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COVID-19

As of October 2021, Covid restrictions have been relaxed and pool sessions will operate as normal.

PCC July Extra Paddle Rules and Restrictions during Covid19

As government Covid19 restrictions have been eased, we can finally begin to get back out on the water as a club again! The committee have been working hard to prepare the appropriate risk assessments along with planning how to proceed, all be it currently in a limited capacity, We are hopeful that restrictions will ease further and we will be able to add more sessions or more members to the sessions.

The club covid19 risk assessment is available here: COVID-19 Risk Assessment 

PCC regular paddling rules can be found here: http://www.paigntoncanoeclub.org.uk/ClubRules.html

Please read and familiarise yourselves with them both.

Important: By attending club paddles and events members agree that they have read, understood and will abide by all PCC rules including the new rules with regard to paddling and Covid19 restrictions

·         The new program will commence on Tuesday 14^th of July and will continue each Tuesday until October, or there is a change in the social distancing measures. Each Tuesday session will comprise 3 groups, consisting of 2-5 members and a designated (by the committee) leader, each group will meet at a different location and those attending will need to be ready with all kit to launch at 7.15pm.

·         Official PCC paddles are for members only.

·         The trip details and the trip leader will be advertised online and by email when they have been planned (usually 2 weeks in advanced) members will need to get in contact with the leader of the trip they wish to attend to book their place.  If there is no space on any trip available, then priority will be given to those members who have missed out, on the next week’s trips.

·         Do not attend if: you have not booked a place; are displaying any covid19 symptoms; are ill in any way or if you feel attendance will place yourself or any others at an unacceptable risk.  Those showing covid19 symptoms will be asked to leave.

·         Weather or not an official PCC paddle will go ahead; who may attend and group dynamic will be entirely at the discretion of the trip leader, paddles may be cancelled at any time.

·         Groups should be carefully assessed before any trip takes place.  Group shows no signs that a member is uncomfortable in a boat and the conditions and trip are well within the capabilities of all group members.

·         All paddlers in a group to stay together, unless group leader agrees to a split.  A split group should contain no fewer than three people, with a designated leader taking all the responsibilities of group leader set out in club rules and Covid-19 Risk Assessment.  The need for a group to be able to keep together may be a consideration when the Group Leader is selecting people for a trip.

·         Club kit will not be officially available to borrow or hire.

·         Car sharing with others who are not in the same household as you is not advised and for this reason all trips will start and finish at the same location.

·         Members will need to use their own kit and make sure that their kit and skills will be satisfactory for the trip planned.  Boats will need to have a minimum length of 1 metre from the seat to each end. In practice this is most kayaks except playboats.

·         Kit must not be shared on trips.

·         Members will need to be able to put on and take off their own spray-deck and perform any other activity (excluding emergency situations) without the assistance of others, if that assistance will result in the reduction of 1metre social distance.

·         Physical assistance to get on or off the water and to lift boats on and off cars and to and from the water is acceptable as long as a distance of 2 metres (or briefly 1 metre) is maintained between people. 

·         Kit should be washed down before it is handled by any second person or if not practicable; members should immediately wash and sanitize their hands after handling any kit that has been handled by others.

·         Members are advised to not touch their face during club paddles.

·         On-the-water activities will obviously have to take a dramatic change with social distancing measures being strictly adhered to.  In practice this involves maintaining a distance of 2 metres (roughly the length or most kayak paddles) at all times, which may be reduced to 1m for short periods of time.

·         The current measures and risk assessment mean that the need for  any member of the group to carry out a deep water rescue should be treated as an emergency and every effort should be made to prevent the need for this to arise.

·         Rescue training should not be carried out except for groups from the same household, where they would be expected to assist each other, rather than another group member having to intervene. Rolling practice, wet exit practice and rescue practice where a social distance of 2 metres is maintained, can take place within easy and safe swimming distance of a safe access to the shore (e.g a slip way or a beach) where any failed attempt would result in the paddler self-rescuing  by swimming to shore.

·         If a group shows signs that a member or members are uncomfortable or wobbly it is advised to stay within swimming distance of the shore, allowing a self-rescue to be carried out if needed.

·         Tow line, hand sanitizer, first aid kit, light and phone should be carried by leaders and it is recommended that all group members carry them as well.   Every effort should be made to utilise these to aid in a rescue as a first response to a rescue.  For example, clipping a tow line to the swimmers’ boat, while the swimmer holds their boat and is assisted to shore.

·         If a full deep-water rescue must be carried out this should first be attempted by a member of the swimmer’s same household. If this cannot be achieved, we ask that the coach/leader to step in, rather than nominating another member of the group, as long as group safety can be maintained. Contact should be as brief as possible and the rescuer should attempt to face away from the swimmer while their boat is being supported.

·         Recommend all members bring their own hand sanitizer product to club events to be used when appropriate.

·         If possible, leaders should designate a meeting area for briefings

·         All members are advised to follow all public health instructions https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/news/covid-19-coronavirus

·         Members attend all PCC trips and events entirely at their own risk.