- Wear a life jacket properly fitted to your body and appropriate for the water you are paddling.
- Ensure all PFD’s have an audible signaling device, i.e whistle.
- Check the weather, understand 4 W: Wind speed, Water temp, Weather full forecast, Wave height.
- Know before you go for the duration of your trip the 4 Ws and bring clothing/gear appropriate for the 4Ws.
- Let someone responsible know before you go the who, what, where, when, what of your trip plan. Who is going, description of What are they paddling, Where are you paddling, put in and take out, When you will launch and expected time off the water, What to do if you don’t check in.
- Bring food and water appropriate for the duration of the trip.
- Wear environmentally friendly sunscreen.
- Leave drinking of alcohol or use of drugs off the water.
- Be courteous to other paddlers and to landowners.
- Respect private property along Texas Rivers.
Pre-Trip Preparation
Provide a WEATHER ASSESSMENT to everyone in group for duration of trip. Share what to do in case of bad weather.
| Wind Direction & Speed | Water Temperature | Flow Rate |
| Forecast for trip duration | Air Temperature | 125 degree rule |
| Wave Height & Interval | Weather App | Wave/Wind App |
GROUP MANAGEMENT
- Float Plan: the who, what, where, when of your planned paddle. File with Group Emergency contact person, if in a park or remote area, file with the jurisdiction authority (Park Ranger, BLM, county sheriff, etc)
- Include names, gender, age of participants
- Description of what each participant is paddling, color, type of boat
- Detail launch and takeout locations, all planned stops along the way with start and expected end times
- Identify Roles & Responsibilities
- Ensure Trip Leader and Sweep are identified and understood by all participants
- Communicate to each participant what their role is and what to do in case of on water emergency