Debs, Please don't take this wrongly. And you know I don't mean this in a critical way. But when confronted with someone who is potentially hypothermic or in other danger after a capsize it is best to say "screw it" to retrieving the kayak or any gear and deal with the person's problem first quickly. The tendency is always toward saving the property. Now this was not an on-the-water situation and the guy wasn't in danger of drowning or getting colder necessarily as he would have had you run across him on the water while he was floating around. So it may not have been as clear or urgent. But he was wet and cold and needed warming up. I have seen the smartest and the brightest and most skilled kayakers go after saving the equipment without fully assessing and attending to the needs of the victim. It is a long story which I am certain I already told here but quickly it involved my wife doing rescue practice in low 60s degree water. Her boat's bulkheads had failed, the boat began to sink. The skilled instructors concentrated on saving the boat from sinking for 45 minutes while she floated and hung on to someone's kayak and slowly got hypothermic. They should have gotten her up on a deck at a minimum or taken her immediately to shore about a quarter of a mile instead of looking after that silly boat. Meanwhile the guys were in wet suits and should have know better. I learned in my first year the screw-the-gear-and-see-to-the-victim approach. A canoe went over in a round-Manhattan trip and we all started chasing after their gear. But a sharp eyed really savvy paddler spotted that the canoeists, who were also chasing after their floating gear, had their PFDs fully unzipped. He shouted to them to zip up before doing anything else. It was a real important lesson for me. Again, Debs, please don't take this wrongly. ralph -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 3/6/00 12:26:55 PM !!!First Boot!!!, rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com writes: << Now this was not an on-the-water situation and the guy wasn't in danger of drowning or getting colder necessarily as he would have had you run across him on the water while he was floating around >> Not knowing all the facts. Just gathering from the description of water temp (F 44) and conditions (15-20 mph), clothing (wet, sagging cotton) and condition of victim (Quite pale, quivering voice, dripping wet). This guy was in real danger of getting colder. Ralph is right about the hierarchy for retrieval PEOPLE FIRST, GEAR SECOND The paddler is not safe until the threat of Hypothermia is removed. Get him out of the weather (15-20 mph winds) and possibly out of the cotton clothing. Then go for the boat. This situation was dangerous for everyone involved. Don't wrap lines around you. Don't paddle alone in inclement conditions (especially if you are inexperienced). Don't paddle boats without proper equipment (including footpegs, hatch covers). Do know that you are ultimately responsible to check for proper equipment and condition of equipment before using (renting, demoeing, purchasing) a boat. Like Ralph, I will say to the original poster, "Don't take this personally." There are many lessons to be learned from your post. Both as a victim and a rescuer. Your emotion was evident. That is a good thing. It is easy to see that you are passionate about kayaking. You should continue to participate in getting the safety message out. If you talk to ten and get through to two, the world's a better place. Bruce McCutcheon WEO *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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