A ratio of one adult to twelve girls
must be observed.
Coasteering groups must not exceed 15 participants
including Leaders; therefore the largest possible Coasteering group
is 13 girls and two Leaders.
Each group must have two instructors.
Commercial providers may have different
ratios; whichever is stricter must be observed.
Regulations
- The Leader must inform CHQ before any Coasteering
booking is made.
- The Leader must gain copies of the qualifications and
public liability insurance of the activity provider before any
booking is made.
- The Leader must ensure that all participants under 18 have
written permission to take part from an adult with parental
responsibility.
- The local Commissioner must be informed that the activity is
taking place.
- Carry out a
risk assessment for the activity.
- When using a commercial activity provider, ensure it is
reputable. You can verify the quality of a provider by checking it
has one of the following endorsements: AALA, Adventuremark or
LotC Quality Badge for Adventure.
The above endorsements are not applicable in Northern Ireland,
where you should ask your local Outdoor Activities Adviser to
recommend an approved provider.
The Leader must:
- Ensure the required
buoyancy aids/life jackets are used
- Ensure that safety rules and alarm signals have been explained
to the participants
- Be satisfied that everyone understands the need for
instructions to be obeyed immediately
- Follow the guidelines in the Water
Safety Code and ensure that the responsible adult helpers are
familiar with them
- Ensure that the water is suitable for canoeing, seeking advice
if necessary
- Decide on the day, with the instructors, whether conditions are
safe for Coasteering.
Instructor
qualifications
Instructors should hold a valid Coasteering
leaders qualification, such as:
- International Coasteering Association (ICA)
Coasteering Group Leader
- British Coasteering Federation (BCF) Coasteer
Guides Award.
- In addition a suitable lifesaving
qualification must be held.
If alternative qualifications are held, please
seek advice from your Outdoor Activities Adviser or contact
activities@girlguiding.org.uk
to ensure the instructor’s qualification is appropriate to the
nature of the activity.
Members must not undertake Coasteering
without two qualified instructors.
Useful
information
Ensure the equipment being used is:
- In good condition
- The correct size for the participant.
Water should be inspected for signs of visible
pollution, for example rubbish,
blue green algae or chemicals.
If either the Leader or the instructor is not
satisfied that the conditions are safe, the activity must be
abandoned.
The Leader should ensure each participant (or
her parent if the participant is under 18 years old) is aware of
the dangers and symptoms of
Weil’s disease and knows what action to take if infection is
suspected. On the day of the activity participants should be
advised to cover cuts and grazes with waterproof plasters to help
prevent infection.
Useful websites
International Coasteering Association
(ICA) www.coasteering.org/index.html
British Coasteering Federation (BCF) www.britishcoasteeringfederation.co.uk
Water and leisure safety advice from the Royal Society for
the Prevention of Accidents:
www.rospa.com/leisuresafety/adviceandinformation/watersafety (this
Page last updated: 19/09/2011