RE: [Paddlewise] 3- Dead Kayakers

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Phlopz_at_aol.com [mailto:Phlopz_at_aol.com]

> I don't know if white water type rescue techniques could have 
> mitigated these 
> accidents, but  it appears that some "kayak experience" is 
> just waiting for 
> that one telling problem.

  One thing that was very forcefully drilled into my thick skull as a
beginning whitewater paddler was that "low-head" dams are drowning machines.
Just because it's only a 12"-36" drop doesn't mean it's safe - just the
opposite.  A big part of the danger comes from the fact that these things
don't look like daunting obstacles.  The hydraulics created by these dams
can be inescapable.  To further the hazard the outflow area on the bottom of
many of these dams can have exposed re-bar, steel mesh, broken concrete, etc
just waiting to "grab" a struggling, recirculating swimmer.  I've "played"
in one of these at a low flow level and found the force almost inescapable -
the problem lies in the extreme regularity of the flow - there's nowhere to
push a bow, stern, or paddle into water flowing in a different direction -
you're trapped - and you'd better have a strong side-surf technique or
you're going for a nasty, ugly, possibly fatal swim.  It's not the kind of
situation that lends itself to self-rescue.
  I don't know whether any of those folks could have been rescued either -
but one thing to remember is that any rescue of a victim _in the water_
needs to be executed quickly and in an organized and vigorous fashion - time
is measured in seconds when drowning is a risk.  Don't create more victims.
  A good read on the subject of rescues, entrapments, etc can be found in
the book "White-water Rescue" by Slim Ray & Les Bechdel.  Even better is to
take a class or two on the subject - even if you don't paddle WW it will
make you a better water-man/woman.

Dave Seng
Juneau, Alaska
  
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