ACA ACA Rescue Techniques & Swift Water 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a 'pin kit' in ACA swift water rescue instruction?
- A sewing kit for repairing spray skirts in the field
- A set of tools including pulleys, carabiners, and rope systems used to extract pinned boats (Correct answer)
- A first aid kit specifically for puncture wounds
- Anchor pins for setting up rope rescue systems on bare rock
Correct answer: A set of tools including pulleys, carabiners, and rope systems used to extract pinned boats
A pin kit contains mechanical advantage systems (pulleys, carabiners, ropes) used to extract kayaks or canoes that have become pinned against rocks in current.
Question 2: In ACA swift water rescue, what does a 'Z-drag' system accomplish?
- A zig-zag paddling line through technical rapids
- A pulley system providing approximately 3:1 mechanical advantage to extract pinned boats (Correct answer)
- A downstream ferry technique for crossing fast currents
- A rope configuration for guiding swimmers through hydraulics
Correct answer: A pulley system providing approximately 3:1 mechanical advantage to extract pinned boats
A Z-drag is a simple rope and pulley system that provides approximately 3:1 mechanical advantage, making it much easier to extract a pinned boat from powerful current.
Question 3: What is the ACA-recommended action when a paddler's foot becomes entrapped in a river?
- Stand up and walk to shore
- Lean downstream, go limp, and try to float feet-first to free the foot (Correct answer)
- Fight the current aggressively to stand up
- Signal for help and remain stationary to avoid worsening the entrapment
Correct answer: Lean downstream, go limp, and try to float feet-first to free the foot
A foot-entrapment victim should lean downstream with the current and go limp to reduce pressure and use the flow to help free the trapped foot rather than fighting against it.
Question 4: What is 'vector pull' as a rescue technique in ACA swift water instruction?
- A direct tug-of-war between rescuers and a pinned boat
- Applying lateral force to a taut rope perpendicular to the main load to create mechanical advantage (Correct answer)
- Swimming diagonally across current using body angle
- A technique for aligning multiple rescuers in a chain pull
Correct answer: Applying lateral force to a taut rope perpendicular to the main load to create mechanical advantage
A vector pull applies force perpendicular to a taut line, using the geometry of the angle to multiply pulling force and redirect a pinned boat without a separate pulley system.
Question 5: During a capsize in a closed cockpit kayak, what is the ACA-recommended first action?
- Immediately wet exit by pulling the spray skirt loop
- Attempt a wet or hand roll before wet-exiting (Correct answer)
- Remain in the kayak and signal for help
- Remove PFD to swim more freely
Correct answer: Attempt a wet or hand roll before wet-exiting
ACA teaches paddlers to first attempt a roll to right the kayak before wet-exiting, preserving the paddler's position in the boat and avoiding unnecessary swimming.
Question 6: What is a 'contact rescue' in ACA swift water terminology?
- Rescue achieved by throwing equipment only, without physical contact
- A rescue where the rescuer physically contacts the victim to provide support or extraction (Correct answer)
- Emergency contact notification procedures
- Radio-coordinated multi-team rescue operations
Correct answer: A rescue where the rescuer physically contacts the victim to provide support or extraction
A contact rescue involves direct physical contact between the rescuer and victim, typically in situations where a reach, throw, or boat rescue was insufficient.
ACA ACA Rescue Techniques & Swift Water 2
What is the purpose of a 'pin kit' in ACA swift water rescue instruction?