> Whatever that was, not wearing a PFD hardly is what kills a kayaker. > A PFD just makes it easier to retrieve the body. > > If we just believe that a kayaker was lost because he/she did not > have a PFD on, then we will not learn anything from the accident. if julio's point was that other factors precipitate the problems that a pfd may ameliorate, i'd certainly agree - in the absence of capsize your boat is a far superior flotation device. capsizes, injury, and illness do happen, whether a short distance from safety in cold water, or a longer distance in warm water i think it is hard to argue that a pfd will not significantly improve the odds of survival. in substantially cold water (55 fahrenheit and less) their is also the element of cold shock - also called sudden disappearence syndrome - where a pfd most definitely can make the difference between near immediate submersion with drowning and the possibility of prolonged survival for those interested, here is a listing of hypothermia links: Princeton University Center for Outdor Activity: http://www.princeton.edu/~oa/hypocold.html http://www.hypothermia-ca.com/main.htm lots of info here: http://www.sarbc.org/hypo.html http://www.sarbc.org/andrew1.html Outside magazine article(most readable, engrossing article on hypothermia): http://outside.starwave.com/magazine/0197/9701fefreez.html chuck sutherland's info(includes reports of several sudden deaths): http://www.enter.net/~skimmer/coldwater.html The NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School First Aid Handbook, section on cold injuries. http://www.nols.edu/School/Pubs/FirstAid/EX9Cold STATE OF ALASKA: Cold Injuries & Cold Water Near Drowning Guidelines (Rev 01/96). http://www.hypothermia-ca.com/protocols/Alaska.htm http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/odnr/watercraft/laws/opsguide/hypo.html For a compilation of hypothermia information and instructions on repairing a drysuit gasket, visit: http://www.mindspring.com/~inukshuk/ University of Minnesota Sea Grant Program: "Survival in Cold Water: Hypothermia Prevention", by Chad P. Dawson http://www.d.umn.edu/seagr/tourism/hypothermia.html Check out the ocean water temperatures going from New England to Florida. http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/iwin/images/seatemp.gif and my web page, hopefully soon up and running at: http://www.capital.net/com/~nckayak george ruta northcountry kayak 518-677-3040 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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