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AW's Safety Program
Safety has been a core issue for AW since 1954, and today we are leaders in accident analysis and safety education based on that research. We regularly advise legislative bodies and river managers on the best ways to educate whitewater users, which helps everyone enjoy our rivers safely. Formal risk management is part of all our programs enhancing safety and reducing liability risks for all.
TheAccident Database is a comprehensive collection and analysis of whitewater accidents and close calls. This analysis provides the foundation for the AW Safety Code which outlines whitewater safety guidelines applicable to all skill levels.
Report an Accident: We ask all witnesses to submit their own accounts. If you have a correction about an accident please email ccwalbridge@cs.com. If you have questions or comments about any accident please post them on the AW Safety Forum or email the safety committee.
CAUTION: This database, while extensive, is not complete. A significant number of accidents are not reported to us. Confusion often results when people interpret the data without assistance from the American Whitewater Safety Committee. For example, accidents we tag as “commercial” include guided raft tours, kayak schools, and canoe liveries. They also include programs run by schools, camps, colleges, and by rangers at local, state, and national parks. Our numbers, therefore, will probably not agree with organizations which focus on one of more of these subgroups.
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Accident Database: Recent Accidents
Public Submissions (Initial reports not yet confirmed by AW Safety Committee)
| Country | State | River | Section | Date | Victim | Reported On | Reported By | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | NC | Wilson Creek | C) The Gorge: National Forest sign to parking area above Brown Mtn. Beach | 2010-03-16 | Martin Talbot | 2010-03-18 | Read More | |
| United States | OR | Willamette River | Near Springfield, OR | 2010-03-07 | Unidentified Man | 2010-03-10 | Read More | |
| United States | NH | Exeter River | In Raymond, NH | 2010-03-01 | Cassandra Ray | 2010-03-09 | Read More | |
| United States | AR | Big Piney Creek (4) Long Pool Campground to Hwy 164 | 4) Long Pool Campground to Hwy 164 (4.4 miles) | 2010-02-11 | Read More | |||
| Argentina | 2009-12-14 | Rush Sturges | 2010-02-08 | Read More | ||||
| United States | NC | Green River | The Narrows | 2009-07-26 | Jordan Finke | 2010-01-31 | Read More |
Accidents Since 1973
Accident Database: Search Results Found
Completed Safety Committee Reports
| Country | State | River | Section | Date | Injury | Victim | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA | Smith, S. Fork | Bridge near Big Flat Campground to confluence with Middle Fork | 2010-01-16 | Other | Three Men | Read More | |
| Anzu River | 2010-01-14 | Fatal | Chad Stoner | Read More | |||
| Carnoe River | 2009-12-13 | Sean McCarry | Read More | ||||
| River Dart | Between Dartmeet and Newbridge, on Dartmoor near Ashburton, Cornwall | 2009-11-22 | Fatal | Chris Wheeler | Read More | ||
| OK | Mountain Fork (2. Reregulation Dam to Hwy 70 | 2. Reregulation Dam to Hwy 70 (3 miles) | 2009-10-22 | Fatal | Bobby Ray Bohn Jr. | Read More |
Safety News
Open Innovation in the Paddlesport Community - Survey
A research program initiated by the MIT Sloan School of Management (USA) and Copenhagen Business School (Denmark) seeks to study open innovation in sport communities.
Dealing with Sudden Death
Sudden death is a charged emotional event, often compounded by trauma among those who witness a drowning accident or try to rescue or resuscitate someone. Few people realize how little time you have for a successful drowning rescue. The sad facts are that unless a drowning person is pulled out within 6-10 minutes of going under, their chances are almost zero. Anger or displaced anger towards rescue and recovery efforts are not unusual. Excellent Resources for managing sudden death grief and trauma can be found on the Higgins & Langley website. These pamphlets, created by the Royal Hospital Foundation in Belfast, Northern Island, can be downloaded as needed
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Boating Beta
Keep this number for assistance in the Great Smoky Mountains Nation Park - (865) 436-1230. This number connects to the Park Dispatch Office and should be used in non-emergency situations. For boaters who regularly paddle in the Park it is advisable to program the number in your cell phone.
Guided Rafting Accident Statistics
Strainers, Large Woody Debris, Removal, and Ecology
Strainers, filters, sweepers, log sieves, log jams, do you have a chill running down your spine
yet? Logs are generally disliked by boaters; their importance to the ecosystem is completely
misunderstood; they are removed whenever possible; and if one is ever implicated in the injury or
death of a human it is ceremoniously destroyed. Here are some considerations to think about before
removing a log for safety, or prior to placing one in the stream for fish habitat.
Safety News
Safety Links
Safety Links