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Shearwater River Rafting: Safety
& Quality
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Your safety is of the
utmost importance. Shearwater is the longest established rafting operator
since 1985 and by far the most popular. Over 250 000 passengers have
experienced the pleasure of rafting with us. Shearwater Rafting is
the undisputed industry leaders in white water rafting, in that we
have consistently pioneered new techniques and initiated new standards. |
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Safety Briefing
A detailed safety briefing will be conducted before each trip. The
river guide for the trip explains what to do if the raft flips, how to
help each other out of the water and what conditions to expect. He
always gives the worst-case scenario so that people know what to expect
from the trip and, therefore, have the choice to forego their trip
after the safety talk. Once in the raft, you are instructed by your
guide as to how to negotiate the rapids and some practice is done
before you set off. You are also briefed before each rapid on how
the raft is expected to react.
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Guide Training
• Introduction
training program - 3 months
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On-river training refreshers - 3 monthly
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Compulsory First Aid refresher training - fortnightly
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Helicopter evacuation training with Medical Air Rescue Service - quarterly
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Individual guide assessments - annually.
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*Swift Water Rescue refresher training - monthly
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Shearwater Rafting have a full time Guide Training and Safety Officer
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Shearwater have their own qualified *Swift Water Rescue Technician
Instructors
Guides Experience and Qualifications
Our Shearwater Guides have a combined total of 39 years experience
between them. They are all qualified in Advanced First Aid and Level
1 of the Swift Water Rescue Technician Course (an Internationally
recognised river safety standard administered and controlled from
the USA.)
Quality and Equipment
All equipment used by Shearwater Rafting is in full compliance with
the recommendations made by :
• The
Rafting Association of Zimbabwe and Zambia (R.A.Z.Z.)
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Southern African Rivers Association (S.A.R.A.)
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The International Rafting Federation (I.R.F.)
Safety Techniques
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Shearwater Rafting makes every effort to use the most effective and
up to date river running techniques. We regularly ask independent
assessors to audit our trips and are seeking IRF approval for our
techniques.
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Shearwater Rafting employ safety techniques that meet and exceed the
recommended standards set by Rafting Association of Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Insurance Standards
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USD2,000,000.00 Public Liability Insurance in line with EU requirements
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MARS coverage for every single Shearwater Rafting Client.
Risk Management
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Shearwater Rafting have adopted the following risk management policy:
"We will not subject our clients to anything other than the minimum
risk"
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We demonstrated this in 1998 by becoming the first company to walk
around Rapid # 7 between water levels of 585mm and 630mm, in order
to remove any risk of injury to our clients from "The Gap"
International Recognition
Shearwater Rafting are recognised by, are affiliated to, or are full
and active members of :
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Rafting Association of Zimbabwe and Zambia
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South African Rivers Association
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International Rafting Federation
The minimum age limit is 15 years, provided that the life jacket can
fit adequately.
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