The Club’s safety policies encourage individual safety and the safety of those with whom you paddle.

Lower Columbia Canoe Club members sign a waiver indicating their understanding that at all times safety is an individual club member's responsibility. Nevertheless, the club does have some simple safety policies that are strictly followed. These policies encourage individual safety and the safety of those with whom you paddle. We ask everyone to follow them as if their life depends on them. In some circumstances, it could!

• PFDs ARE REQUIRED: PFDs (Personal Floatation Devices, i.e. life jackets) are to be worn and fastened at all times while on the water.

• NO ALCOHOL: No alcohol or marijuana are allowed before or during trips. After boats are out of the water and the paddling day is over, beverages can be consumed at your own risk.

• WAIVERS: Paddling with the LCCC requires signing the LCCC waiver. Non-members who paddle on club-sponsored trips must sign an LCCC Guest Waiver.

• MINIMUM NUMBER OF BOATS IS THREE: A minimum of three boats is required for LCCC whitewater trips. Any trip with fewer than three boats is NOT a club trip.

• HELMETS: Helmets are required to be worn for all rapids Class II and higher.

In practice, trip coordinators are not responsible for enforcing safety policies. Members are expected to know and practice them. In the interest of safety, trip coordinators may (but are not required to) screen participants for appropriate paddling skills for a planned trip, inspect boats for adequate floatation and no entangling lines, and may often conduct short reminders of the universal river signals and proper swimming technique. For more on water safety, the club recommends people download and read the American Whitewater Affiliate Safety Code.