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Rowing club emergency response plan: what to include

When something goes wrong, the plan has to work in the first two minutes, for whoever happens to be there.

By Civil Digital, the team building BoatLog · Last updated

BoatLog is independent software from Civil Digital. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by British Rowing or any organisation named in this guide. Always check the current official guidance and follow your club's own procedures.

What to include

  • Who is on the water: the first question in any emergency.
  • Who to call: 999 (ask for the coastguard on tidal or coastal water), then named club contacts.
  • Where help can get in: the club's address, postcode, what3words or grid references for the boathouse and access points along the stretch.
  • Kit and where it is: first aid, defibrillator, throw lines, blankets, launch keys.
  • What happens afterwards: looking after people, informing next of kin, and reporting the incident to British Rowing.

RowSafe includes a section on club emergency response plans.

Make it usable

Keep it to one page, post it at the boathouse and in launches, and walk through it with coaches each season. A plan nobody has read is not a plan.

How BoatLog helps

The hardest part of the plan, knowing exactly who is out, in which boat and when they're due back, is what BoatLog's sign-out answers live, even with no signal. Guardian contacts for juniors and incident logging cover what comes after.

BoatLog screenshot with example club data: BoatLog shows who is on the water right now, with crew and expected return time.
BoatLog shows who is on the water right now, with crew and expected return time. Example data from a fictional club.

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Questions

FAQ

What should a rowing club emergency plan include?

Who is on the water, who to call, where emergency services can reach you, where the safety kit is, and what to do after the incident, including reporting it.

Do we call the coastguard or an ambulance?

On tidal or coastal water call 999 and ask for the coastguard. On inland water call 999 and ask for the service you need. Your plan should say which applies to your stretch.

Is there an official template?

RowSafe sets out what a club emergency response plan should cover. Most clubs write their own one-page version for their stretch of water.

Related

Guide: How to run a boat sign-out system for your rowing club (+ free template) A step-by-step guide to setting up a sign-out system, plus a free printable template. Guide: British Rowing incident reporting: a club's step-by-step guide What counts as reportable, who's responsible, and how to file a report within 24 hours. Guide: The club rowing safety adviser role: duties and checklist What a club rowing safety adviser does: duties, a first-month checklist for a new adviser, and how to make the role manageable for a volunteer.

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