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Notes to Officials

Safety Provisions

  • First Aid Boxes are located at Race Control in the finish area, the Waterside Centre and on all launches. There is also an ambulance and doctor located next to upstream end of the main marquee.
  • The Upstream safety boat will moor at the finish when not patrolling
  • The Downstream safety boat will moor near the start when not patrolling.
  • Emergency ‘Phones are located at race control and the bar area. Help can also be summoned by contacting any official, or member of the Committee.

Emergency Action Plan

  • If there is an incident on the course during racing, the Umpire in charge of the race will assess the situation and where appropriate will ring the bell, wave a red flag and all racing will stop until the incident is cleared. The Safety of competitors, river users and the general public at large is the number one priority at all times.
  • If there is an incident between races in any area the nearest official will take control and determine the necessary action required. This can include the suspension of all racing / boating until the incident has been cleared.
  • Any official can ask the Starter to suspend racing due to an incident anywhere on the river.
  • In the event of lightning the ‘30-30 rule’ will be applied; all racing will stop, pa anouncements made and proper shelter taken. Racing will not recommence until at least 30 min utes have passed follwing the last lightning occurrence.
  • Racing will not continue unless safety boats are present on the course.
  • Only the Race Committee Chairman can authorise racing to re-commence.

Incident Anywhere on the river

1. Nearest Umpire or Official

  • a. Call for radio silence whilst the incident is dealt with. Halt all racing if required and any boat movement until the incident is cleared and ask the Starter via radio to suspend racing.
  • b. Call via radio the nearest safety boat and first aid. Notify all officials of incident via radio.
  • c. Conduct headcount to ensure no crew member is unaccounted for.
  • d. Complete Incident Report Form and return it at a suitable point to Race Control.

2. Umpires/Marshals

Inform all crews ‘We have temporarily suspended all racing due to an incident on the river’.

  • a. Start- Do not allow any further races to start until it is cleared.
  • b. Boating area - Do not allow boats to boat or travel towards the direction of the incident until it is cleared. If there has been a major incident, instruct boats to circulate away from it. The landing stages in the finish area should be used for any casualties requiring ambulance assistance.
  • c. If one of the safety boats or an umpires launch is bringing the casualty ashore, clear the space at the landing stage to allow the safety boat to land and access doctor/Red Cross ambulance facility.
  • d. Boat inspection- stop boating until incident is cleared. If the incident requires any additional ambulances to the one on site, they should be directed to go to the car park at the Waterside Centre which gives easy access to the boating area.
  • e. Race Committee Chairman- when incident is cleared, authorise the recommencement of racing.

3. Safety Boat

  • Attend incident.
  • If crew-member is able to re-boat, assist and take to the nearest area where this is possible ie bank or landing stage, if required.
  • Inform umpires when the crew-member is re-boated. Complete an incident form and return it to Race Control/Registration.
  • If patient requires first aid: take in safety boat to the landing stage at the finish. Notify doctor / Red Cross first during transit. Notify the officials of progress and report to Race Control when the incident has been taken off river. Complete an incident form.

4. First Aid

  • Attend landing stage if required. If additional ambulances are needed (dial 999 or 112) ask for ambulance service and instruct them to attend the "Wokingham Waterside Centre car park, Thames Valley Park, end of A3290, Reading, RG6 1PQ, Grid Ref; SU 736 740". Attend incident and fill in an Incident Report Form, returning the completed form to Race Control as soon as possible.

Incident in the Trailer Park / Boatng Area / Waterside CentreIncident in the Trailer Park / Boatng Area / Waterside Centre

  • Nearest official
  • If minor, direct to the Doctor / Red Cross in the boating area. If a major incident, call Doctor / Red Cross via radio, who will summon  /bring ambulance if required. Complete an incident form.

Reporting of incidents

  • Should an incident occur on the river or in the trailer / boating area witnessed by any official, crew etc, then these should be logged at the time on an incident reporting form. Copies of these forms will be at Race Control. These are to be filled in and returned to Race Control for the attention of the Water Safety Adviser as soon as possible on the day.

5 Emergency Telephone Numbers

Thames Valley Police - 999 for emergency
- 0845 8 505 505 for non emergency
Royal Berkshire Hospital - 0118 322 5111
Race Control & Safety - 07802 642482
Environment Agency - Incident hotline 0800 807060

Q A Knowlson
Safety Adviser - Reading Town Regatta Committee
29th April 2010