1. Participants’ Safety is the #1 concern for all trip coordinators. Coordinators are expected to use good judgment. They should view the safety videos in the Club’s library. CPR training is recommended but not mandatory. Coordinators must carry a First Aid kit and throw bag on each trip. A brief safety meeting must be held prior to each trip which contains the following information:

• PFD’s On advice from counsel, all trip participants must wear them. This blanket rule is the trip coordinator’s best protection from potential legal repercussions.
• Whistle Code: Everyone should have one:  1 blast of the whistle means: attention, 2 blasts on the whistle means: stop your boat, 3 blasts on the whistle means: a paddler is in the water.
• Paddle Signals 
  • Paddle held overhead straight up in the air = Paddle forward
  • Paddle held overhead with blade to the left = Paddle to the river left
  • Paddle held overhead with blade to the right = Paddle to the river right
  • Paddle held overhead horizontally = STOP
• Lead Boat: The trip coordinator will be the lead boat or designate someone else to be lead. Participants must not pass the lead boat.
•  Sweep Boat: Unless you have a small number of boats, a “sweep” boat should be in place. The trip coordinator has the option of asking for a volunteer to sweep or designating someone to do so. A sweep boat is the very last boat in the flotilla. It is their responsibility to always be at the tail end of the group. They may, with coordinator’s permission, switch off the sweep designation with another qualified boat throughout the trip.

2. The trip coordinator will designate the meeting place and time for the trip and plan the easiest way to shuttle.

3. The trip coordinator will advise people about the nature of the trip, what class it is, what equipment to bring.

4. The trip coordinator will screen all the people wanting to go on the trip to make sure they are members or guests of a member, and have adequate skill level and proper equipment for that particular trip.

5. The trip coordinator must use an official Club trip signup sheet which must be signed by all trip participants.

6. The trip coordinator should know the river or stream by recent trip or by scouting.

7. If the trip coordinator is not able to lead the trip for any reason, he or she should find an alternate coordinator or call off the trip. If the trip is called off, the coordinator must notify everyone who has signed up for the trip. (If a member is not reachable by phone, the coordinator must go to the meeting place to notify the member of cancellation.)

8. The trip coordinator will make all final decisions on the trip.

9. Trip speed is determined by the slowest paddler. For safety reasons, the group must be kept together. DO NOT leave slow paddlers to catch up with the group later.

10. The trip coordinator must see that ALL members are off the water and reunited with their vehicle at the trip’s end.