Rafting amid COVID-19: Guidelines - Draft

This document is a draft distributed for global review from 15 to 19 June 2020.
It is not ready for use. The text of this document will be reviewed, improved, formatted and designed
and it is expected to be published 23rd of June. If you have comments and suggestion use the
review template provided at: https://www.adventuretravel.biz/COVID19guidelines/

We’re on a Team
The COVID-19 pandemic has entered a new phase, travel is restarting, and travelers and
companies want to operate minimizing COVID-19 contamination risk. ATTA Activity Guidelines for
Adventure Travel have been developed between ATTA, Cleveland Clinic, and a cohort of operators.
These Guidelines provide additional, activity specific guidelines, to be used with the Safety
Management Framework of ATTA COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines for Adventure Travel.
Also, they should be used in conjunction with local, regional, and national official recommendations
and should never be less restrictive than those.

Rafting
As any activity, rafting has advantages and difficulties with strategies for minimizing COVID-19 risk
of transmission. While on one hand commercial rafting is not done by one individual (like trekking or
cycling) and requires a small group and a guide to be in proximity, on the other hand it is done in
small groups (each raft), people are being splashed and washed often in a completely ventilated
space.

1. TRANSMISSION BARRIERS

a. Social distancing and face coverings:

i. Small groups should be favored. Whenever a rafting operation involves more

than one boat, each boat should be run as a ‘unit' from start to finish
(preparation, activity, and finish of tour) to minimize exposure to other people.

ii. Favor doing crews with FIT groups or Family units. If it is a group of
strangers, by maintaining a constant crew and client arrangement in the
boats, exposure is reduced.

iii. When outfitting and briefing prior or at the end of the tour, a distance of more
than two-meters and open or well ventilated spaces should be used. If that is
not possible, clients and guides should wear face coverings.

iv. When dressing and undressing before and after the tour, scheduling and
spacing of areas should be done so distancing (more than 2 meters and
ventilated spaces) happens consistently. If that is not possible, face coverings
should be worn.

v. When paddling down the river in rafts it's impractical to practice distancing, so
face coverings should be used.

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vi. The face coverings used should stay on the face during splashing and not get
damaged by water - for example well tied synthetic or cotton face masks,
neck gaiters or Buffs.

vii. During loading, unloading, handling gear and in shared transportation face
coverings should be used.

viii. Confirm that guests and staff do not have symptoms of COVID-19 and meet
your screening criteria to participate, e.g. asking about signs and symptoms
or checking temperature.

b. Instruction and briefing

i. Set really clear standards for COVID-19 health and safety measures.

ii. Adapt your briefing to avoid the need to get close to clients, and to increase
clients independence on basic tasks when that is possible, for example PFD
and helmet fitting, throw bag grabbing, etc.

c. At the boat ramp and on river:

i. Arrive at the ramp with everything ready so your group does not linger in a
public shared place. Maintain each crew with their gear, by their boat, and
launch and land efficiently.

ii. Stagger launching and landing times with other boats and companies to
prevent sharing public spaces.

iii. Adapt the group and personal equipment handling to maintain social
distancing in between people and to avoid people touching surfaces and
other gear. For example, from the moment a client is outfitted with their
personal gear at briefing, they are the only ones handing that gear

iv. On the river, establish and maintain boat spacing so necessary distancing
between paddlers is accomplished (two-meters). If stopping in eddies, for
lunch, etc, also consider eddy and beach size and spacing to promote
distancing.

v. When loading & unloading or portaging, prevent potential for cross

contamination of handled boats by either having a designated crew unload
boats after washing hands, or each crew handles their boat, etc.

vi. Any person that is external to the raft group needs to be considered. Often
people come to socialize and chat on boat ramps or on the river - remember
they might not know or be following the same health and safety standards
that your group.

d. Rescues & Assistance

i. Minimize or avoid unnecessary swims if the swimmer is not able to climb back
on the boat on their own. Advise swimmers not to wear face masks in the
water.

