09- 137 C.M.R. ch. 14, § 04

Current through 2024-51, December 18, 2024

Section 137-14-04 - Safety Equipment Requirements

A.First Aid

1. One major medical first aid kit shall be carried, securely attached to one of the craft, on each whitewater trip.

2. One additional major medical first aid kit shall be carried on all whitewater trips involving more than 5 watercraft.

3. Major medical first aid kits must be in serviceable condition and include the following items:

* Inflatable, ladder or padded board splints	* Finger splint
* Emergency space blanket or equivalent	* 4 triangular bandages
* Ace bandages	* Quick cold packs
* Hot packs	* Roller gauze 2" - up
* Band-aids 3/4" - up	* Butterfly band-aids
* Sanitary napkin pad	*Safety pins
* Knife	* Adhesive tape
* Sun screen	* Matches or equivalent
* Sting swabs	* Scissors
* Tweezers	* 2 CPR pocket shields
* Gauze compresses at least 2x2 or larger	* Antiseptic solutions for cleaning
* 5 pair of exam gloves	* Accident report form & writing utensil

4. A serviceable backboard shall be carried in the trip vehicle on each whitewater trip.

B.Additional items and provisions

1. The following items shall be carried on all whitewater trips:

a. At least one throw line, not less than 50 feet long, securely attached to each whitewater craft; and

b. Unless a whitewater craft is self-bailing, at least one bail bucket in each whitewater craft. Bail buckets, when not in use, shall be safely secured against loss.

2. All rafts used in connection with whitewater trips shall be equipped with:

a. An inside safety line, at least 1/2 inch in diameter or webbing of the equivalent strength or handhold lines 1/2 inch in diameter, 15 inches in length securely attached around the inside of the raft. Handholds shall be positioned so that one shall be readily accessible to each passenger.

b. An outside safety line, at least 1/2 inch in diameter, securely attached around the outside of the raft; and

c. A carabiner.

3. Each whitewater craft used by a licensed outfitter for a whitewater trip shall be plainly marked with a number, as assigned by the Department, followed by a company fleet number issued only to that craft. Lettering must be at least 6 inches high and easily readable from the river bank.

4. Outfitters shall ensure that each passenger participating in a whitewater trip is provided a serviceable U.S. Coast Guard approved Type V personal flotation device for whitewater rafting.

09- 137 C.M.R. ch. 14, § 04