River rescue: two approaches, two realities

Swiftwater rescue ≠ whitewater rescue

This post is part of the current trend on the issue which translates very poorly: " swiftwater rescue " vs " whitewater rescue " and I add my two cents with the form of communication I prefer - writing a post on the Rivière Concept blog - for the French-speaking audience of Quebec.

Note that this post does not represent the ideas of any training entity; it is a post written in a personal capacity.

I tried different French translations without finding the best one... I'll let you choose.

Whitewater rescue	Whitewater rescue River safety and self-rescue Paddler rescue Operational safety in rivers
Swiftwater rescue	Rescue in moving water River rescue River rescue - external intervention Emergency services rescue River rescue - Professional intervention

Swiftwater rescue vs. whitewater rescue: two different worlds

	Whitewater rescue	Swiftwater rescue
Who	Recreational paddlers (kayak, canoe, raft, SUP, etc.) Guides (commercial outings) Participants already on the water	Emergency services: firefighters, first responders, specialized teams (floods, flash floods)
When	Real-time intervention during the descent Decisions are made instantly (not 10 minutes later).	Post- incident intervention Team called onto a stage
Victim	Often people from their group People know each other A customer (sales guide) Responsibility towards the victim(s) This naturally leads to accepting more risk than external stakeholders... But only if it is well thought out.	Often unknown
Equipment	Limited resources	Many resources Heavy equipment
Protocol Logic Procedure	Logic: Can I/Should I? The quickest and most effective solution according to its acceptable level of risk On-the-ground reality > procedures	Strict protocols Low risk → high risk Staggered approach To return home safe and sound
Others	More experience and better judgment in whitewater "Rescues" are part of everyday life. For example, helping a swimmer. Often already experienced in river reading	A significant proportion of drownings involve rescuers putting themselves in danger.
Things that should be prioritized	Prevention in general River reading, positioning, communication Pin management, wraps, stuck boat Intervention with minimal equipment Realistic scenarios for paddlers and guides Self-rescue and whitewater swimming. Perishable skills that must be practiced regularly.	Walking in shallow water Zip line Swimmer with rope Complex anchoring and rope systems Large quantities of knots In short, these are unrealistic techniques for paddlers who often have little equipment, do not practice these techniques regularly, and must act quickly with what they have on hand.
Universal principles	Order of priority: me, my team, the victim, body/equipment Reading the river and its dangers PPE (personal protective equipment) Communication\common vocabulary Basic concepts of knots/rope/anchor Knowing when to act... and when not to act.

What this table helps us understand: having the same course for firefighters as for recreational paddlers = confusion, diluted and misunderstood content, incorrect things are taught.

Training should therefore be specialized by type of practitioner, by real context of intervention and by frequency of use of skills.

The big difference: the logic behind the decision-making.

Techniques are techniques...you can't reinvent the wheel (although techniques do evolve, change, etc.). Some techniques will be more or less useful depending on the type of practitioner. Both disciplines have fairly similar "toolboxes." The main difference lies in the order in which these tools are used.

Stepped approach vs. Jim Coffey model

Two models = two approaches.

A phased approach (talk-reach-throw-go) is more useful for emergency services.

Jim Coffey model (skill + acceptable level of risk) = more useful for paddlers

Jim Coffey model

YouTube, “ Whitewater rescue priorities and risk-based decision making ”, Zwolfkayak Channel, 2024, https://youtu.be/Qvdb7hdpzN8

“Traditionally, it has always been taught that rescues should be carried out using low-risk techniques first, then progressing to riskier ones. However, this philosophy has evolved over the years, and it is now considered that the most effective rescue technique should be used in order to intervene quickly and resolve the situation.”

Before doing so, we must conduct two separate assessments. The first involves evaluating our own skill level : are we capable of performing this technique? The second concerns the acceptable level of risk : should we perform this technique?

If we can answer yes to the question "can we?" and the question "should we?" for a given technique, then we want to use the most efficient, effective, and fastest method possible to complete the rescue and proceed with the descent.

What literature says

👇 Whitewater rescue oriented 👇

Mehl, Luc. The Packraft Handbook . Things to Luc at LLC, 2021. ISBN: 978-1-5783-3854-2.

Principles of rescue

Focus on rescue principles rather than specific steps, as there are many different ways to successfully complete a rescue. Water is a dynamic environment, and rigid rules generally don't apply. Keep things simple and flexible.

The rescue system and the hierarchy of risks

All rescue efforts expose rescuers to risks. The level of risk depends on the rescue strategy. Although every situation varies and there are no absolute rules, rescue systems can be broadly classified according to the level of danger they pose to the rescuer.

Risk hierarchy for rescuers

(I love this image!!)

Ostis, Nate. NOLS River Rescue Guide . Stackpole Books, 2015. ISBN: 978-0-8117-1373-3.

