Re: [Paddlewise] wear the PFD, fathead

.....if this bizarre discussion goes any deeper into left field, I swear I'm
going to reprint (in paraphrase, darling Jackie, so as to circumvent copyright
restrictions), Sebastian Junger's chapter in The Perfect Storm on the
bio-mechanics of drowning--- from a clinical standpoint.......all very
analytical and objective.  Believe me, it is graphic enough to cause you to
reflexively pull at your PFD straps to cinch them up.......even when you are
not wearing one and sitting in front of a computer console.

John C. Winskill wrote:

> This is a note written last year during a discussion on risk assessment
> which is what this discussion on "When in Rome..." has evolved into.  In
> this instance it was in response to the idea that wearing a PFD could
> actually cause people to capsize, ie depending on a piece of equipment
> or knowledge of a technique (knowing how to self rescue but never having
> done it in real conditions) might make someone more apt to get into
> trouble by causing them to venture beyond where they might be safe.  It
> could easily be extapolated to include other things as well:
>
> I'm not certain that the relationship to wearing a PFD and capsizing is
> all that clear.  I do feel, though, there is a danger in "percieved
> safety".  There is a tendency to put ourselves into situations where we
> feel we are safe because of our skills or equipment.  A beginner kayaker
> who is not wearing a PFD and is making a one mile crossing on a flat,
> calm day may be in no more danger than an advanced kayaker making a ten
> mile crossing in five-foot seas.  The fact of the matter is that they
> are both taking a risk, and it may be that the advanced paddler is just
> as ignorant of the danger as the beginner.  Equipment and skills can
> engender a false sense of safety just as ignorance can.
> In an ideal world we would work constantly on our skills and know how to
> use our safely equipment and then paddle conservatively so that our
> margin of safety is always as wide as possible.  I have a fairly
> aggressive paddling style in that I tend to push the edge a bit.  The
> result is that I do fall over from time to time.  What I have to guard
> against is that I not get myself too far out there.  The advantage
> though, is that I can paddle SK Class I,II and III and be very safe, and
> even if things turn bad I am still within my comfort level.  If you
> never fall over and you never have to self or assist rescue in real
> conditions then you may be paddling much closer to your safety limit and
> just not know it.  The trick to safe paddling is knowing your limits and
> then staying within them.  This may or may not mean then that a PFD (or
> wet/dry suit etc.) is appropriate.
>
> John Winskill
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