Rescuing Swimmers and Setting Safety

In this episode of Gear Garage Zach talks about some fundamentals for setting safety and rescuing swimmers on whitewater rivers.
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[@adsteel]

I had no idea. This was super clear and informative, thank you.

[@joshuacalhoun6167]

I am hoping that no dummies were hurt in the making of this informative rundown.

[@returningtoearthtv8836]

This is the first Ive heard of these dummies for training. Powerful tool. This was an educational video. Really nice.

[@randallgd]

Really helpful thank you!

[@dgiroday1]

Scuba Steve needs Rescue Ron!

[@absoluteelectricandmainten7432]

Very cool video! Super instructive and informative. Just getting into swift water paddling. I have something to keep in mind.

[@jhonnygringo1514]

thanks for making these videos!

[@Adamtfrank]

I’m loving all of these videos. Great info!

[@GearGarageTV]

That's great to hear

[@reecebhackett]

me and all my homies love zach

[@GearGarageTV]

Great to hear. Thanks!

[@joeycoburn5351]

I saw your video yesterday with the dummy swimmer and loved it! What a great way to show the dynamics involved with a mid-rapid rescue of a swimmer! There's a comment I wanted to ask about at 5:35 in the video: "We instructed these students don't keep chasing like at some point there's another rapid we don't want you all to keep going blindly because will create real issues". I'm assuming that means not chasing the dummy downstream for this particular exercise so the students don't get lost downstream? Is that correct? I'm assuming you don't mean in general not to pursue the swimmer? Or do you mean don't pursue a swimmer blindly into unfamiliar rapids? Thank you so much for posting this video!

[@GearGarageTV]

In this case I didn’t want our students to blindly run a rapid to rescue a piece of equipment. If it was a real person that would be a different discussion.

[@joeycoburn5351]

@@GearGarageTV Thank you!

[@erincd12]

But what happened to Scuba Steve

[@GearGarageTV]

Oh what a good question. He floated downstream about a mile an got caught up in some shallow rocks.

[@kevinhill.8]

What river and rapid(s) was this?

[@GearGarageTV]

It’s on the Hood River. We call this one Pipeline.

[@kevinhill.8]

@@GearGarageTV I’ve only paddled the Hood once. Is that the Dee to Tucker section? Somewhere below the WF confluence I’m assuming, based on river width. 🤔

[@chrispaine2265]

@@kevinhill.8 Yes and yes.