ARKANSAS CANOE CLUB

ACA Waiver and Release of Liability

Reading and Signing the ACA Waiver and Release of Liability is required for everyone wishing to take part in an Arkansas Canoe Club Event. Participants should understand that the waiver is important and that it addresses serious issues. As the event or workshop starts, Instructors should confirm that all have signed the Waiver.

Personal Assumption of Risk

Early in each ACC class, it is very important that the Instructor explain the specific risks and hazards that may be encountered.

Instructors may choose to explain in his own words, read from the ACA Waiver and Release of Liability, discuss Part One of the Safety Code of American Whitewater, or in other ways assure that all participants understand that serious injury, disability and death, though rare, are possible even when participating in the class.

The Arkansas Canoe Club requires that all participants be competent swimmers because spills are common and swimming maybe necessary to avoid very dangerous hazards.

As Instructors, we do our best to choose locations and activities to make the risks reasonable while teaching how to recognize and avoid the various hazards. Please explain, as each individual chooses to participate and to continue to participate in these activities, he must personally assumes those risks.

As the class progresses, Instructors are encouraged to point out specific river features and hazards to discuss options for avoiding the hazards which may include taking out, walking around, or paddling a more conservative line.

Challenge by choice.

The value of experiential learning is people seem to learn best by doing rather than observing. ACC River Paddling School has intrinsic appeal because individuals are participants rather than spectators.

Personal growth occurs with challenging activities that involve risk-taking in a mutually supportive group atmosphere. The best classes have an atmosphere of trust, respect, cooperation, and clear communication among Instructors and Participants.

Challenge by choice is:

• The opporunity to try new and potentially difficult challenges in a caring and supportive atmosphere.
• The opporunity to step back when group pressure and self-doubt become too strong for an individual. The Instructor should clarify that a future attempt can be available if the participant wants to try again.
• In trying challeging tasks, the Instructor emphasizes that effort is more important than results.
• Respect for individual ideas and choices is a key ingredient.

The Instructor uses his judgment to know when to encourage a student to accept a challenge and when it is better for the student not to accept a particular challenge.

Important teaching points are:

• Individual paddlers are ultimately responsible for their own safety, each must choose for himself to either accept or reject the risks of the various hazards and dangers.
• Peers should accept and respect the decisions of others. For example: if one doesn't want to paddle a particular rapid, offer to walk around with him and allow only supportive comments and actions from the rest of the group.

Please refer also to Safety Code of American Whitewater sections 1 and 3, and ACA Instructor's Manual, Units 5 and 8.

Six Points of Risk Management for Instructors

It behooves instructors to understand the legal environment in which we operate. This environment is very dynamic, we must be adaptable to its changing conditions.

If you are the target of a lawsuit the attorney for the plaintiff will likely try to build a case for negligence by making numerous allegations. The six most common and significant are listed below in order of importance and prevalence.

1. Failure to warn and inform
2. Failure to give proper instructions
3. Instructor or guide error
4. Wrong placewrong time
5. Equipment failure
6. Rescue was unduly long and exhaustive

Perform as a reasonable and prudent person would with your level of training or position of responsibility.

ACA Discussion of Liabilty for Paddle Clubs.

Medical Limitations

Even if you have medical forms from the participants, it is best to ask about medical and physical limitations, allergies, or special needs. Sometimes an offer to talk in private will bring out more information.