Re: [Paddlewise] kayaker death, equipment, safety

From: "Peter Croft" <peter_at_etsgroup.co.nz>


> If you want an automotive analogy to this situation, then look at ABS
> brakes. When they were first introduced on cars in the US, the number of
> fatal accidents went down.
> After a few years though, when the majority of drivers have incorporated
> this "saftey" advance into their driving style i.e. they assume they can
> ALWAYS stop safely, the number of fatals has increased. 

aka - the Volvo Syndrome.  People prefer a constant level of risk, even
if they don't know what that really means.  

> I can well imagine that kayakers as a group display a similar
> characteristic-do the old hands at this now go out in  conditions that ten
> or fifteen years ago they wouldn't have considered safe, because they now
> have "good gear" ?
> If the answer is yes, then ...

they are just as foolish as those drivers.  I like the safety gear, not because it 
allows me to seek greater risk, but because it allows me to control risk in
different situations.

For example, the GoreTex dry suit allows me to paddle more comfortably in 
really cold weather.  However, I won't paddle as far off shore in those conditions.
A city day-paddle in the summer might include a 7 km paddle across a big bay.
At this time of year, in the drysuit with water temps just above freezing, I go around
the bay inside the breakwater, where the water is always calm and I could swim
(or walk!) to the beach.  Longer and less exciting, but a good workout in conditions
that, without the drysuit, would mean walking rather than paddling.

Most of the gear I carry is a backup, not a primary source of safety.

Unfortunately, I think your point is very valid.  Most participants are probably likely
to take too much risk because of a naive expectation based on the presence of 
the gear.  BTW, there is a form of superstition (you won't need it of you have it)
that causes people to do this.  Insurance salesmen tap into this a lot.

Mike

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