Keep it simple: use solutions with a high probability of success

Determine your acceptable level of risk

The more time you spend training and playing in whitewater, the easier it becomes to determine the best course of action for rescue solutions. Ultimately, you must weigh the pros and cons of an idea, and the sooner you do this, the faster the patient can be stabilized. A risk/benefit analysis must be conducted, based on your team's demonstrated capabilities. These informed assessments should be decisions supported by evidence from previous attempts in similar terrain. You must decide whether the risk to yourself and your group is worth taking, based on the likelihood of a successful rescue. Review your rescue options and determine which offer the most promise for an effective outcome. Rank these options according to the level of risk they pose to everyone present, then determine your acceptable level of risk and begin your rescue.

DO NOT OPERATE BEYOND YOUR ACCEPTABLE RISK LEVEL

Deciding what to do in a rescue situation requires intuition grounded in real-life experience in similar circumstances . Hours of training and practice are necessary to determine your acceptable level of risk . This should be the ultimate goal of any training session, and it's important to understand that each individual will have their own unique determination of what is acceptable. Deciding whether to wade, throw, paddle, or swim toward a patient can only be done reasonably and rationally if that skill has been practiced many times beforehand.

Determine what you are capable of and what level of risk you are willing to take. Consider this based on extensive recent practice. Your acceptable level of risk for swimming rapids is not based on how you swam whitewater two years ago; it is based on how you can do it today.

Peled, Danny. Pocket Guide to Whitewater Rescue . 2nd edition. Boreal River Rescue, 2014. ISBN: 978-0-9936418-1-7.

Choosing the right technique

At different stages of a rescue, you will need to choose the technique to use. Opt for the most effective one, provided that the risks involved are acceptable to your team . Generally, in addition to being effective, a successful rescue is also simple and quick.

Risks vs. Benefits

Compare the benefits of a technique or decision to the risks , costs, and consequences for others and the environment.

Absolon, M. The Ultimate Guide to Whitewater Rafting and River Camping . Falcon Guides, 2018.

Keep it simple

You are less likely to make mistakes and more likely to succeed if you keep your rescue operation as simple as possible.

In general, when coming to the aid of a swimmer, think: Reach, Row, Throw, or Go.

👇 Swiftwater rescue oriented 👇

Ray, Slim. Swiftwater Rescue Field Guide . CFS Press, revised edition. ISBN-13: 978-0-964958-53-1.

DO NOT ENTER moving water except as a last resort.

Whitewater rescue is extremely dangerous — stay on the bank if possible . Rescue methods, from lowest to highest risk , are: (...)

Remember the mnemonic RETHROG :

• REACH : extend a stick, pole, or ladder towards the victim

• THrow : to throw him a rope or throwing line

• ROw : row to the victim by boat

• Go : Enter the water directly for a swim rescue

Bechdel, Les & Ray, Slim. River Rescue: A Manual for Whitewater Safety . 4th edition.CFS Press, 2009.ISBN: 978-0-964958-56-2.

Determine the best rescue method

Consider the mnemonic RETHROG . First, can you reach ( REach ) the victim for a contact rescue? If not, can you throw ( THRow ) a rope to them? Can you row ( ROw ) or paddle to them for a boat rescue? Can you go ( GO ) to them with a swim rescue?

Rescue priorities

One of the most critical factors on the river is always time—the time required to set up and use a rescue system and the time remaining for the victim. Almost inevitably, time must be weighed against the danger to which the rescuer would be exposed. If the victim's remaining time is measured in minutes, or even seconds, a rescuer may be willing to accept increased risk to themselves in order to save a life . But this trade-off must be carefully considered, and the attempt carried out with every possible safety precaution for the rescuer; otherwise, they risk becoming another victim.

Ferrero, Franco. Whitewater Rescue . 2nd edition. Pesda Press, 2006 (reprints 2008, 2012). ISBN-13: 978-0-9547061-5-9.

• Speak, Reach, Throw, Tow, Go – prioritize low-risk options first.

American Whitewater Safety Code (American Whitewater, 2024 revision).

Essential concepts of rescue

Develop a rescue plan that minimizes risk to the rescue team. Don't compound the problem by creating another rescue situation. It's important to balance the risk to rescuers with rapid action. A good reference for increasingly risky rescue options from the safety of the shore is "reach – throw – paddle – go," but your team may have other considerations depending on the rescuers' position, their skills, and available resources. Often, simple and quick solutions are the most effective.

Conclusion

I observe a desire for standardization in the field of rescue, but I do not believe that this is for the better.

The reality of the different participants is too different to be able to offer a single formula and instructors must adapt and adapt the content of their training according to the type of practitioner.

I also believe that very few instructors have the experience to be excellent in both branches of rescue, each having its own unique codes and ways of thinking.

It would be interesting for a future post to draw up a list of techniques according to their relevance and according to the type of practitioner.

In any case, nothing beats regular practice and seeking out training to add tools/ways of thinking to your toolbox!

Alex