[Paddlewise] Farmer John & Darwin

Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2000 20:41:46 -0400
From: "Michael Daly" <michaeldaly_at_home.com>
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] The ongoing, uninspiring PFD debate

Dear Mike,

<<PS - I think the overheating effects of a PFD are exaggerated. I wear a
PFD and farmer john in any but _very_ warm water conditions.>>

I wonder how many of the "all the time" camp folks have actually ever been
in truly hot conditions.  I seriously doubt that you are in warm water with
a farmer john wetsuit, Mike.  Have you ever had heat exhaustion?  Have you
ever been really dehydrated?  Have you ever lost control of your body due to
heat-induced cramps?

If any of you agree that putting wearing a wetsuit in hot conditions could
cause heat exhaustion, then a PFD by that same reasoning would too.
Insulation is insulation.

Try wearing both a PFD and a farmer john wetsuit when the water is in the
high 90s and the air is the same.  I would die!

But according to Dana, I should.
----------------------------------------------------------------
This touching bit from Dana

Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2000 14:51:06 -0400
From: dldecker_at_se.mediaone.net
Subject: [Paddlewise] Darwins theory of the PFD debate

<<If you don't wear your PFD you stand a good chance of drowning and or your
body not being found for several days and you gene pool belongs where it
belongs, crab food.>>

"where it belongs"!  So, now I'm supposed to DIE!  What a lovely thing to
say.

MY POSITION:
IF (and only IF) you are in conditions that dictate the removal of your PFD
for safety reasons, i.e. that there is a high likelihood that you will get
heat exhaustion if you wear it, then take it off.  This is the only time I'm
saying that it's OK to do this people (though the very, very rare instance
of being in pounding big surf is another). You should always make sure that
it is closeby.  Practicing putting it on from your chosen alternative
location in varying sea conditions makes good safety sense.

You cannot defy the laws of thermal physics.  If you are in truly hot
conditions, you will over-heat if you have an inch of foam on your core.
This is not an opinion.  I don't believe you folks who claim you paddle in
both hot water and hot weather. Either it must not be really hot or you're
all superhumans... capable of withstanding intense heat over long periods of
time.  Maybe you're not paddling hard enough to get overheated.

About setting an example:  I can't argue with this.  Paddlers should project
an image of 'safety first', especially in front of kids.  This has nothing
to do with the fact that it is unsafe to wear one when in conditions that
would produce heat exhaustion.  Teach common sense too.

Let's debate on something more interesting... like the virtues of wearing
underwear all the time!

"Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit
there."

Cheers,
Preacher Dave


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