Determine On Water Communications Prior To Departure

By Nick Pritchard

On water communications are an essential part of group trips. Whether the group is you and a friend or the whole family, on water communications ensure that everyone will be able to understand what is going on because many times talking/yelling is not effective. So to solve this problem some universal signals have been developed. Some groups may add a few of their own signals to the universal signals but either way everyone in the group should know the universal signals, this allows you to communicate with other parties on the river.

The universal signals are a made up of paddle/hand signals and whistle signals.

The paddle/hand signals are:

• Signal: Paddle/arm vertical, pointing straight up
• Purpose: "Go Ahead", "Come On Down", "All Clear", "Straight Ahead"
• Signal: Paddle/arm at a 45 degree angle to left or right
• Purpose: "Go In The Direction Which I'm Pointing" 
• Note: You should never point towards an obstacle, point where you want the paddler to go.
• Signal: Paddle/arms horizontal, parallel to the ground
• Purpose: "Stop" or "Wait Where You Are" 
• Note: When you get this signal there may be an unexpected hazard downstream or maybe the rescues are not set-up yet so you need to catch an eddy or stay in the one you're in.
• Signal: Paddle/arms waving back and forth
• Purpose: "Emergency" or "I Need Help"
• Note: This person obviously needs help so you should get to them as quickly as possible without endangering yourself or other group members.
• Signal: Two taps on the top of your helmet
• Purpose: "Are You OK?", "I'm OK"
• Note: This signal is both the question and the answer, if you do this to another paddler you are asking them if they are OK and if they are they should respond by returning the signal.

The whistle signals are a little bit more variable than the paddle/hand signals.

They are:

• Signal: Three short whistle blasts
• Purpose: "Emergency" or "I Need Help"
• Note: This signal never changes. It is internationally recognized as the universal signal for distress. It does not have to be whistle blasts either, while on the river that's most likely what you'll have. It could be three gunshots, three flashes of a light, three anything indicates distress.
• Signal: One short whistle blast
• Purpose: "Attention", "Look At Me", "Next Boat"
• Note: This signal could mean other things but it is most commonly used to either get the attention of the group. It may also be used if you are in a situation where can't see the end of a rapids, to signal the next boat that you made it through and they can come through.
• Signal: Two short whistle blasts
• Purpose: "Raft Up", "Attention" 

There are many different signals out there and each group may have some different ones so it is important that before you push off everyone in the group is familiar with the signals that will be used during the trip. If you would like to see some more hand signals that may be used on the river click here. 

Feel free to ask us if you have any questions!