[Paddlewise] Safety Wonk

Jim  wrote:
>I vote for Safety Wonk although the "inside the beltway" definition of 
Wonk is
>not flattering.


Well, why not be a safety guru instead?
The second time I went out on the sea in a kayak, it was with five other
relative novices and an experienced paddler with British Canoe Union
qualifications who was giving us informal lessons (for free, bless
him). This was in the North Sea (Highlands of Scotland), in May. After
about an hour of paddling in fairly benign conditions, our instructor had
us paddle to within about 50 yards or so of shore (with a very
light onshore breeze and flood tide); then told us we should all take
turns about doing a wet exit, re-enter with his help, and then paddle
straight to shore. I was wearing warm fleece and pertex clothing, but no
wetsuit or drysuit.
I duly did my wet exit, no problem, and with help managed a quick
re-entry. Then I paddled to shore. By the time I was out of my kayak on
dry land, I was shivering uncontrollably and my hands were nearly
useless. Getting my car unlocked and dry clothes on was only just
manageable without help.
Our instructor told us all afterwards that the real lesson he wanted to
teach us was how quickly hypothermia can set in (I don't know the water
temperature that day, but it was certainly not as bad as it can be in these
parts, and the wind chill was negligible). I have never forgotten that
lesson. All my paddling in Scottish seas is now done in a wetsuit.
So forget safety wonks (whatever that means: the nearest
word in Scotland to that is really rather rude!). I go for safety gurus
(and anyone can be a guru to someone else, often without realising it): you
tell it like it is, you pass on your personal knowledge and experience, and
if possible you help people to get that experience themselves in a safe
way. And then you let them decide for themselves.
After all, you can take a horse to water, but you can't force it to wear a
wetsuit.


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