How To Survive a White-Water Rafting Accident

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Know what to do before you find yourself tossed around by a raging river.

To complete this How-To you will need:

The ability to swim
A life jacket
A helmet
An abundance of caution

Step 1: Wear your life jacket

Wear your life jacket. Make sure it's snug, and keep it completely buckled at all times. It's also a good idea to wear a helmet, and absolutely necessary in strong rapids.

Step 2: Try not to panic

If you fall overboard, try not to panic. If you're not surfacing because the raft is above you, feel your way around it.

Step 3: Grab the line

If you surface next to the raft, grasp the rope that's around the perimeter and hold on until someone can pull you in. If you're nearby, but not close enough to reach the rope, look toward your raft mates, who will likely extend a paddle for you to grab.

Step 4: Assume the position

If you're out of reach of the raft, assume the white-water swim position: Lie on your back, legs extended downstream, with your head back and your toes above the water. Stay in this position until you're rescued or you find an opportunity to get to shore or back into your boat. Don't stand up: Your feet could get caught in rocks.

Tip: To assume the position, imagine yourself lying in a recliner.

Step 5: Catch the rope

Listen for someone to yell, "Rope!" That's your cue to look for a rope being tossed your way. Grab it, hold it close to your chest, and position it so that it snakes over one shoulder as you float on your back. Never wrap it around your arm or body -- you could get tangled in it.

Step 6: Stay safe

While you're in the water, keep an eye out for obstacles, like rocks and trees. Avoid them by pointing your feet toward the obstacles and back paddling with your hands and arms. If you can't avoid a tree, try to pull yourself onto it.

Step 7: Fall into position

If you hit falls, lie on your back, pull your knees up to your chest, and hug them. After you're through the falls, extend your legs again.

Step 8: Aim for shore

If you're near the shore, position your feet toward the center of the river while back paddling; this may maneuver you toward land. Switch to freestyle swimming if you see an opportunity to swim to shore. Don't stand up until you can sit on the bottom of the river with your head above water.

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Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• HotHowTos
• surviving
• white
• water
• rafting
• disaster
• crash
• river
• swimming
• drowning
• accidents

[dizzyd1250]

how to fart.

what you need.

a ass.

gas.

optional: a friends face. or a bean burrito

step 1

force tightly like your constipated.

warning: not too hard. you may shart.

step 2

wait for someone to die

[FromThe3PointLine]

You will need:

Ability to swim.....

.......looks like this is not a video for me

[yummybluespidermans]

Go jump off a fuckiing bridge

[francisclyve12]

Thats not a White-Water Rafting Accident hahahahahahahahaha the water is so low

[romu771]

but i cant swim!

[superninja4545]

@IrishColleen96 a lot of ppl don't think that they're stupid y r ur videos any better)

[cataclysmicnothing]

The answer to almost any question is either duck tape od soldering iron. or battery acid

[MrBoxman29]

@offkiterenet i agree

[offkilterent]

I love that you used the doll to make the video. You were able to put the doll in every situation and make the demonstration clear.

[offkilterent]

I LOVE this video! It's goofy yet informative. I raft all the time and took some inexperienced people with me a couple of weeks ago. This video would have been helpful had they watched before rafting. The one of the boats flipped and two of the people did everything wrong. One guy will never raft again because of it. He tried to get to the side of the rapid and stand up. He hurt his legs and almost got his foot stuck between rocks. Very dangerous!

[ilovemiddleschoolyah]

a doll? real funny howcast!!!!! :0

[ExpertPlane101]

I Luv Howcast