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 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Sat, 7 Aug 1999, John C. Winskill wrote: 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. Is that what they mean by the saying, "Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment."(?) ...I can relate to that....;-).... (...Wonder when that ol' good judgment will arrive...) Elaine Harmon - eilidh_at_dc.seflin.org - eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
.....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 > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I've read it and still paddle. Have you ever read a real good micro sec by micro sec description as to what happens to a body in a head on collision, in an automobile?? I have, and it is pretty ugly, but I still drive. Yes I wear my seat belt."it's the law!!" <G> James Chris & Ellen Kohut wrote: > > .....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. > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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