Re: [Paddlewise] How would you deal with the following situation

From: Jackie Fenton <jackie_at_intelenet.net>
Date: Fri, 18 Aug 2000 06:03:48 -0700 (PDT)
> From: David Seales <aieae_at_ntplx.com>

>  >Rather judgemental, wouldn't you say?
> 
> Judgmental?...me? I'm just surprised that people who have the skills, the 
> equipment the experience and who are at home in the water would not do more 
> then just toss a paddle float to a drowning person. 

What people with skills, equipment and experience are you referring to?
I saw discussions on rescue scenarios covering a variety of "what if's?"
Highly trained rescue personnel are taught not to put themselves in a 
situation in which they, too, become a rescue victim.  These are the 
people with *the* highest level of rescue skills.  

I also read honest discussion about the comfort level or lack thereof
with some folks in a particular rescue scenario attempting to cover all
the possible complications that may arise (which is anyone's guess because
I would imagine all rescue situations could have different results).  I've
also heard paddlers "talk" about what they would do when faced with a
particular situation, only to have that "talk" go straight out the window 
in a real crisis, some reacting in ways that they did not anticipate about
themselves.  Real life makes real heroes... or not. 

> In the scenario Ralph 
> presented the victims were close to shore and it was likely help would be 
> called to the scene very soon. Getting out of the boat and getting wet for 
> what would probably be just a few minutes seems to me a small price to pay 
> for possibly saving 2 lives.

Sounds simple enough.  Sounds and looks real simple in ascii posted to
a list written while comfortably sitting behind a bright screen.  However,
since Ralph and no one else here was actually witness to the scene, several
folks looked at and evaluated the situation with a series of what-ifs and
expanded on that with open and honest observation and input based on their
own experiences and knowledge.  I appreciate their frank and honest opinions.

> My guess is when faced with this situation in real life most would do more 
> then they say here.

I think a lot of folks expressed a good deal of desire to help and were
discussing different ways to make that possible.  Did you miss that?

Jackie
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Received on Fri Aug 18 2000 - 05:59:13 PDT

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