We want children to love and enjoy their river. As with any activity there are risks.
The final decision on whether any school takes part in our River School activities in made by the individual school participating.
ARK make our sessions as safe as possible by following a strict protocol to minimise risks to our students. Over the last 10 years ARK has worked with almost 13,000 children in the river, and to date there have been no reports of any child becoming sick after a river school activity. However, that does not mean it will never happen.
The precautions we take are:
- We check that sewage treatment works less than two miles upstream of our site have not discharged untreated sewage within the previous 48 hours.
- We do not run activities in the river is very discoloured after heavy rain. This is both because there is more likely to be agricultural runoff and road runoff in the river, and because it’s difficult to see the bottom.
- We do not run activities when the river is too deep or fast flowing for it to be difficult for children to safely wade
- We ensure that all children and adults in the river have any cuts or wounds covered by a waterproof plaster.
- We tell children not to touch their faces, eyes, nose mouth or ears when they are in the river.
- There is a ‘no splashing people’ rule.
- When children leave the river we administer antibacterial gel and remind the teachers that everyone needs to wash their hands as soon as they get back to school or home.
- We always have a full first aid kit and throw line in case of emergencies.
- Our full risk assessment is shared with every school well in advance of events.
