99TravelSafe.com
69 – Crossing Rivers, Streams or Lakes!
The Website For The Smart and Savvy Traveler
CROSSING rivers or lakes can be VERY risky. Waters that seem still could have strong currents and shallow waters could suddenly turn out to be quite deep!
If you can AVOID river wading and especially swimming then do so! If there is a bridge one mile along the river then detour and TAKE the bridge. Safety always comes first!
In general, you should try to remain calm when anything happens to you and you end up in the water. Frantic swimming will get you tired quickly. Try to remain calm and float as you assess your situation and try to come up with a solution!
Should you be swept away when crossing a river and the river is filled with obstacles like rocks and logs, the safest position is to float on your back with your legs in front of you to absorb any bumps while using your arms to push away obstacles and steer!
Should a teammate fall into the water, try using rope or sticks and make an effort to get him/her back to shore. Keep the rope flexible and do not tie it to a tree or other obstacle. A strong current might drag the victim under with no slack to submerge again!
Stream & River Wading;
Smaller rivers often have boulders. Try finding a place where you would be able to cross the river by using these boulders as stepping stones.
Extend your Hiking Poles for balance. Find a large stick if you do not have hiking poles with you. Go from boulder to boulder, planting the balls of your feet on the summit of each boulder. Wet rocks, especially those overgrown with mosses, can be VERY slippery so go slow and plan your moves!
Always walk along the river bank and find a good place to cross. Do NOT try to find the place where the river is narrowest. Wider parts of the river MAY have slower currents and shallower waters!
Look for boulders that either provide a path or at least slow down the current and provide easy surfaces of deposited gravel behind them.
Choose a trackable route (should things get rougher) that offers safe passage all the way to the other side.
If you have to wade through the river then assess the river’s bottom surface.
Go in with bare feet only if you are sure that there is no chance of cuts or serious scrapes. If you go bare feet then put your socks in your boots, put them in your backpack, and use your backpack's splash cover. If your backpack is full then tie the laces together and hang the boots on your backpack. Use your pair of sandals if you brought one!
You can assess the current of a flowing river by throwing a stick or other floating object in the water. You will be surprised how seemingly calm rivers can still have a strong current. In stronger currents, plan a route that angles down and is ACROSS the current of the river!
Undo the waist belt of your backpack. Should you fall, your backpack could drag you down and seriously constrain your movement. With your waist belt undone, you will be able to easily slip out of your backpack should you get dragged away!
Water-related tragedies can happen in the blink of an eye - Playing it safe will help you remain safe!
Wading is walking through shallow water, and it can be a fun activity in lakes and rivers but it has to be done VERY carefully!
For wading safely;
-- Before wading, scout and look over the area you will be wading in!
-- Take small, crab-like steps, and plant your feet firmly. Go slow!
-- Keep your body sideways to the flow, Point one leg upstream!
-- Always use a wading staff - A wading staff can help you test the depth of the water and provide much-needed stability.
-- Keep your legs slightly BENT to distribute your weight and increase your balance!
-- When you're ready to move on, back out slowly into slower water!
-- If you're in an area with a soft bottom, move to firmer ground!
-- When the water is especially SWIFT or DEEP cross as a group! The strongest person should be slightly upstream to break the current for the others. Cross in a line holding onto each other's pack straps, side by side with arms linked, or in a tripod with arms linked!