Safety Briefing

Commercial Rafting – Class II–III

Section: Brstanovica – Šćepan Polje

This briefing is provided by TCR for tourist orientation purposes only and does not replace the official safety instructions given by your rafting guide.

1. Guide Introduction

On the river, instructions are never optional.

All guide commands must be followed immediately and without hesitation. If anything is unclear, ask your guide before entering the rapids — not during them. Quick reactions, discipline, and teamwork are essential for a safe and enjoyable rafting experience.

2. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Before launching, your guide will check the following:

• Helmet properly fitted and securely fastened

• PFD (life jacket) correctly tightened

• Footwear securely worn

• Wetsuit in the correct size, if required

• No loose straps or other safety hazards

Your PFD must fit tightly and should not lift over your shoulders when pulled upward. If it rides up, it can obstruct your vision and reduce your swimming efficiency.

Helmets must remain on at all times in rapids and technical sections. Impact with rocks without a helmet can cause serious injury or loss of consciousness, which is extremely dangerous in a river environment.

No one may remove safety equipment without the guide’s approval, especially while on the water.

3. Raft Position and Body Mechanics

While in the raft, you should:

• Sit on the outer tube in a stable “pyramid” body position

• Place one foot under each foot strap

• Keep your knees slightly bent

• Lean forward and slightly outward in rapids to create tension on the foot straps for better stability

Maintaining light tension on the foot straps helps keep you secure in the raft.

Please avoid the following:

• Falling into the raft during rapids, as this affects the raft’s balance

• Any kind of attachment or fixation to the raft, as this is dangerous if the raft flips

• Swimming in a standing position in fast-moving current

• Standing up in moving water under any circumstances

Standing in current can be life-threatening due to rocks and the risk of foot entrapment.

If you fall inside the raft, return to your position immediately to restore balance and proper weight distribution, especially if you are seated in the front.

4. Paddle Grip and Teamwork

One hand must always hold the $T$-grip, while the other hand holds the paddle shaft.

If you let go of the $T$-grip, you risk injuring another paddler. When navigating near rocks, do not push off or strike rocks with your paddle, as this can cause wrist, arm, or paddle injuries.

Paddling is done on command — not by individual choice. The raft moves safely only when the whole team works as one unit.

5. Standard Paddle Commands

The most common command you will hear is:

• GO / GO / GO

• FORWARD PADDLE

Other standard commands may include:

• BACK PADDLE

• STOP PADDLING

• LEFT SIDE

• RIGHT SIDE

• LEFT BALANCE

• RIGHT BALANCE

• GET DOWN

Balance commands are used more often at higher water levels, especially in April and May.

Each guide may use slightly different wording, but all commands will be practiced with you before the first rapids. Pay close attention — delayed reaction increases risk.

6. Swimmer Safety – Defensive Position

If you fall into the water:

1. Stay calm and do not panic.

2. Orient yourself and control your breathing.

3. Roll onto your back.

4. Keep your feet up and pointed downstream.

5. Avoid obstacles in fast-moving water whenever possible.

This is called the defensive swimming position.

Never try to stand up in fast-moving water. There may be sharp rocks below the surface, and there is a serious risk of foot entrapment.

Never try to pass under river obstacles. Always move over them or away from them.

7. Aggressive Swim

If the guide commands SWIM, turn onto your stomach and swim aggressively toward:

• The raft

• The throw bag

• A designated safe eddy, usually behind larger rocks

After each rapid, there is usually a calmer part of the river. Do not waste energy fighting the strongest current unnecessarily. Follow instructions and conserve your strength.

8. Rescue Protocol

The raft is the primary rescue platform.

If someone falls out:

• Continue paddling unless instructed otherwise

• Help maintain raft stability

• Do not jump into the water to assist

• Wait for the guide to deploy the throw bag or manoeuvre the raft for recovery

The first two paddlers are especially important for power, control, and balance. Their role is to paddle when instructed, not to attempt rescue.

The general rescue order is:

1. Self-rescue

2. Raft-assisted rescue

3. Throw bag rescue

4. Secondary support from other boats, if available

9. Capsize Procedure

If the raft flips:

• Stay with the raft

• Hold the perimeter line

• Account for all participants

• Wait for instructions from the guide

Do not swim away from the raft unless specifically directed to do so.

10. Section-Specific Hazards – Brstanovica to Šćepan Polje

This section includes:

• Continuous Class III rapids in the first 4 kilometres

• Possible Class IV conditions in springtime

• Mostly Class II water after the initial section

• Cold alpine water

• Fast and technical water at the beginning

• Possible strong hydraulics

At higher spring water levels, especially in April and May, some parts of this section may reach Class IV+. In such conditions, operations include additional safety guides and stricter safety procedures.

Other possible hazards include:

• Sharp rocks

• Contact injuries

• Slippery riverbanks

• Rockfall

• Wildlife presence

Cold water can reduce muscle efficiency and trigger a cold-shock response that affects breathing. Try to control your breathing and avoid panic.

11. Medical and Risk Disclosure

Please inform your guide before departure if you:

• Cannot swim

• Have a heart condition

• Have a shoulder injury

• Have had recent surgery

• Have severe asthma

• Have diabetes

• Have severe allergic reactions to insect bites or stings

This information is confidential and used strictly for safety purposes. If needed, you may speak to your guide privately before departure.

12. Environmental Responsibility

The Tara River Canyon is a protected natural area.

Please respect the environment at all times:

• No littering

• No disturbing wildlife

• No damaging riverbanks or surrounding nature

We protect the river that gives us this experience.

13. Final Confirmation

Before launching, make sure that everyone:

• Has a properly fitted PFD and helmet

• Understands the defensive swimmer position

• Understands the STOP and GO commands

• Knows their left and right side

• Understands never to stand in moving water

• Understands not to change position without instruction

Good.

We start as a team.
We paddle as a team.
We finish as a team.