I live next door to an elderly couple and their daughter and son-in-law, both intelligent Boeing types, with their 2 kids, often spend weeks with them. The daughter paddles one of those cheapy REI plastic boats you can see light through and always pops at least one, if not both of the kids, into it. She puts a PFD over their t-shirts in the summer or over their fleece in the winter. She dresses the same. I don't believe they have the foggiest notion about the concept called "tide chart" and the waters in front of my house can be fierce. I never know what to do. I feel it's almost criminal, but am not sure it is my place to speak up. Anybody else ever confront this situation? Jolie on 48 degree water jolie_at_rockisland.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Jolie wrote: <SNIP>>>>>She puts a PFD over their t-shirts in the summer or over their fleece in the winter. She dresses the same. I don't believe they have the foggiest notion about the concept called "tide chart" and the waters in front of my house can be fierce. I never know what to do. I feel it's almost criminal, but am not sure it is my place to speak up. Anybody else ever confront this situation?<<<<< I'd suggest approaching him in as non-judgmental a fashion as possible (he's not a criminal just ignorant). Maybe say something like this: "I've started kayaking and have been reading stories about kayaking accidents (on Paddlewise or maybe in Deep Trouble) and I was surprised to learn how easy a capsize can happen, how hard it is to recover from one and just how debilitating cold water can be to someone who's in the water. In one story the paddlers capsized a wide stable double kayak very near shore but the currents (like around here) quickly took them out to sea along with another double kayak that trying to help them. They were all just lucky someone on a ferry boat spotted them. I know its probably not my place to say anything but I don't think I could live with myself if you were to die or lose one of your lovely children because I was just too reticent to be a thought of as a busybody and not warn you of the dangers of kayaking in the waters near here now that I'm aware of some of them." Then maybe offer to loan him your copy of Deep Trouble (or suggest the flotation article in the manuals section of our website) so he can read some of the stories himself that have caused your concern. If he argues or becomes defensive just drop the subject, you will have planted the seed and he will probably give the issue a lot more thought later in private. Matt Broze http://www.marinerkayaks.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Matt, Your ideas on this are very welcome. I keep going around in circles on this issue. When I first started paddling, I used to say that everybody paddling in the same group as me, had to WEAR their PFD. After a lot of discussions with other paddlers and friends, I came to the conclusion that I wasn't the Paddle Police. If someone chose not to wear a PFD, I would tell them that if they had so little regard for their own life, that they should not expect me to put my life in danger to help them if they were in trouble. Now I've come full circle again. Although it sounds like my previous attitude was a live and let live one, I don't think I could stand by and not help someone if they were in trouble. Therefore, since I will have to put my own safety at risk, I insist that those paddling with me do all they can to insure their and ultimately my safety by refusing to let someone come along unless they WEAR a PFD and USE a spray skirt. Anytime, I start to feel a little complacent, I dig out my well worn copy of "Deep Trouble" and re-read it again. Steve Holtzman ----- Original Message ----- From: Matt Broze To: Paddlewise Sent: December 14, 2001 5:05 PM Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Jim--upset about placing his kids in danger Matt said: I'd suggest approaching him in as non-judgmental a fashion as possible (he's not a criminal just ignorant). Maybe say something like this: "I've started kayaking and have been reading stories about kayaking accidents (on Paddlewise or maybe in Deep Trouble) and I was surprised to learn how easy a capsize can happen, how hard it is to recover from one and just how debilitating cold water can be to someone who's in the water......... *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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