May 2021: Promoting the packrafting “Culture of Safety”

What is the “Culture of Safety”?

The packrafting Culture of Safety is an effort to normalize safety. We want it to be normal to wear a life vest, paddle at appropriate water levels, seek training, and feel comfortable pointing out dangerous outfitting or habits that you notice at the put-in.

I wrote The Packraft Handbook to serve as a common framework as we develop our Culture of Safety. Check out my Zoom presentation for the American Packrafting Association to learn about this strategy.

Use and follow these tags in the month of May:

#cultureofsafety
#packraftsafety
#thisispackrafting

Why Now?

People are listening. Between hype for the forthcoming The Bikeraft Guide and The Packraft Handbook, and crawling out from COVID, the global community is HUNGRY for this information. Manufacturers and safety instructors are currently overwhelmed with demand.

What’s the Goal?

No packrafting fatalities in 2021. The last packrafting fatality was in May of 2020. We’ve gone 12 months; let’s close out the year.

How do I Enter to Win the Prizes?

To be eligible for drawings: participate … and join/update your eligibility on the Things To Luc At mailing list.

Participate by joining the #cultureofsafety conversation and enter to win sweet prizes.

There are many ways to join the conversation:

• Create content: Ask questions, make short videos, etc.
• Engage: Respond to questions, provide resources, etc.
• Share: Share #cultureofsafety resources each week and let folks know about The Packraft Handbook!

Prizes

• Alpacka Raft: Custom-designed salmon Classic packraft. Size medium, you pay shipping from Alaska, can be international (female-identifying or non-binary only).
• Hyperlite Mountain Gear: Backpack (US-only)
• Anfibio Packrafting: Accessories bundle … AirSail, pump, skeg, leash! (Eu-only)
• Aqua-Bound: Four-piece Whiskey fiberglass paddle
• Revelate Designs: Harness and Egress Pocket bundle
• Packraft Europe: Store credit (Eu-only)
• Backcountry.Scot: Enrollment in safety course (UK-only)
• Four Corners Guides: The Bikeraft Guide (US-only)
• Yukan Canoe: 200 CAD credit toward packraft course (Whitehorse, Canada)
• Big Agnes: Sidewinder +20 sleeping bag

The Plan: Weekly Themes

Each week of May will be dedicated to a content theme. The themes match the organization of The Packraft Handbook.

Brands, instructors, and individuals are encouraged to create and share insights, products, resources, questions, and answers relevant to the weekly theme.

I assume most of this messaging will take place on social media, but please use whatever mediums you have access to. Make this personal and run with it. Don’t hesitate to use this to drive awareness of your products or services. This is meant to be a horizontal organization: everyone contributing as they feel fit.

Week of May 3rd:
Foundations

• Getting started
• Equipment (outfitting hazards)
• Boat control, fit
• Basic paddle strokes, edging
• Wet re-entry (self-rescue)
• Learning and how to progress

Week of May 10:
Rivers and Open Water

• How rivers work (discharge, gradient, etc.)
• River running
• Open-water crossings
• Hazards specific to rivers and open water
• Conservation efforts

Week of May 17:
When Things Go Wrong

• Rescue
• Repair
• Medical emergencies
• Close-calls
• Lessons learned

Week of May 24:
Putting the Pack in Packrafting

• Carrying cargo (bikepacking, etc.)
• Backpacking equipment
• Camping (Leave No Trace)
• Trip research and planning

The Tone

I think it is important to keep this messaging inclusive … call people in (celebrate what is done right) rather than calling people out for mistakes. Celebrate questions and find ways to be constructive with criticism.

Thanks all, let’s do this!

The Packraft Handbook

Intended to provide a common framework as we build our Culture of Safety… order yours!