Rescue for Swims, Triathlons etc...
Hey,
so I've been wondering. Kayakers are getting asked more and more to provide rescue / safety cover for all kinds of swims and triathlons these days. I myself have done two already this summer and am due to do another next weekend.
But I was talking to an instructor during the week who reckons any paddler who does rescue cover for an event like that should first demand a written notice from the organisers saying that in the event of something going wrong, the paddler is in no way responsible. He also said if you get paid ANYTHING (even a pint, tshirt, petrol money, whatever) from a legal point of view you're putting yourself in an even more dodgy position...
Anyone have any thoughts, views or otherwise?
Muireann
Thats a though one.
I've been helping out on a couple of triathlons as a favour to a friend. On the last one i did feel a bit exposed as there was only 3 kayakers over a long course. Normally its rare for there to be problems and usually there is only one or two assists necessary. Cramp or minor strains but you do gets the odd muppet who get goeded into entering with no trainning.
Although the army where present in boats they where very reluctant to enter the race area during the race so support would be delayed at best.
In any rescue situation your best is all you can do. As a volunteer it could be argued you have no more personal responsilility to effect a rescue than a passer by.
All these races are usually organised by a club and the onus is on the club to provide for appropriate insurance cover for the event. This said if a litigous situation occured it much more likely for the esteemed members of our legal profession to go after the insurance company than a private individual. If only that it is much harder to get money out of a private individual.
Getting a letter from the club or organisors would probably help a little but get one from the insurer of the event would be even better.
Don't be scared off by all this talk though because sport in this country needs volunteers badly. Be it coaching pee wee soccer teams or sitting in your boat watching hundreds of swimmers go by.
It all goes on your karma tab.
Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
...I was talking to an instructor during the week who reckons any paddler who does rescue cover for an event like that should first demand a written notice from the organisers saying that in the event of something going wrong, the paddler is in no way responsible...
I did rescue for a recent triathlon and for the liffey descent and if I'm avalible I'll volunteer my time to help out with other events. Why, because I'd feel incredibally guilty if I didn't, I take part in these events, I'm a runner/swimmer and those events fail or suceed on the backs of the volunteers.
Would the liffey descent get a license or be open to as many compeditors if they didn't have rescue at all the wiers?
As for swims etc, kayaks are the best way to rescue people. I was at one triathlon this year with Bren and most of the time the army boat crew weren't eager to go near the racing lanes, the rest of the time they were adrift and out of control with thier engine disabled after vegitation fouled thier propellor. Also in a kayak if somebody looks not great you can manouver in and around other swimmers to get closser to them for a look or to just be close. A boat can only really get in there if somebody is obviously in trouble because the rescue boat itself is one of the biggest hazards on the water.
Perhaps the ICU might have some thoughts or guidance on the legal ramifications but to be honest I couldn't care. Good luck to anybody who tries to sue me, I've got nothing.
If anybodys thinking of doing rescue I'd advise you to have a long talk with one of the race co-ordinators before even saying you'll show up, then when you get there talk to all the other paddlers and then go and talk to the boats crews and discuss signals etc.
Don't be pawned off with, "If you need help wave and the boat will come help you." Go and talk to the boat people and make sure they know that.
Also your safety is your only responcablilty, then look after your fellow paddlers and if your feeling charitable in a good samiritan way you can help the swimming people.
I think the rescue boats are terrible for the athletes. The fumes they create linger on the top of the water and choke you as you swim through them. Nasty.
I think kayakers should be there first and then if needed they could beckon the boat. Otherwise it should stay at the sidelines with the engine off or idling preferably downwind and not racing up and down beside the swimmers unnecessarily, inadvertantly pumping out noxious fumes.
if something went wrong it would be tough to pin it on any one person as there would be hundreds of witnesses saying that you volunteered to help out, and as far as getting a free pint or t shirt that wouldn't be anywhere near the same as actually being paid for a service.
but when ur asked to do rescue are you taking on a responsibility that you should be liable for in the future? either way no harm having paper saying that ur not in the wrong!
Tiernan