Risks of Cold Water Immersion
Cold water immersion is often the most difficult variable to account for, and is usually the most dangerous aspect of the trips we run. In Western Washington, the average river temperature during a whitewater rafting trip is around 45 degrees. This is a serious consideration, and one that changes the way that we run the river, as to prevent unnecessary cold water immersion. This is why the percentage of swimmers on a Triad trip is often 3 times less than our competitors. We train our guides to a much higher level of competency, and are much more conservative with our meticulous safety protocols.
It is important to take cold water seriously, and on each of our whitewater trips it will be a focal point of your safety orientation. Do not take cold water lightly, and make sure that you come to the river aware and prepared for the dangers. Here are our steps to help protect against the dangers of cold water immersion while rafting in the beautiful Cascade Mountains:
We offer rentals of 3mm wetsuits as a vital line of defense against hypothermia. Our NRS wetsuits are made with an environmentally responsible fabric that provides superior insulation. Unlike many of our competitors, our wetsuits are washed and disinfected between each use, and are in good condition.
We carry with us on each trip a hypothermia kit, equipped with specific gear that will protect us from hypothermia.
All safety protocols include specific evacuation procedures that can be utilized in case someone needs to be treated for hypothermia.
All of our guides are trained to recover flips as quickly as possible, and our protocols are designed often with safety boaters involved to get you out of the water as soon as possible. Unlike many of our competitors, our safety record is impeccable when it comes to our guests spending as little time as possible in the river.
We do not stop on the side of the river for long periods of time, and all of our trips are designed with your safety in mind. This is why there is little “down time” on a Triad trip where you could get cold.
