Can rappelling helmets be used and provide the same amount of protection as whitewater helmets? My rescue team wants to use various types of helmets and I had an answer for those who wanted to use bike helmets. I'm unfamiliar with the construction of rappelling helmets, however. Thanks very much! Donna *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
At 02:32 PM 1/25/99 -0500, you wrote: >Can rappelling helmets be used and provide the same amount of protection as >whitewater helmets? My rescue team wants to use various types of helmets and >I had an answer for those who wanted to use bike helmets. I'm unfamiliar >with the construction of rappelling helmets, however. Thanks very much! > >Donna Hi Donna, I have far more experience paddling than climbing, but it seems to me you should use a helmet designed for the particular activity. Climbing helmets are often engineered contemplating a heavy impact from above (dislodged rock), while the impacts to a paddler may come from other directions. The other thing you need to consider is whether the helmet has enough slots to allow water to "vent" in the event of an impact, thus dissipating the transmission of shock via the water. This is a particular concern for your eardrums, which could be broken if you were wearing, say a motorcycle helmet and hit a rock while upside down in water. Air and water behave quite differently under sudden pressure. Philip T. N49°16' W123°08' "The opinions expressed in this posting are not necessarily those of my employer, or indeed, of any sentient being." *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Thanks. My dilemma has been that I haven't been able to offer a better explanation other than "That's what I was told in all of the rescue courses I took" or "That's what I've read." When they ask me, I want to be able to say why they shouldn't (or won't be allowed to on the team) use other helmets. Donna > -----Original Message----- > From: pid_at_mec.ca [SMTP:pid_at_mec.ca] > Sent: Monday, January 25, 1999 3:03 PM > To: Donna Ferron > Cc: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Rescue Helmets > > At 02:32 PM 1/25/99 -0500, you wrote: > >Can rappelling helmets be used and provide the same amount of protection > as > >whitewater helmets? My rescue team wants to use various types of helmets > and > >I had an answer for those who wanted to use bike helmets. I'm unfamiliar > >with the construction of rappelling helmets, however. Thanks very much! > > > >Donna > > Hi Donna, > I have far more experience paddling than climbing, but it seems to me you > should use a helmet designed for the particular activity. Climbing helmets > are often engineered contemplating a heavy impact from above (dislodged > rock), while the impacts to a paddler may come from other directions. The > other thing you need to consider is whether the helmet has enough slots to > allow water to "vent" in the event of an impact, thus dissipating the > transmission of shock via the water. This is a particular concern for your > eardrums, which could be broken if you were wearing, say a motorcycle > helmet and hit a rock while upside down in water. Air and water behave > quite differently under sudden pressure. > Philip T. > N49°16' W123°08' > "The opinions expressed in this posting are not necessarily those of my > employer, or indeed, of any sentient being." *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Donna Ferron wrote: > Can rappelling helmets be used and provide the same amount of protection as > whitewater helmets? My rescue team wants to use various types of helmets and > I had an answer for those who wanted to use bike helmets. I'm unfamiliar > with the construction of rappelling helmets, however. Thanks very much! Philip T's points are valid. Another related thing I would point out is that rappelling helmets that I've seen use web suspension while most (but not all) WW helmets use foam. The advantage of foam is that they reduce the amount of water in the helmet when you surface. There's nothing like finishing a roll in white water and having a helmet full of water cascade over your face when you finally surface gasping for breath. Refreshing, blinding and choking. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Philip added: >Now that I've had lunch and the blood sugar is level up again, I can think >of yet another compelling argument against climbing helmets for kayaks. >Without large drainage holes, you're going to be working against the >weight of a lot more water when you roll (or perhaps when you try to >roll). If your head is coming out of the water last, as it should be, that >trapped water will basically be a huge suspended weight at the end of a >long lever (your neck and body) working against you. I have tried this and Philip is absolutely correct. I once used my Joe Brown climbing helmet WW paddling. It's like a lot of climbing helmets, fairly full coverage with no vents. It acted as a cranial sea anchor when I came around to roll. Not only did the thing almost pull my head off, it did do the water-dumping thing. Not advised. Some more recently manufactured helmets, like the Petzel, might work: they've got more vents and fit tighter. But you'd be pressing your luck. Rob Gendreau Oakland, California gendreau_at_ccnet.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Being ignorant at the time (and I guess still ignorant now) I've used a Romer hockey helmet for years, starting out in whitewater and now for surf practice when sea kayaking. I've never had trouble rolling with the helmet on - or at least, never had trouble that I could ascribe to the helmet. Certainly, I've been lucky enough not to experience the "sea anchor" effect that Rob Gendreau experienced. I have no experience with climbing helmets, though, on or off the water - Bill Hansen. *************************************************************************** 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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