River Dancers COVID-19 Plan

This document is intended to serve as a detailed guide for both guides and guests when participating in river trips with River Dancers. It is based on guidelines set by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the State of California, and Siskiyou County.

General CDC Guidelines for Guests & Guides

  • Wash hands often
  • Avoid touching touching eyes, nose, and mouth
  • Cover coughs and sneezes
  • Avoid close contact with others
  • Disinfect frequently used items and surfaces
  • Stay home if feeling sick
  • Use cloth face covering when in close proximity to the public

All guides must follow these guidelines in their personal life and it is highly recommended that guests do as well prior to trips.

Cleaning and Sanitizing

In addition to standard procedures, guides will perform the following cleaning and sanitizing procedures. In all instances, products adhering to EPA guidelines for COVID-19 will be used.

  • PFDs: PFDs will be labeled and assigned to guests. PFDs will be washed and disinfected and air dried after every trip.
  • Paddles: Paddles will be labeled and assigned to guests. Paddles and oars will be disinfected with wipes at the river put-in.
  • Vans: EPA approved wipes will be used to disinfect commonly touched areas including window and door handles.
  • Boats: Thwarts and tubes will be wiped and disinfected at the river put-in prior to each trip.
  • Dishes: A four bucket system will be used for dish washing – a cold soapy pre-wash, a hot wash, a hot rinse, and a cold bleach rinse containing 2 tbls of bleach per gallon of water. Dishes must remain in the bleach solution for a minimum of one minute. Cleaner dishes are washed first to keep dish water as clean as possible. Dishes are then air dried. A fresh clean towel is used for each round of washing.
  • Kitchen Equipment: Tables, countertops, and stoves will be cleaned after every meal with a solution of 5 tbls (1/3 cup) of bleach to 1 quart of water. A spray bottle can be used for this purpose. Bleach solution must remain in contact with surfaces for 1 minute before wiping.

Hand Washing and Sanitizing

Hand sanitizer will be readily available in vans, on rafts, and around camp. A hand wash station will be available at camp. Clients and guides will sanitize after using the bathroom, before eating, when getting in and out of rafts, and when getting in and out of vans. Guides working in the kitchen will sanitize before and regularly throughout meal preparation.

In addition, guides and guests should follow General COVID-19 Guidelines in their everyday life:

  • Wash hands often.
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Cover coughs and sneezes.
  • Avoid close contact with others.
  • Disinfect frequently used items and surfaces.
  • Stay home if feeling sick.
  • Use cloth face covering when in close proximity to the public.

Pre-trip Preparation and Screening

Additional Things to Bring

In addition to what guests and guides should bring for a normal trip, these items will be necessary:

  • A cloth face mask that covers the mouth and nose. You will not need to wear it at all times, but at times you will need to – in vans, during food preparation, if you begin to feel sick.
  • Hand sanitizer.
  • Personal water and water bottle.
  • Lunch/snacks for day trips.

Pre-screening

Before guides and guests leave to meet at the river, they will need to pass a pre-screening test. This test will also be given at the river put-in. If you do not pass the pre-screen, you will not be allowed to join the trip.

  • Complete the Coronavirus Self-Checker
  • Do you have a temperature of 100.4 or higher? A non-contact thermometer will be used at the river put-in.
  • Do you fall within an “at risk” group for COVID-19? This does not disqualify you from attending, but is something to consider.
    • 65 years and older
    • Have chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
    • Have serious heart conditions
    • Immunocompromised
    • Have severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher)
    • Have diabetes
    • Have chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis
    • Have liver disease

In addition, guides and guests should follow General COVID-19 Guidelines in their everyday life:

  • Wash hands often.
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Cover coughs and sneezes.
  • Avoid close contact with others.
  • Disinfect frequently used items and surfaces.
  • Stay home if feeling sick.
  • Use cloth face covering when in close proximity to the public.

Food Packing & Preparation

General Considerations

In addition to our own standards, food packers and preparers at River Dancers will follow applicable dine-in restaurant measures required by the California Department of Public Health which are based on and are more detailed than CDC recommendations. When packing, preparing, or serving food, guides will sanitize hands regularly and wear face masks.

Day Trips

Clients and guides will bring their own water bottles, lunches, and snacks on one day trips. A dry bag will be provided for each group traveling together.

Food Packing (Multi-Day)

  • Coolers and dryboxes will be cleaned and disinfected before and after trips.
  • Cook kits will be cleaned and disinfected after trips or during the last day of a mult-day trip.
  • Refrigerators and freezers will be cleaned and disinfected after every trip.
  • Only one food packer will pack a trip.

Food Preparation and Serving (Multi-Day)

  • Preparers, servers, and dishwashers will wear masks and will hand sanitize regularly.
  • All food will be served by preparers. This includes condiments.
  • All counters, tables, stoves, and dishes will be washed and sanitized after meals by guides. Guests will not be involved in the cleaning process. Clean towels will be used for each dishwashing round and will not be returned to the cook kit.

Social Distancing

Clients and guides should strive to maintain a 6 foot separation between one another. This will not always be possible, particularly in rafts and in shuttle vehicles. Masks must be worn when these distances cannot by met. The exception is on rafts, though anyone that begins to show signs and symptoms of COVID-19 after a trip begins, must wear a mask on rafts.

River Dancer’s vans and client vehicles are used in shuttling guests and guides back to the river put-in. Because recommended distances cannot be met in this context, passengers must wear masks, must hand sanitize when getting in and out of vehicles, and windows should be open. Commonly touched areas in vehicles will be sanitized regularly.

