Rowing
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Description
Travelling on water in rowing boats which are
powered and steered by the passengers using oars, either for
recreation or racing.
Forms
An Information and Consent
for Event/Activity form is required to
participate in this activity.
Who can
participate?
Open to those aged seven and over.
Some activity providers have their own age,
height and weight restrictions.
Participants must be able
to:
- swim 50 metres
- keep afloat for five minutes in the clothes
normally worn for the activity.
Participants may fulfil 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
Normal ratios for activities away from the
meeting place are required.
Guiding Manual ratios
Commercial providers may have different
ratios; whichever is stricter must be observed.
Regulations
- 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 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 rowing,
seeking advice if necessary
- decide on the day, with the instructor(s),
whether conditions are safe for rowing.
Instructor
qualifications
Instructors should hold the qualification from
Girlguiding UK’s
Training Opportunities: Rowing Scheme as applicable to the
nature of the activity.
If alternative qualifications are held, please
seek advice from your Outdoor Activities Adviser, British Rowing or contact
activities@girlguiding.org.uk
to ensure the instructor’s qualification is appropriate to the
nature of the activity.
Learning and development
opportunities
Click here to find out more about Girlguiding UK's learning and
development opportunities, including the Rowing Scheme and
Power-Cruising Scheme.
Useful
information
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.
Ensure that all participants have the correct
clothing and footwear.
Ensure that the provider has the correct size
buoyancy aids/life jackets for the participants.
Ensure the equipment being used is:
- in good condition
- the correct size for the participant.
Useful websites
British
Rowing http://www.britishrowing.org/
For Girlguiding UK areas that own
boats or have them on a long-term let please see the information
on craft
certification.
Water and leisure safety advice from the Royal Society for
the Prevention of Accidents
Page last updated:
5/17/2012