Small Craft Safety Program Helps Camps Certify Waterfront Staff.

It's that time of year when camp directors ask, "Where am I going to find enough certified waterfront staff, specifically small craft?" ACA standard PA-20, a mandatory standard, states that camps (both resident and day camp) need to provide a staff member who has documented skills and training in water rescue and emergency procedures specific to the location and the activities. In short, staff in these areas need experience in the specific craft and they need to know water rescue skills and emergency procedures for that specific craft. Lifeguard training, although a good training course in aquatic rescue, does not address rescues in or from small crafts. Will your staff know what to do when the sailboat capsizes?

Course Teaches Rescue Skills

Recognizing the need to address this issue, the American Camping Association, the American Red Cross, and the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. collaborated in 1997 to develop the Basic Water Safety/Small Craft Safety program, which is also endorsed by the Boy Scouts of America. The program provides individuals already skilled in one or more types of small craft (canoes, kayaks, sailboats, and/or rowboats) with a core lesson in basic water rescue skills and knowledge needed for self-rescue and to assist others. The core lesson also includes information on small craft accident prevention, trip planning, supervision, and emergency preparation. In addition to the core lesson, there are five components that provide the skills needed to enable an individual to respond to a small craft emergency. These components involve practice in self-rescue skills and assisting others using canoes, kayaks, sailboats, and/or rowboats in a calm water environment. A moving-water component provides skills and knowledge for canoers and kay akers in up to Class II difficulty water.

St. Louis Chapter Administering Program

The St. Louis Area Chapter of the American Red Cross has now assumed responsibility for this program. Materials are available from them, as is assistance in working with your local Red Cross Chapter to find instructors or schedule instructor courses.

Currently authorized American Red Cross basic sailing, basic water rescue, water safety, and/or lifeguarding instructors are eligible to bridge to small craft safety instructors. American Red Cross water safety or lifeguarding instructor trainers who have completed the instructor bridging process can also train small craft safety instructors.

To find out more information about the Small Craft Safety program or if your camp currently has someone who has or is willing to complete this process, please contact Joyce Bathke, director of health and safety services for the American Red Cross, St. Louis area chapter, at 314-516-2733 or e-mail [e-mail]. If your camp currently sponsors small craft trainings and you are willing to allow others in your section to attend, please contact your ACA section education chair or the ACA professional development department at 765-342-8456, ext. 320, or e-mail [e-mail].