Raft Assignments

Maintaining recommended social distances in rafts is not practical. Kayaking will be encouraged for those with the confidence and skills to be independent in their own boat. Groups that travel together (e.g., families, friends) will be assigned to their own raft. Groups that travel separately will not be combined on the same raft. Because of this restriction, independent groups of less than 4 may not be able to be accommodated at this time. But call us to confirm.

Face Masks

Yeah, we know. Not everyone likes masks. We don’t really. But you will need to bring one and at times you may have to wear it. If you do not have one or refuse to wear one, then you will not be able to join the trip. Guides will wear masks when preparing food. Masks must be worn when riding in shuttle vehicles. Guides will wear masks when packing and preparing food. If you begin showing signs and symptoms of COVID-19 after a trip begins, you will need to wear a mask in your raft.

Shuttles & Vans

General Considerations

Socially distancing in vans and vehicles (6 foot of separation) is not practical in most cases. River Dancer vans and guest vehicles are used as part of river shuttles. We don’t anticipate being able to change this practice. When riding together in any vehicle, masks will be worn and hands will be sanitized when entering and exiting the vehicle. Windows will be opened unless temperatures make it significantly uncomfortable.

To and From the River

When traveling to and from river locations, guides will not make unnecessary stops. Fuel will be purchased at locations with low population and traffic densities (e.g., not truck stops along I-5). Commonly touched areas in the van will be disinfected with EPA approved wipes in transit.

Shuttles & Vans

General Considerations

Socially distancing in vans and vehicles (6 foot of separation) is not practical in most cases. River Dancer vans and guest vehicles are used as part of river shuttles. We don’t anticipate being able to change this practice. When riding together in any vehicle, masks will be worn and hands will be sanitized when entering and exiting the vehicle. Windows will be opened unless temperatures make it significantly uncomfortable.

To and From the River

When traveling to and from river locations, guides will not make unnecessary stops. Fuel will be purchased at locations with low population and traffic densities (e.g., not truck stops along I-5). Commonly touched areas in the van will be disinfected with EPA approved wipes in transit. Hands will be sanitized when exiting and entering the van.

Sickness and Positive Tests

Pre-Trip or Post-Trip Sickness

Guests that show signs and symptoms of COVID-19 prior to trips will not be allowed to participate in trips and should follow their local and state guidelines for quarantining, testing, and contact tracing.

Guides that show signs and symptoms of COVID-19 must quarantine at home. Before returning to work, guides must test negative twice for COVID-19, no longer have a fever, and show significant improvements in other signs and symptoms. If guides to not wish to test or are unable to do so, they will need to stay at home until 3 consecutive days have passed with no fever, overall signs and symptoms have improved, and at least 10 days have passed since they initially had signs and symptoms.

Guests that have had contact with a sick guide within the prior 14 days from when signs and symptoms started will be notified. Guests should also notify River Dancers if they become sick within 14 days after participating in a river trip.

If guides test positive for COVID-19, advice and protocols for reporting will be sought from the medical facility conducting the test or the Siskiyou County Public Health Department.

CDC Guidelines If You Are Sick

During Trip Sickness

If clients or guides develop signs and symptoms of COVID-19 during a multi-day trip, a guide or other appropriate leader will be assigned to look after and communicate with that person. A personal tent will be provided for the person that is sick. Social distances will be enforced. Masks must be worn on rafts until an appropriate evacuation access can be reached.

InReach satellite communication will be used to arrange appropriate transportation for the sick person and the leader. Hitchhiking or utilization of highway travelers is not an appropriate means for travel.

All participants, guests and guides, should be tested and/or self-quarantined after the trip.

COVID-19 Signs & Symptoms

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of taste or smell

Other less common symptoms have been reported, including gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

When to Seek Medical Attention

Look for emergency warning signs* for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately

  • Trouble breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion
  • Inability to wake or stay awake
  • Bluish lips or face

This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

Medical and COVID-19 Testing Resources in Siskiyou County

If guests or guides begin presenting with COVID-19 signs and symptoms, their healthcare provider should be contacted for further advice.

In Siskiyou County, these are some resources for testing and further information:

Medical:

  • Emergencies: Call 911

  • Fairchild Medical Center, Yreka

    530-842-4121, fairchildmed.org/

    444 Bruce Street, Yreka, CA 96097

  • Happy Camp Health Clinic, Happy Camp

    530-493-5257

    64236 Second Avenue, Happy Camp, CA 96039

    Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
    Closed for lunch 12 p.m.- 1 p.m.
    Closed for most major and Tribal holidays.

  • Mercy Medical Center, Mount Shasta

    530-926-6111, https://locations.dignityhealth.org/mercy-medical-center-mt-shasta

    912 Pine St., Mount Shasta, CA 96067

    Emergency Room open 24 hours

  • Mount Shasta Community Clinic, Mount Shasta

    530-926-7131

    912 Pine St., Mount Shasta, CA 96067

  • Mercy Medical Center, Redding

    (530) 225-6000, https://locations.dignityhealth.org/mercy-medical-center-redding

    2175 Rosaline Ave, Redding, CA 96001

    Open 24 Hours

  • Trinity Hospital, Weaverville

    (530) 623-5541, http://www.mcmedical.org/

    60 Easter Ave, Weaverville, CA 96093

    Open 24 Hours

Testing: