How to Swim over a Strainer in Swift Water

Video Transcript

"Swimming over a strainer and dealing with strainers when you're out of your boat is a very dangerous thing to do. And because of that we are not going to be demonstrating that today. However we are going to be talking a little bit of theory about how to deal with that if unfortunately you do come up in that situation. Strainers are when trees have fallen into the river and you've got a lot of water going past them. Just like something you're going to strain out pasta with the large objects get stuck and the water flows through. This is why this is a very dangerous thing, when you are out of your boat. The first thing that you should try and do is swim as aggressively as you can around the strainer to avoid it first and foremost. However, if you can't avoid it, then you're going to want to do something that seems a little strange. Get on your belly and swim as aggressively as you can toward the strainer. At which point when you get close to it, reach up, grab the strainer and haul yourself over so the strainer is under your waist. At this point when you've got most of your chest over the tree you then want to kick over it and try to get past it. Or if you're stable sit and wait for more assistance. Whatever you do don't go under the strainer and don't push people down if they're caught on a strainer because you don't know what limbs are sticking below the surface to catch someone. "