Safety / Emergency Assistance

Safety is of paramount importance to Head for the Yarra organisers.

Safety Plan for On Water Emergencies Plan (“the Plan”) is available at the Safety Briefing and on the website. It is recommended that this Plan be carried on a crew member during the race. Crews may wish to carry a mobile phone with them for use in an emergency to make contact with one of these emergency contacts. It is requested that unless serious and / or life threatening injury occurs, participants are to use the medical assistance provided by Head of the Yarra in the first instance. If an ambulance is required the medical officers or race marshals are easily able to do this providing an exact location.

Medical Doctors’ and Ambulance Officers’ will be at the finish to provide medical assistance and to render first aid. In case of serious emergency arrangements have been made for MICA Ambulance to have ready access at a number of points along the course.

Please refer to the Safety Plan for On Course locations for Rescue/Safety Boats and contact phone numbers for Race Officials and Medical Staff.

The Safety/Support Boat crews will also carry supplies of chilled water in case of need. Any Umpire or Safety Boat Official is available to assist in any emergency. All race Officials and Umpires are briefed on emergency procedures.

Click Here to Download the HoY Safety Plan for on-water emergencies

Heat Policy

Minimising risk of dehydration:

• Stay in the shade for as long as possible.
• Use the "coolgardie" effect to keep cool: wet your cap and hair and if it is really hot even your rowing gear.
• As the event can mean up to an hour on the water for most crews, fluid replacement should be at a level of up to one litre for the average rower: this can be achieved slowly over the half hour prior to getting on the water and by taking fluids into the boat to drink during the pre-race maneuvering.
• Carbohydrate intake can be achieved by using a fluid with 4-6% carbohydrate content.
• Keep some fluid to drink at the finish as you wait to come to come to the staging.
• Alcoholic drinks are not effective as fluid replacement.
• Contact one of the safety support / boats for extra fluids