Hollywood has shown us so many times just how fun river rafting can be that anytime we see an ad for whitewater rapids trips, we start to imagine ourselves flying down the river at high speeds on nature's water roller coaster. It has also become a popular way for businesses to spend corporate retreats and try to unite the employees in a common cause. Whether it's a family trip, a Boy Scout camp, a group date, or a way to go out with some friends, river rafting requires some important preparation.

Safety needs to come first. Whatever rafting company you use, they will go to great lengths to assure the safety of all the raft passengers, since no company wants to suffer lawsuits after an accident that could have been prevented. All passengers need to pay attention to all of the safety guidelines, and it would be especially helpful if there was more than once person aboard the raft that is certified to perform CPR and emergency breathing procedures in case of an accident. Many companies will require the signing of a waiver, so be sure your guide has plenty of experience and training in first aid procedures.

If you and your passengers choose the more daring route and decide to go it alone without the aid of a rafting company, be sure you educate yourself about rafting safety. Everybody on the raft simply must wear an adequate life jacket at all times, no matter how good a passenger claims to swim. River rapids have drowned many expert swimmers before, so nobody should be without a life jacket. There should also be extra flotation devices stored on the raft, as well as a throw rope.

The passengers themselves should wear light clothing that dries quickly and lightweight shoes since heavy shoes like Air Jordan's can make it more difficult to swim for anybody who may fall in the water. Everybody should be inspected before boarding the raft, and the raft's items should also be inspected. A solid raft and strong paddles will help guarantee a safer experience, since poor quality items may fail under strenuous circumstances. Each passenger should be confidently trained in how to handle the rapids to reduce the possibility of somebody panicking during an emergency.

Water-proof bags to carry your personal belongings are essential. The last thing you will want after a long tiring day of rafting on the river will be to find all of your gear soaked to the bone at night when you need a fresh change of clothes and something to eat. Some rivers will require a more specialized type of equipment, so be sure to consult an expert about the river you will be traveling on. Confidence in your safety and in your equipment will make the trip much more enjoyable for everybody involved.

Be sure to take along a cooler for your food. It will keep out the river water and any insects or animals from getting into it. Most important of all, enjoy your trip safely with the other passengers by preparing well.