SINGAPORE ROWING ASSOCIATION     WATER SAFETY CODE     1.    Responsibilities of Association and its Affiliated Clubs   1.1  Every club should have at least one member who is a registered sra Safety Officer. It shall          be the duty of a Club Safety Officer to ensure that SRA Water Safety Code is implemented          by all members of the club.   1.2  Clubs shall display prominently the SRA Water Safety Code and any visual aids on water           safety,life saving or resuscitation procedure as may be provided by the SRA, or by other           organisations with the approval of SRA.   1.3  Club shall display the SRA Regulations for Rowing at each venue that is used by its          members for rowing.   1.4  A list of vital telephone numbers referable to water safety shall be displayed prominently in          rowing centre, to include:     Fire/Ambulance   995   Police   999            If there is no telephone readily available at the Rowing Centre,clear directions of the nearest           available telephone must also be displayed.   1.5  Safety and first aid equipment shall be readily available in the Clubhouse/Rowing Centre,          to include:   First Aid Chest(To be fully stocked and regularly checked)   Life rings/Buoys and lines   1.6  Clubs shall ensure that all equipment use for rowing and coaching is safe equipment.   1.7  Clubs shall ensure that all members who use rowing equipment hold valid SRA Authorised          Rower Cards issued by SRA and that they have passed the SRA Water Safety Test.   1.8  Clubs shall provide adequate instruction in watermanship and rowing technique, and adequate          supervision by coaches and experienced rowers, to ensure that no-one boating from the club          house/centre puts themselves at risk when on the water. This applies particularly to single           scullers and to juniors. Inexperienced coxswains should only be allowed out in boats with an          experienced oarsman rowing in the crew and in charge of it.   1.9  Clubs should treat the coaching of coxswains and their education in watermanship and good          safety procedures as being more important, from a safety aspect, than coaching oarsman          and scullers.   1.10 Clubs should take active steps to encourage members to become fully conversant with life-           saving and resuscitation procedure (CPR), by attending training courses and other appropriate         means. In particular it is highly desirable that the Club Safety Officer and all regular Club            Coaches should be so trained.   1.11  All cases of accident or mishap must be reported to SRA immediately.   2.    Safe Rowing Equipment          Rowing equipment should be maintained in good order to avoid user being put in danger on the         the water. Particularly attention should  be paid to the following points:   2.1   So far a practicable, boats and equipment should be stored in well-lit premises in such a way            that damage to boats and to people is avoided on removal and return.   2.2   When a boat is placed on the water, the crew or sculler should check that it is in safe condit-           tion and that the fittings are in good order:      a) check for leaks   b) check that boat decked are free of holes so that maximum buoyancy will be maintain       -ed if the boat sinks or capsizes.   c) check that corks or bulkhead seals are in position before leaving the store(especially        important with boats built of non -buoyant material such as aluminum or plastic:       such boats may need supplementary buoyancy):   d) check that riggers are securely attached and that moving parts(swivels, sliding seats,       stretchers) are in working order:   e) Coxwains and steersmen must always check that rudderlines, steering gear, rudders       and fins are in working order.   f)  Check that oars and sculls are in good condition, particularly that the button is firm        and the shaft of the blade free from damage.   2.3   Every boat must at all times carry firmly attached to its bows a white ball of not less than 4cm         diameter, made of rubber or material of similar consistency.   2.4   Where boats are fitted with shoes, these should be of the 'quick release' type. Make sure that           'quick release' mechanism work properly and give an immediate release when strain is put            upon them.Make sure that laces are properly in position and check that heels restraints are           fitted and effective. If a "velcro" grip has become worn,do not use leather thronging to hold             down quick release shoes-doing so will make them a trap for the rower if the boat capsizes.           Fit a new "velcro" grip at once. Novice should not go out in boats with fitted shoes.   2.5   If rough water is likely during an outing. It is recommended that a bailer and /or a sponge is          carried in the boat.   2.6   At the end of every outing, remove the corks or bulkhead seats and store them with the boat.   2.7   In order to ensure that equipment remains safe, a clear procedure should be set up in every           club/rowing centre whereby damage to equipment or failure in a boat is notified as soon as          possible to a responsible club official, and the defect repaired before the equipment required           again. It is recommended that damaged equipment should be clearly marked so that anyone           intending to use the equipment is made aware of the damage.   2.8   Any damage to equipment belonging to SRA must be notified to SRA immediately.   2.9   Clubs and National Coaches are recommended to organise monthly boat maintenance sess-             -ions when the active members and national athletes will clean and check all the boats they            use. Clean equipment is far more likely to be safe equipment and rowers who are made            personally responsible for the condition of the boats they use are far more likely to notice and           deal with wear and tear to equipment before it becomes potentially dangerous.   3.    Oarsmen and Scullers   3.1   All oarsmen and scullers shall satisfy the Club Safety Officer or SRA Safety Officer that they        are in good health and can swim a minimum of 50 metres in light clothing.   3.2   All oarsmen and sculler shall make themselves fully acquainted with SRA Water Safety          Code displayed in their club/venue and follow it all times.   3.3   No outing shall take place unless a SRA Safety Officer or a Coach is present and that the           Safety Officer/Coach is aware of the duration. Ideally a whiteboard should be provided so           such information may be recorded when no-one is available.   3.4   All active members should learn and practice capsizes and accident drills. It is very desirable          that they also learn life-saving and resuscitation procedure(CPR) .   3.5   Every time a rower take to the water, he should check that the condition of his boat and equip           -ment  is safe and follow correct club procedure if damage occurs during the outing.   3.6   Active members should be thought the correct way to remove and replace boats on the boat           racks, and the correct way to launch, embark and disembark, so that the risk of damage and          capsizing is reduced. All active members should continue to use correct procedure every time          they have an outing. Boats should be launched and brought back to shore in accordance to          the rowing centre practice.   3.7  Members starting to learn to row should not go on the water without a coach or more experie-          nced oarsmen present.   3.8   Although the coxswain of a crew has responsibility by his acts for the safety of that crew,           coxes by reason of youth or inexperience are often not in overall charge of the boat. Except           where a coxswain is mature and thoroughly experienced, it is essential that an experienced          member of the crew is in charge  and that  member is constantly aware of what is happen-          ing outside the boat to ensure that no accident occurs.   3.9   Single scullers (apart from beginners who are on the water under supervision) are solely and            fully responsible for their own safety, and must follow the appropriate procedure laid down           elsewhere.     4.    Coxes   4.1  Every coxswain shall satisfy the Club Safety Officer/SRA Safety Officer that he is in good          health and can swim 50 metres in light clothing.          N.B. This must be regarded as absolute minimum.   4.2   No-one is subject to epileptic fits or blackouts should cox the boat. In case of doubt, medical           advise must be obtained.   4.3   All coxswains should wear a life jacket of approved type at all times when on the water.   4.4   Coxswains should always dress suitably for prevailing conditions. Avoid bulky and heavy           clothing.   4.5   Coxswains often carry voice projection equipment or a radio link with the coach. In racing a           coxswain may have to carry deadweight. These items are to be attached to the boat and never         to the coxswain. Any link to the coxswain must be fitted with a quick release device.   4.6   Coxswains must learn the simple commands for boat control, both on and off the water, so that         they use them correctly, clearly and instinctively. They must also know and understand basic           commands used by other water users- e.g. port and starboard.