River Safety

When crossing a stream or river t here is always a possibility that you will lose your footing, even if you follow all safety guidelines. 

• Stay as calm as possible. 

• As long as you have chose n a good crossing place, the current should take you towards your safe exit point. 

• If your hip belt is done up and the pack line r is sealed, your pack should help keep you afloat.

• Lean back on your pa ck facing downstream with your feet out in front of you. This allows you to see where you are going and avoid any obstacles, such as rocks or logs.

• Float with the current and use your arms and legs to propel you towards your safe exit point. 

• If your pack catches in an obstacl e, s lip the shoulder straps off and raise your arms to wriggle out of it.

Once you are safely on dry land, get warm and dry as quickly as possible. This may require pitching your emergency shelter and climbing inside your sleeping bag. Then eat someth ing high in fats and carbohydrates, such as chocolate or a muesli bar, and prepare a warm drink.

• Leave your footwear on to give you more stability and protect your feet.
• Remove any baggy clothing (like rainwear) and stow it in your pack to reduce drag.
• Undo the chest strap on your pack so you can slip it off easily if you need to.
• Keep your waist belt done up to keep the pack balanced. As long as your pack liner is sealed, it will help you keep afloat if you lose your footing.
• Clip your emergency communication device securely to your clothing so if you need to ditch your pack, you can still call for help.

• Keep side on to the current to reduce resistance.
• Keep your feet wide.
• Don’t lift your feet too much – take small shuffling steps.
• Move diagonally downstream, looking ahead to your exit point.
• For groups, always use the mutual support method.

A stream or river crossing can add another exciting and adventurous element to a trip with children. With many unbridged stream and river crossings on tracks across the motu, it provides the chance to introduce children to an essential tramping skill and an excellent learning opportunity about rivers hazards and importance of river safety. 

Given the potential dangers, a river crossing with children should not be taken lightly. It requires additional planning and safety considerations.

Planning a river crossing with children 

As well as following all river safety guidelines, when planning your trip with children you should also:

• Assess children’s abilities. Consider each child’s age, size, swimming ability and confidence around water when deciding whether a river crossing is appropriate.

• Check adults’ skills. Don’t consider a crossing if there aren’t enough adults with river crossing skills to provide physical support and guidance for each child. 

• Get everyone on board. Make sure everyone in the group feel s comfortable with a river crossing and talk about any worries or concerns.

• Teach the essentials. Children need an understanding of river safety before the trip. This includes signs of an unsafe river, how to find a safe place to cross, how to prepare for a crossing and how to cross safely. 

• Practice in the in the backyard. Run through the mutual support method and how to retreat so they know what to expect and can ask any questions they have. Make it fun as this will help them remember key details.

• Pack extra warm clothing, plenty of snacks and warm drinks . Children are generally more susceptible to the cold, so you’ll need to be prepared so everyone can warm up quickly after a crossing. 

Using the mutual support method with children 

The mutual support method is the safest way to cross with children. Solo crossing is potentially dangerous and strongly discouraged. 

• Put your strongest adult upstream to break the force of the water and another strong adult on the downstream end.

• Children should be positioned between adults to a max of five people ( three adults per two children). With larger groups, adults may need to make multiple crossings to get all children across safely. Before committing to a crossing

Once you arrive at the crossing, there are a few things to do before you decide it’s safe to cross.

• Check for signs of an unsafe river. Too fast? Too murky? Too messy? Too loud? If you answer “ yes ” to any of these questions – don’t cross. If in doubt, stay out.

• Check the water level. If the water is above a child ’s thigh, it is not safe to cross.

• Check the current. If the current is faster than normal walking pace, it is not safe to cross.

• Prepare for the crossing. Follow the river safety guidelines. This includes undoing the chest strap on children’s packs and leaving the waist belt done up how.

• Practice. Rehearse the mutual support method and how to retreat on dry land until everyone feels confident. 

Remember, if the river looks unsafe, conditions have changed or anyone in the group isn’t feeling comfortable, don’t cross.

The  safest way to cross a stream or river on your own is with a sturdy pole that’s about 2 metres long. It will provide extra stability, acting like a third leg. The pole could be a branch or stick that you find nearby. If you can’t find one, a trekking pole extended to its maximum length is another option.

Some trekking poles will not be suitable for a safe crossing. Before using this technique, check:

• Length: Can it extend to shoulder height?
• Strength: Will it hold firmly against the current?
• Durability: Is it strong enough to handle both your weight and the force of the water without snapping?

Top tips

• Test your trekking pole on land before entering the water.
• Remove the baskets, if fitted, as these can catch the current.
• If your trekking poles are lightweight, hold both poles together for added strength.

If you don't have a suitable pole or trekking pole, or you’re not comfortable crossing on your own, wait for another person to cross with or find a different route without a river crossing.

Solo crossing technique

• Hold the pole in both hands in front of your body as you enter the river.
• Plant the pole on the stream or riverbed at a 45 degree angle upstream and in front of your feet. Find a strong placement where it will not slip.
• Use the pole to help you balance as you carefully move one foot forward at a time.
• Once your footing is secure, move the pole forward again and repeat until you are at the far bank.
• If you need to retreat, reverse your grip on the pole and turn around slowly before heading back the way you came.

A stream or river may be unsafe to cross if it is flowing faster than walking pace, looks murky or dirty, carries logs or other items, or is loud with roaring water or rolling rocks. If you notice any of these signs, do not attempt to cross. The safest choice is always: if in doubt, stay out.

If a stream or river is unsafe, wait for the water level to drop. Set up your emergency shelter, let your emergency contact know you’ve been delayed, and use your Plan B route if needed. Never risk crossing a swollen or fast-moving stream or river, even if you are close to your destination.

If the stream or river is safe and you have the right skills, use proper crossing techniques. Keep your footwear on, undo your chest strap, and agree on an exit point before entering. Move side-on to the current and take small shuffling steps. For groups, use the mutual support method. Solo trampers should use a supporting aid for stability, like a sturdy branch or trekking pole.

Before your trip, identify any streams or rivers on your route and check that everyone in your group has the skills to cross safely. Always check the weather forecast, pack essential emergency gear, line your pack with a waterproof bag, and share your trip plan with a trusted contact. Having a plan B is essential in case the stream or river is too dangerous.