As part of its monthly safety bulletin, USRowing’s Safety Committee will be responding to questions it has gotten in an effort to share answers with all members/clubs and so that discussion can be started. If you have a question for the safety committee, please e-mail it to Willie Black at willieb@usrowing.org.

Since the ice is breaking early this year, the rush is on to get hit the water even though the air and water temperature may still be very cold. Now is a great time to go over safety and emergency procedures at your clubs and boathouses to ensure that everyone is on the same page and understands the risks of cold weather rowing.

Tip of the Month:  No matter how good of a rower you are, having a life jacket in your small boat is a great idea when the water temperature is low. Also, it’s a good idea to have a cell phone in a waterproof case attached to your boat in case you need emergency assistance. This is especially true if you are rowing without a coaching launch close by.

Question of the Month: I recently read a string of messages relating to safety meetings and thought it would be a good idea for our club. I was wondering if any of you can suggest some topics or an agenda.

Answer: We suggest that, before your crews and scullers go back on  the water, they become familiar with the safety issues surrounding your particular body of water and area. We like clubs and schools to set policies that cover matters such as the use of a log book (a must if your club allows members to row alone) and cold weather/cold water rowing limits, as well as other weather issues like lightning, wind, and fog. Re-entering a capsized boat is a valuable lesson for all scullers to learn, and it’s a good thing to review at the beginning of each season. Clear maps of the body of water should be easily accessible and should include hazards, traffic pattern, current flow direction if applicable, and emergency areas to land if bad weather or accidents occur while practicing.

Posting the USRowing Safety poster next to the map of your body of water will reinforce the safety policies of your club as well. The USRowing Safety Video is a great way to get your novices started, and it is available in both VHS and DVD format. There are many regional safety committees that have rules for their region. Some have a mandatory meeting for all coaches and coxswains before they are allowed to go on the water each season. Two good safety sources include the Schuylkill Navy in Philadelphia (http://www.boathouserow.org/safety_rules.pdf), which outlines its safety guidelines, and the Potomac River Safety Committee (Washington, D.C.), which has a thorough coverage of safety concerns for its body of water and safety in general. You can find them at http://www.w-lcrew.org/safety/safety.html.

The USRowing Safety Committee recommends that safety issues be a regular topic for an annual club meeting, as well as regional coaches’ meetings. Club representatives also might want to talk to the group (fire, police, etc.) that would most likely be the first responders if you had a problem and familiarize them with your set-up.

In addition to this monthly safety bulletin, please visit USRowing’s safety section on the Web site. This month’s safety lesson, Learning a Hard Lesson the Easy Way, was written by University of Wisconsin women’s head coach Bebe Bryans. It can be found at: http://www.usrowing.org/Safety/SafetyFeatures/hardlesson.aspx.