The RowSafeUSA website contains technical information on rowing safety for rowers, coaches, and the parents of scholastic rowers. The technical information has all been reviewed by experts in water safety, cold water physiology, emergency medicine, as well as rowers of national and international status.**
Accidents happen at all levels of rowing, from small clubs to national teams. Many are the result of poor judgments or equipment malfunctions; others are completely beyond the control of the rowers. As a result of these accidents some rowers have died and an unknown number are hospitalized each year. In 2017 a student died rowing at Northwestern University. In 2018 two near-fatal accidents occurred in which rowers were saved by commercial boats. In 2019 a rower died at the Rowing World Championships and a young rower was revived by CPR after drowning in Ireland. In all these instances recommended safety guidelines were either disregarded or failed.
The information on this site suggests that many of those accidents and all of those deaths might have been avoided by following basic safety protocols and wearing lifejackets on cold water. It also suggests five areas in which improved safety protocols might be most effective.
Cold Water — the dangers of sudden submersion in water temperatures under 50f cannot be overstated. Regardless of how fit you are or how well you swim in warm water, COLD WATER KILLS and demands additional safeguards.
Minimum Safety Standards — A small number of minimum standards must be followed for safe rowing. Safety guidelines should be developed by all clubs for their particular location and conditions, but provide little safety if the most important rules aren’t followed.
Scholastic Safety Standards — Young children and novice should not be expected to row under the same safety standards are experts, masters, and national team members. Stricter safety standards should be in place and enforced for middle school students, high school students, and novices.
Coaches’ Safety Training — All rowing coaches should be certified in first aid, CPR, and water safety, and should practice basic water rescue skills.
Life-vests (PFDs) — If you’re rowing on cold water — and not in competition — you should be wearing a lifejacket. The belief that rowers can’t wear PFDs is outdated and dangerous. Find one that’s comfortable and wear it under any dangerous conditions.
In the United States there is no system for reporting rowing accidents. USRowing neither collects nor distributes accident data. BritishRowing, in contrast, collects detailed accident data and distributes its analysis of the data (https://www.britishrowing.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2016-Safety-Incident-Analysis.pdf?41e6e6).
Row Hard, Row Fast, Row Safe
* The rowing deaths counted here are drowning deaths in the US, Canada, and Europe; the professional sports deaths include the major and minor leagues in the US and Canada. Deaths from heat stroke and cardiac events are not included.
** Apart from technical information, data has been compiled from available sources and confirmed where possible. Corrections and additions are welcome. The opinions and recommendations offered on this site are entirely those of the site’s author. Technical corrections, comments, criticisms, differing opinions and new ideas are always welcome.
CONTACT: for corrections and comments please contact RowSafeUSA-at-gmail.com
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