Safety first when river tracing Things you should know before river tracing
Taiwan's mountain river gorges have beautiful scenery and river tracing has gradually become one of the most popular leisure activities. With the heat of summer coming, the Sports Administration appeals to the public to carefully choose a legal river tracing operator before engaging in river tracing activities; and be sure to confirm the safety of the water area and take proper safety protection measures before entering the water; by being more prepared, less danger will be faced, protecting your own safety and reducing accidents.
River tracing is also known as canyoning; it is a composite sport that involves going up or down in rivers and streams (gorges) and surrounding areas and technical climbing and abseiling depending on the terrain. During the activity, you can enjoy the beauty of nature and “masterpieces of the gods” landforms, therefore, it attracts many enthusiasts. However, river tracing activities can result in accidents due to the environment, weather interpretation, equipment, familiarity with water area terrain, etc. To maintain the safety of river tracing activities and protect the rights and interests of consumers, the Sports Administration invites local governments to check and guide river tracing operators in their jurisdictions every year, furthermore, an implementation plan is required to be submitted to the competent authority of the place where the activity is located for reference in advance; in addition, for such activities, a sufficient number of guides or safety personnel for river tracing should be allocated, equipment that meets safety standards should be worn, complete emergency response measures should be formulated, and sufficient public accident liability insurance should be taken out.
Summer vacation is the peak season for outdoor activities. Before participating in river tracing, the public should check the weather and pay attention to the changes of river flow at all times; check your equipment, including helmets, river tracing shoes and life jackets, and wear properly; carefully select a legal operator and pay attention to whether the life-saving equipment in the river tracing area is complete; remember safety movements and basic skills, avoid being left alone or walking alone during the activity, and pay attention to your physical condition and environmental conditions such as water flow, earth and rocks, and weather at all times; if dark clouds begin to gather over the upper reaches of rivers or streams (gorges), the water becomes turbid, thunder is heard, or showers begin to fall, follow the instructions of the river tracing guides to halt activities and evacuate to a safe area immediately to prevent accidents.
The Sports Administration stated that, in addition to the organizing unit purchasing public accident liability insurance for participants, the public can also consider the need to purchase personal insurance to protect their own rights and interests. To protect the natural environment, ecology and water resources, people participating in river tracing activities should also not throw away objects, trash or leftover food, to contribute to the sustainable development of the ecological environment.
