Re: [Paddlewise] kayaker lost off Galveston

From: Scott Ives <ssives_at_erols.com>
Date: Wed, 07 Oct 1998 10:33:07 -0400
Julio,

   Am I missing something here?  Exhaustion is exactly the situation
where a lifejacket would be most helpful!  It is true that most adult
lifejackets (unlike good children jackets which have a bouyant "cape" to
float you right side up) will not necessarily keep turn you the right
way if you are unconcious.  However, when a person is exhausted, a good
life jacket will definitely keep his head above water, and allow him
time to rest.  Similarly, in very cold water, when a person cannot feel
or move his limbs anymore, the lifejacket will also serve this function
(that is until he dies of hypothermia).  Aren't these the main reasons
for wearing lifejackets in the first place?

 Julio wrote:

> I am not even convinced that this person would have survived with a PFD.
> When exhaustion hits, even the deepest instinct of survival disappears
> -- been there.
> 
> happy paddling, and keep yourself out of trouble.
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Received on Wed Oct 07 1998 - 07:41:31 PDT

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