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ii. If the situation is low risk, favor (teach and brief) swimmers' self-rescues - e.g.
climbing back on the boat or going to shore (or a rock) and reboarding.

iii. If the situation is low risk, your group is a FIT group or family unit, prioritize
(teach and brief) so they can be the main helper.

iv. To lower the risk associated with rescues, consider lowering the possibility of
swims. Consider changing the lines you do on some rapids, not surfing and
thrashing in powerful holes, etc.

v. If it should be necessary to pair up strangers for rescue practices (or other

activity), they should be paired up for the entire day, as opposed to rotating
with other strangers.

vi. In case of first aid, some distancing methods need to be adapted or cannot be
used. Use PPE's (mask, gloves, etc) and think about altering evacuation
procedures to mitigate COVID-19 risks.

2. EQUIPMENT

Enhancing sanitation is a key part of mitigating COVID-19 risk. Equipment should be clearly marked
to avoid mix ups and everyone should transport their own equipment, and keep it separated from
the equipment of other paddlers. When at all possible, paddlers should avoid swapping boats and
sharing equipment.

a. Each guide and client should have their individual kit - PFD's, helmets and clothing
(e.g. neoprene, splash tops).

b. All equipment needs to be sanitized before another person uses it. That can be
achieved with resting time or proper COVID-19 cleaning methods.

c. Clean equipment and individual gear needs to be handled and stored in a sanitary
way to prevent unintentional contamination (e.g. inside plastic bags, tagged and
handled by people who've specifically washed hands).

d. Guests need to size and choose equipment without handling.

e. Group gear (e.g. rafts, throw ropes, rescue equipment, etc) should be sanitized each
time it's used.

f. Returns and Cleaning Stations

i. Use only the proven and recommended methods for cleaning and sanitizing
COVID-19 (such as waiting enough time in between uses, soap and water or
bleach solutions), and follow the recommended times and methods.

ii. Individual gear that is worn (e.g. PFD, helmet, neoprene, splash tops, sun
guards, etc) should be washed. Surface wiping is not sufficient.

iii. Hard gear that is handled (e.g. boats and paddles) can be rested, washed or
wiped.

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g. Equipment used that is returned after being used should be considered and treated
as contaminating material until it is sanitized. Personal cleaning gear needs to
exercise proper body isolation (e.g masks).

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Annex 1 - Managing Symptoms

As your staff return to work and you start to receive tourists, they may still have concerns about
possible exposure to COVID-19 — and how to tell the difference between symptoms of the virus
and other common illnesses. It is important to educate your employees about the symptoms of
COVID-19. These resources will help you and your workers not only recognize what symptoms to
look for, but how to manage any situation where they have symptoms.

What Symptoms Should I Be Watching For?

Patients with confirmed infection with COVID-19 reported these respiratory symptoms (as of May
12, 2020):

● Cough
● Shortness of Breath or Difficulty of breathing
● Fever
● Chills
● Muscle Pain
● New loss of taste or smell
● Sore throat
● Other less common symptoms:
● Nause, vomiting, diarrhea

Symptoms can range in severity from very mild to severe. In about 80% of patients, COVID-19
causes only mild symptoms. For an up-to-date list of symptoms, please consult the CDC’s website.

How do I handle an employee who has What should I do if an employee has been
symptoms or becomes ill at work? exposed to someone who has COVID-19?

Follow these steps if one of your employees Follow these procedures for employees who
begins having suspected COVID-19 have been exposed to someone but don’t
symptoms or feels ill during the work day: have symptoms:

› Immediately separate the employee who is
ill from other workers, customers and visitors.
› Send the employee home and instruct them
to follow-up with a healthcare provider for
appropriate testing and treatment.
› Close off all areas that the ill employee was
using.
› Refer to the CDC guidance for cleaning and
disinfecting your building when someone is
sick.
› Screen all of your employees for
temperature and symptoms when they arrive
at work each day.
› Perform regular self-monitoring as outlined
by your occupational health program.
› If not already required, ensure affected
employees wear face masks in the workplace
for 14 days from the date of the exposure.
› Maintain physical distance guidelines of at
least 6 feet from others in the workplace.
› Disinfect and clean works spaces, especially
shared spaces and equipment.