Re: [Paddlewise] landing a victim through surf

Julio brings up an excellent point.  It's funny how we forget the
obvious with time.  As a beach lifeguard I obviously didn't have a PFD
on.  The lack of a PFD also increased my diving ability.  Has anyone
tried to dive under a wave with a PFD on?  What happens?

 Julio, I don't think I would ever have a poor swimmer take off a PFD. 
Even if he breaks something, he has a better chance of surving with a
PFD.  Now for a good swimmer like myself, I'm not sure.  I think I would
be better off in the surf without one (ie. diving under waves), I've
been conditioned to think its blasphemy to ever take my PFD off!  

  With respect to my fear of snapping my spine - I am referring to the
wave forcing my boat end over end -- like a cartwheel.  In such a
situation the danger zone is the lower spine so a helmut would have no
effect -- ditto with a back brace --- this would probably make the
problem worse.

  I'm no doctor, but the fear is that with the lower body firmly stuck
in the kayak the upper body would be leveraged forward (or backward in
the flip) violently, thereby snapping the spine near the lower
vertebra.  As I mentioned before, I unfortunatley met a guy who suffered
this accident and will be in a wheelchair the rest of his life.

  If one could exit quick enough (and this is the advantage of a sit
upon kayak), this problem would be avoided.  The body has a much better
chance of not suffering a back injury if you are not leveraged
un-naturally in a kayak.  However, is the split second it takes to go
end over end, there would be no time to get out of the skirt.

  This problem only concerns me in rough surf.  Like many of you, I have
surfed in small waves without any problem ... and yes, it is great fun
to ride one in all the way into the beach!  But if the surf is big, I
wet exit, hold onto the back rope handle on my kayak, and let the boat
pull me in.  

   There is an added advantate of this approach.  If there are swimmers
around, they invariably get right in front of your boat without looking.
By holding onto the back of the boat, I can create drag and slow the
boat down enough to keep from harpooning a fat tourist.  Unless of
course, walrus season is open.  Then I sharpen the bow of my kayak,
stealthly approach a rotund tourist, and zoom in at maximum speed. 
Sorry, bad joke.

  - Scott


Julio MacWilliams wrote in response to the following comment:
> 
> >   When a big wave actually is hitting, there is only one thing to do:
> > Turn the victim and yourself towards the wave, and dive deep underneath
> > it.  Of course, it is polite to tell the victim about this before the
> > wave hits!  I would just tell them (and this includes an 8 year old boy
> > far off shore in confused, heavy seas) "take a deep breath, and go under
> > water!".  Of course, I never let go of the victim the entire time.
> 
> This is difficult with a PFD. Would you recommend taking it off to
> swim through surf?
> 
> >
> >   Now a question for you all.  I have paddled through the surf when it
> > is relatively light on numerous occasions.  However, I have a real fear
> > of either going out, or coming in through big breakers.  Am I the only
> > one with this fear?  My fear is that a wave will send me end over end,
> > and my spine will snap like a twig.
> >  - Scott Ives
> 
> Please expand. Do you fear hitting the sand with your back?
> Or a sudden neck movement that would break you cervicals?
> 
> A PFD and a helmet should protect your back and skull. A rigid
> back plate in a PFD similar to hockey equipment would be a
> a nice improvement.
> 
> - Julio

-- 
MZ
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