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Attention New Paddlecraft Owners

Three tips to keep you safe on the river

1. Wear your life jacket

Many fatalities involving paddlecraft result from falling overboard and drowning. Always remember to wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket.

2. Know the river hazards

Rocks and trees can be dangerous in moving water. Don’t get caught in a strainer or a foot entrapment. Be aware of cold water – it can kill!

3. Don’t exceed your abilities

Don’t head for big water until you have plenty of experience. Respect your limits and be aware that some paddlecraft may not be suitable for rivers.

Why should your kids wear a life jacket?

It’s the law! Kids 14 years of age and under on boats 19 feet or less are required to wear a Coast Guard approved and properly fitting life jacket when underway. It is recommended that all passengers on boats wear life jackets – it can be the difference between life and death in an emergency (especially in cold water).

Life Jacket Save Lives

PFD’s (personal flotation devices) must be Coast Guard approved, properly sized, and in good condition (no broken buckles, torn straps, rips, tears, etc). They must also be within easy reach.
Children 14 and under must wear an approved life jacket when they are aboard a boat 19 feet in length or less whenever the boat is underway or under power. This applies to manually propelled boats such as canoes and rafts in addition to powerboats, sailboats, personal watercraft (jet skis) and fishing float tubes.
Regardless of age, you must wear a personal flotation device (PFD) aboard a personal watercraft (jet ski) and when being pulled behind a vessel (I.e. – waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing, etc.)
The size of the boat determines the specific design types and quantities of PFDs required:
Boats less than 16 feet long, as well as canoes and kayaks of any length, must have at least one (1) Type I, Type II, or Type III PFD for each person on board. A Type IV cushion or ring buoy will not meet this requirement.
Boats 16 feet and longer (except canoes and kayaks of any length) must also carry a Type IV PFD (ring or cushion buoy).
A Type V is a special purpose PFD that may be used in place of a Type I, II, or III if listed on the label as approved for the type of boating the boater is doing, such as whitewater rafting.
Exemptions: Seaplanes, sailboards, and certain racing boats are exempt from these PFD requirements. Fly fishing float tubes do not require a PFD on lakes less than 200 surface acres. Fly fishing pontoons do require PFDs on all Idaho waters.

Click here for more information on how to choose a life jacket.

Cold Water Kills!

Click here to watch a video depicting cold water safety training and techniques.

In the past ten years nearly 67% of the fatal boating accidents in Idaho were the result of victims involuntarily entering the water from small boats. The average water temperature of Idaho’s water is 52 degrees, even during the summer! Wearing a life jacket can greatly increase your risk of surviving a cold water immersion situation.

4 Dangerous Categories of Cold Water Immersion

Cold Shock – Initial entry – 5 minutes:

Involuntary gasping, hyperventilation, & vertigo

Swim Failure – 5 – 30 minutes:

Even the best swimmers cannot function in cold water
Muscles, nerves, arms & legs cool quickly
Manual dexterity, grip strength & movement speed drop 60-80%

Hypothermia – 30 minutes or more:

Depends on water temperature, clothing, body type & behavior
Heat loss is 25 times faster in the water

Post Immersion Collapse:

Heart problems can develop as cold blood is released into the body core from the extremities

To increase your chances of surviving cold water immersion, always wear your life jacket.

Learn more @ coldwatersafety.org

Life Jacket Loaner Stations

Find a Life Jacket Loaner Station near you!

Download a brochure about white water safety Download a brochure for new paddlecraft owners

Safety tips

Follow these guidelines to make your trip safe and fun:

Pick an appropriate stretch of river

Match your skills and experience to the class of river using the Scale of Difficulty. The Scale of Difficulty rates a rapid by the level of skill needed to navigate its obstacles and to survive an accidental swim.

Dress for an unexpected swim!

Cold water can rob you of your strength, impair your ability to swim and cause hypothermia. Wear a wetsuit, drysuit, nylon or fleece layers — never cotton!

Use proper equipment

Coast Guard approved white water life jacket (Type 3 or 5).
Helmet
Cold water protective clothing (never cotton) and protective footwear
Throw rope, whistle, knife

Keep your group close together

Prepare a float plan and rescue strategy
Remember: the safety of your group is only as strong as your least experienced member

Recognize and avoid hazards

Look for fallen trees, low hanging branches
Rocks and undercuts
Powerful water hydraulics

Swim aggressively or defensively

Away from hazards, toward calm water, shore or raft
Avoid undercut banks and rocks
Point feet up and pointed downstreams
Use arms to maneuver
Don’t stand up! Fast water can entrap your foot, between rocks, push you over and pin you under the surface.

Self rescue

If spilled, check your partner, get upstream and swim to safest shore
Leave the boat only when it will improve your personal safety
If rescue isn’t likely, if the water is numbing cold or if a worse set of rapids is approaching, swim to the safest shore.

Idaho, the “whitewater state”, is a river-runner’s dream. But there are risks associated with whitewater paddling.

Links

Invasive Species Sticker Assistance: 1-888-922-6743 (M-F 8am to 7pm MST)

Idaho's Invasive Species Law

Idaho law states that any motorized or non-motorized boat operating in Idaho is required to display an Invasive Species Fund (ISF) sticker. When you purchase and display an ISF sticker, you contribute to a fund that provides vessel inspections, washing stations and informational materials that will assist Idaho with preventing the introduction of aquatic invasive species like quagga mussels.

WHAT VESSELS NEED TO HAVE THE STICKER?

Any watercraft coming in from out of state that is not registered in the state of Idaho.
Any watercraft including, but not limited to; boats, canoes, kayaks, stand up paddleboards, rafts, etc.
Registered watercraft in the state of Idaho have the invasive species sticker included in the registration. The invasive species sticker must be visible on watercraft.

WHAT VESSELS ARE EXEMPT FROM PURCHASING THE STICKER?

To be exempt, watercraft need to meet ALL of the following criteria:

Less than 10ft in length.
Non-motorized.
Inflatable.

For Frequently Asked Questions and other information about the Invasive Species Program, please visit the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.

Purchase Invasive Species Fund Stickers

Boaters can purchase ISF stickers online, at any Idaho State Park or at specific vendors.

Invasive species are harmful, non-native plants, animals, and pathogens that damage our economy and environments. Invasive species can move into and dominate both natural and managed systems by disrupting the ability of those systems to function sustainably. They are highly competitive, persistent, and can create monocultures that will eliminate Idaho’s diverse biological landscape—a landscape that nurtures Idahoan interests from our recreational pursuits to our ability to help feed the nation.