Re: [Paddlewise] Rescuing a capsized canoeist

All:

I have to agree with this post. I'm now a volunteer and have been a
professional rescuer in the past, and I see this discussion polarizing
us because of some ill-chosen words.

I find it difficult, if not impossible, to believe that *anyone* on this
list would stand by and, as has been put in an inflammatory manner "wring
their hands" when presented with such an emergency, rather than take
*some* sort of action to attempt to help. To imply so is to do a grave
disservice to the readers of this list. 

I would like, as an academic exercise, for everyone reading this thread to
think, honestly, about what they would do if someone were dying in front
of them. Don't consider it from a standpoint of your office chair, or your
warm-and-dry remove. Consider it as if you were in your boat, watching
someone drown in front of you. Drowning is traumatic, and extremely
unpleasant. It tends to cause panic, both in the victim and in observers. 

I would challenge any of you to clearly identify and rationalize your
actions in the sort of immediacy that's presented by this situation. As a
professional, I would like to *HOPE* that I would take appropriate steps,
but I cannot in all honesty say that I would execute every single one
flawlessly; I would probably try to do the best I could, as best I could,
and do a lot of praying. 

The hardest lesson I ever learned as a rescuer was that of
self-preservation; in all of the classes I've ever learnt from, based on
texts that have endured literally decades of field testing, the primary
rule is that you ensure scene safety *first*, because if you don't, you
run a sizable risk of creating a second victim, yourself.

If you die attempting to rescue someone, however noble the sentiment,
there are still two dead people. If you, on the other hand, take the
appropriate steps to ensure your own safety *at a minimum level*, your
chances are much better of coming back with a live, very scared, very
grateful victim.

Again, please try to be moderate in your discussion; do you *really* think
that anyone on this list would allow someone to die deliberately? If not,
why say something that implies it?

My $.02. Flame me directly if you feel you must.

.ashton

On Sun, 8 Oct 2000, B00jum! wrote:

> Strosaker_at_aol.com writes:
>  > Paddlewisers,
>  > 
>  > I hope these sea kayakers who are hesitant to assist a drowning swimmer never 
>  > volunteer to escort swimmers in a race.
> 
> Y'know - I don't think we're as polarized on this as its beginning to
> sound. I'll arbitrarily call the different views chum and potato, for
> those who would do anything to save a victim vs those who advise
> caution.
> 
> If we continue the direction we're going we'll see the chums as the
> voice of reckless self sacrificing heroism and the potatos as
> heartless observers.
> 
> I just don't see the debate this way.  So far the potato stance has
> been that there are basic rescue protocols you can follow that will
> ensure the safety of the rescuer.  If the rescuer is not safe, then
> its likely that the victim will not receive the aid they need.  The
> chum viewpoint seems to be that rendering aid is not so complicated as
> its being made out to be.  I agree that in numerous circumstances the
> choices will be easy.  I also havn't heard anyone state that they
> would do absolutly anything regardless of personal safety in order to
> rescue a drowning victim.  Contrarywise, I havn't heard any potatos
> state that they don't desire to help out as much as they could.  The
> potato stance has been that its wise to know your own limitations.
> 
> For the record - I'm a potato.  I will hesitate in any emergency
> situation.  My hesitation is to take in the scene and assess the
> degree of danger.  Why is the person in the situation?  Is it because
> thier boat smashed up in a rock garden or a rabid Sea Lion is out
> taking rides on kayaks?  I think my degree of hesitation is relative
> though.  If the situation is easily assessable, like Duanes rescue of
> the swimmer in the rip current, I feel I would be able to render aid
> fairly quickly.
> 
> As a potato I'd like to be prepared to some degree for the situations
> I may find myself in.  To that end, I usually carry a throw line
> behind my seat.  There are numerous other ways and means of being
> prepared and discussing the possibilities is one of the things that
> makes this list so useful.
> 
> Also for the record - I'm a chum.  My instincts are to do what I can
> to render aid.  Will I put myself at risk? - most certainly.  The act
> of aiding anyone will put you at risk.  My hope is that a degree of
> preperation will give me a framework to aid without harming myself or
> the person(s) I am attempting to rescue.
> 
> I return you to your regularly scheduled debate, already in progress.
> 
> Glen Acord - Eugene, OR
> W-EMT, Swiftwater Rescue Tech I
> Neckie Rip and a Mariner II (real soon now 8)


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