Save a life: National Canoe Safety Patrol seeks volunteers

Open house and training session to kick off paddling season

By SANDY LONG

UPPER DELAWARE RIVER REGION — Dick Rhodes spent 42 days on the Delaware River last year, or 294 hours. He’s been doing that for nearly 30 years now, not just for pleasure, and certainly not for profit. Rhodes does it for a purpose: to save lives. And with paddling season looming, he’s looking for some local help.

The 72-year-old river rescuer is one of the original founders of the Upper Delaware River Chapter of the National Canoe Safety Patrol (NCSP). Today, Rhodes enjoys the company of more than 60 other volunteers who make their way to the Delaware River every weekend to help those who find themselves in precarious or life-threatening situations.

Like Rhodes, who commuted from his home in Delaware before recently relocating to Lackawaxen, PA, many of the members travel two or more hours to participate with the safety patrol. Rhodes hopes to recruit more local volunteers and the group is offering an open house on April 5 to provide information and answer questions. They’ll follow up with their annual training session on April 29 (see sidebar).

Volunteers must complete the annual training, consisting of skill drills, such as avoiding life-threatening strainers, dealing with foot entrapment and learning to swim aggressively. Such commitment to safety has left the organization with its own sterling safety record—the worst injury sustained by a volunteer has been a sprained thumb.

Dejay Branch and Troy Bystrom of Lackawaxen were recruited by Rhodes one day as they relaxed at the Roebling Inn in Lackawaxen. “One day on the river turned into four years of service,” laughed Branch, now the organization’s vice commodore. “It’s a great way to be athletic, enjoy a day on the river and contribute to your community by promoting river safety and sometimes saving lives. We also clean up while we’re out there.”

On weekends, NCSP members meet for breakfast, then are dispatched to their posts along the river, from Narrowsburg, NY to Port Jervis, NY, where they watch for signs of distress or unsafe behaviors. River hazards are many, and some are not obvious, such as hidden currents, varying water temperatures, submerged rocks and strainers, which trap a victim against an immobile object.

“Every situation is different, and we practice various scenarios to prepare for them,” said Rhodes. Branch, who as a child lost a cousin to drowning, learned early about the importance of safety. “You have to take precautions, and the most important one is wearing a personal flotation device (PFD). We don’t even go near the water without a life jacket on,” stressed Branch.

The group partners with the National Park Service (NPS) through its Volunteers in the Parks program. The NPS provides support in the form of free camping and cabins for the first six weeks of the peak season, radios that enable access to dispatchers for emergency units and volunteer recognition programs, which award useful gear such as throw bags and PFDs.

The NPS benefits by the thousands of hours of unpaid skilled safety expertise contributed by the NCSP. Over the past 28 years, volunteers have contributed 97,495 hours of service, conservatively estimated at a value of $925,322. Gear costs would drive the value even higher, as the volunteers use their own boats, paddles and accessories.

“Without the NCSP and the skills and dedication of its members, we would not be in the position we are now,” said Ingrid Peterec, education specialist of the NPS Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River. “I honestly don’t think the river would be as safe without their involvement.”

NCSP training and safety tips

• NCSP and NPS Open House, April 5, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Zane Grey Museum, Lackawaxen, PA. Volunteers of all ages and interests are welcome. For more information call 570/685-4871.

• Annual Training Program, April 25 to 27, at Kittatinny Canoes, Lukes Landing ($20 individual dues; $40 family dues helps to defray training costs). Visit www.nationalcanoesafetypatrol.com for more information.

• Top survival tips: Always wear a PFD. Don’t boat alone. Know water temperatures and heights. Don’t boat on flooded rivers.