Re: [Paddlewise] wet exits/entrapment

At 11:04 PM 9/17/01 +0000, skimmer_at_mail3.enter.net wrote:
>Hi All,
>I am currently writing an accident report about a case of novice
>entrapment that resulted in the death of the student.
>
>I have taught novice paddlers the basics for about 15 years.
>
>It is my policy, wether teaching novices or taking "guests" out for a
>first paddle, to NEVER allow them to use a spray skirt without first
>demonstrating command and comfort in executing wet exits first
>without and then with spray skirts. These exercises are done in a
>situation where an instructor is standing nearby the the student in
>position to assist the student if they panic or fail for any reason
>to exit the boat.
>
>If conditions are such that we can not initially do such wet exit
>training but must paddle to work on strokes and rescues--- THEN THE
>STUDENTS PADDLE without spray skirts. We never break this rule.
>Students always wear PFDs, of course.
>
>Demonstrations of wet exits on land are not, in my opinion, ever
>sufficient to allow students to skip the capsize drills in the water.
>
>I look forwards to your discussion of this policy.
>
>Am I the only instructor following this practice?

I doubt it.  The friend of mine that owns the local kayak shop sells, 
rents, and gives lessons in kayaks.  He won't give any of his renters a 
sprayskirt unless he's seen them do a wet exit with a spray skirt attached 
or they can convince him that they've done one.  During the lessons he 
typically has first time students do at least two wet exits, followed by an 
assisted rescue and another for a paddlefloat reentry.  However, he doesn't 
stand in the water next to them.  Personally I think that many of the real 
nervous beginners might find prefer that than having him sitting in his boat.

The other group that I help out with quite often is the Cornell Outing 
Club.  It's a club, primarily students, that does a variety of outdoor 
activities, including kayaking. They have a bunch of whitewater boats for 
club use.  Before anyone in the club is allowed to use one of the kayaks 
they must demonstrate two *calm* wet exits.  In fact, before anyone is 
given a paddle, they must do the wet exits.  Since there are always new 
freshmen coming in to join the club I have been out several times helping 
first timers.  A week ago there were ten new members and most of them did 
quite well.  One particular woman, however, was very nervous about the 
whole thing.  I demonstrated one to show how much time she really had 
before she needed to pull the grab loop and get out.  I tipped over, spun 
the paddle around on the hull, twiddled my fingers, took my hands under 
water, and then back up again, twiddled some more, and then released my 
skirt and came out.  Then she tried it.  She was out of the boat before it 
got completely upside down.  Her second one was a bit better and we made 
her do a third.  Now here's the kicker.  She's a lifeguard.

Some people just seem to get a lot more nervous about the whole thing and 
it's hard to explain why.  It's not just being underwater.


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