Personnel health and swimming ability

Personnel health and swimming ability

Your personal health

Rowing and its associated training can be a strenuous activity. You should therefore be in good health and have no medical or physical condition precluding heavy exercise.

If you have any doubt you should first consult your doctor.

Some conditions such as asthma and diabetes, for example, do not prevent individuals from participating in the sport, but you do have a duty to declare any condition that might put yourself or others at risk. Likewise, you have a duty to declare any change in personal health whilst a member of the Club that may put yourself or others at risk.

It is important therefore that you inform those around you, for example, coaches and crew members, of any condition they may have to deal with in the event of an emergency.

Your swimming ability

For your own safety, it is important that you are a competent swimmer. At a minimum, you must be able to swim 100 metres in light clothing. If you cannot meet this requirement you must wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid at all times when in a boat.

The club will annually hold swim tests and training in capsize procedures not only to demonstrate your competence but also your confidence under the water, swimming on your front and back, besides your ability to tread water. You are expected to attend these sessions.

(the above statement is based on the recommendation of British Rowing)

Safety procedures and club rules

The following Club procedures and rules apply and are to be read and adhered to by all members taking part in rowing and land training activities.

These procedures and rules are provided to minimise the risk to your safety and the safety of other members and river users. In addition, they provide means by which the equitable use of club equipment may be enjoyed by all.

First aid

The nature of Club training activities means that it is not possible to have first aid trained members available at all times. As an alternative the Committee has decided to maintain (and display on the Club’s Safety Notice Board) a list of members that have current first aid training. Applicants who are first aid trained (perhaps through their work) and are willing to be included on the Club’s list of first aiders, to act in that capacity should the need arise when they are at the Club, are requested to annotate their membership application accordingly, and to provide a copy of their course certificate to the Safety Advisor.

How you can help the club

The current membership at any time has a duty to do their bit for the club following on from all the bits done by previous members over the years. The revenue gained from the yearly membership fees just about covers the costs to keep the club open. All the boats and gym equipment you see around you come from external funding and fundraising, which is done by many members and club officials. So my plea to the current membership is to offer to help the club in any way you can.

This is your club so why not invite a friend to become an associate member and make our social functions and bar both successful and profitable, You could bring a friend to one of our social functions as a guest. Do you know someone or a business that would be prepared to sponsor the club, or a section of it, or the regatta with cash or in-kind? 

We need new members on the main committee, the social sub-committee and on the bar rota – if you are not involved in any of these areas are you willing to help in some way for the coming year. This year we must have new faces to help in all areas of the club – you can help your club.