[Paddlewise] Flares carried in a PFD - Can you get burnt? - What is a safe practice???

G'Day,

Please - does anyone have any comments regarding flares carried in PFD's???

Until recently I thought it sensible to carry flares in a lifejacket pocket 
because what was the point in having them in a kayak if you were separated 
from it or unable to readily access them when required? Now on New Years 
Eve, during a spectacular fireworks display in Sydney Harbour, a friend 
decided to try out a few flares as a way of celebrating the millennium. His 
description of their thermal intensity was somewhat disturbing!! Appparently 
they were capable of boiling a cubic foot of water. What if they went off 
accidentally in the PFD - I could imagine some pretty severe burns as a 
result!

Can anyone comment on the chance of accidently setting off flares carried in 
the pocket of a PFD. This has been my practice for almost a year but I am 
having second thoughts?

Also how robust are flares against exposure to salt water - I sometimes 
(often) get completely soaked when mucking about in surf and carrying flares 
in my lifejacket. Is this likely to compromise the flare??

Would be glad of any advice or experience on these matters.

Regards, PeterO.



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