Following the thread on the potential of drowning when equipped with a PFD: two thoughts. Looking back at the stats I reported earlier from the USCG, in 1997, 586 recreational boaters drowned, and nine out of ten were not wearing a PFD. With my math phobia in the closet, I'd guess that something like 58 or 59 of those folks were wearing flotation devices when they died! >From a personal front, my (limited) training in WW at the Nantahala and Chatooga Rivers and my Navy flight training also taught me that a PFD will work only if it's attached correctly. One training session on the Chatooga involved jumping off a 15 foot --- looked like 50 foot --- high rock into a deep spot just below a mean hydraulic. The water flow would wash the swimmer out quickly if he or she went in further than planned, and the instructors all were ready with ropes to drag in the jumpers. Good exercise, good training. But not if the PFD were loose. A jump like that whips any loose flotation device right over the swimmer's head, frequently damaging the chin, nose and forehead. And it floats <really> well without the swimmer in it anymore, so it leaves on its own, and the swimmer now rides in --- and under --- the hydraulic outflow for a bit more time and for a longer underwater stay. <Wearing> PFDs and dressing for the water temperature --- some of life's little lessons to know that you're screwing up! Jack Martin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Oct 07 1998 - 20:51:20 PDT
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