Greetings wise paddlers, I really appreciate the safety reporting that Doug and others on this list contribute. I live in a place where rescue, and unfortunately, recovery, is not uncommon. I'm always so impressed by the efforts of the Coast Guard, and our local police department's surf rescue team. I also have the opportunity to observe their training, and to talk to them at times. A couple summers ago, one of our surf rescue officers was lost during a rescue gone bad (everyone else eventually made it back alive - including the person originally in need of rescue). The surfer who required the rescue (a visitor from inland) shouldn't have been in that spot, in those conditions. Had he known a few basic things about the sea, he wouldn't have been there, and a friend of mine might still be alive today. Sure, with the sea, s*** sometimes happens with little one can do. But the fact is, in an oceanside community like mine, most *incidents* and tragedies occur because of bad judgment and lack of knowledge. People risk their lives, and spare no expense to search for, rescue, and sometimes recover the victims of their own bad ideas. I'm glad they do, and I gladly pay taxes for just such services. I do believe though, that somehow, we have to find ways to educate people about the basics of water safety in places like this (well, anywhere really). Each summer, I see papers describing techniques to get back to shore when dealing with rip currents, warnings about water temperature and hypothermia, about tides and currents, logs in the surf, etc., plastered on shop windows, at every check out counter in the grocery store, on drive up fast food windows, and in the daily local papers. Signs at the beaches. These postings usually also have copies of several newspaper articles of recent casualties attached. I'll stand in line at the grocery store and watch weekend visitors buy cases of beer, getting ready to hit the beach, and never once give more than a passing glance at these warnings staring them in the face. Certainly not any more time taken than to see "13 year old drowns... and father drowns trying to save him". Then it's off to the beach, drink beer, and play in the surf. And sometimes, never come back. By now, you may be wondering about the subject line of this little rant. Last weekend, the sun was shining, and my little town was full of happy people, enjoying the magnificence of the Pacific ocean. I was, as usual, on the water most of the day. Twice that day, sirens pierced the music of the waves, and Coast Guard helicopters flew up and down the coast in urgent searches. The surf rescue team donned their survival gear, and crashed through the surf in their sea doos and zodiac. Dedicated people rushing to the rescue, ready to give their own lives if need be, and resources committed to a particular operation. Twice that day, the crab pots were found to be safe. You see, twice that day, happy vacationers on the beach called in urgent 911s for someone to rescue *swimmers offshore* - obviously in severe distress. Ah... cell phones - everyone can be a hero. What they didn't realize was that they were looking at crab pot buoys flailing away in the surf. I do understand that people who aren't used to seeing certain sights will misinterpret some things, and it's better to err on the side of caution... but crab pot buoys??!! The energies and resources dedicated to saving these crab pots were impressive, commendable, and, well, quite unnecessary. So - we not only need more basic water safety education, but perhaps a little education in identifying common *marine objects* as well. How can this be done? What more can a little town do than plaster every eye level surface with warnings and instructions, asking that people respect the power of the sea? And now we need crab pot identification classes? I'm so happy to know that most paddlers are so safety conscious, and acutely aware of their surroundings. Sure, there are incidents of paddlers getting in trouble they shouldn't perhaps have gotten into, but we, as a group, are less likely to require the resources dedicated to hapless crab pots. Please be safe, watch out for the safety of others, and when the opportunity presents itself, lend some of your knowledge to those who might benefit from it. Sorry for going on so long. Melissa *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Melissa's letter RE rescues for non-emergencies, and the sore need for people to acquire some basic knowledge and use some basic judgment, is very thought-provoking. I agree with everything she said. I feel frustrated though. I t seems to me that there are way too many people who are willing to take on sports of one sort or another with little knowledge and who appear to relish the act of proceding in ignorance, "teaching themselves". I'm not just talking about the drunks who operate large motorized yachts or who operate jetskis - and I'm not just talking about water sports either. I think we're all obligated to impart a little knowledge when we can - but it has seemed to me that as often as not, we'll be met with indifference, resistance, or active hostility. The occasional person or group who/which hears advice with an open mind, and then perhaps takes at least some of that advice to heart, makes it all worthwhile. But to me, it's a little frustrating, a little frightening, at times. Bill Hansen Ithaca NY *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 7/22/00 3:17:03 PM, bonnyweeboaty_at_yahoo.com writes: << Ah... cell phones - everyone can be a hero. What they didn't realize was that they were looking at crab pot buoys flailing away in the surf. I do understand that people who aren't used to seeing certain sights will misinterpret some things, and it's better to err on the side of caution... but crab pot buoys??!! >> On a paddle today, several of my group (wishful thinkers all) were convinced that we were seeing seals surfacing to check us out. And yes, it turned out to be lobster trap buoys. Those buoys are sneaky little devils. Thankfully my cell phone was safely tucked away in it's dry box, out of reach. Je....er.....Jim......er......Harvy, yeah that's it! Harvey ;-) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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