Be WaterWise #9 - Foot Entrapment: A Deadly River Hazard

Foot Entrapment occurs when a paddler’s foot becomes wedged between rocks or debris in a riverbed, causing them to be pinned underwater by the current. This is especially dangerous in swift-moving water, where the force can quickly submerge and drown a person. Attempting to stand in strong currents increases the risk significantly. Understanding and practicing defensive swimming protects paddlers, reinforces the Culture of Safety, and helps ensure our rivers remain safe and enjoyable for the entire packrafting community. So either stay on your back until someone helps you, do your well-practiced wet re-entry (without pushing off the bottom of the river!), or, if you can identify an eddy or safe place to exit the river or you need to avoid an obstacle, roll over onto your stomach and aggressively swim to your safe spot.

Make Sure to Check out all 10 of the Safety Videos at https://www.packraft.org/pages/education/water-wise-safety-videos