Fatalities 2001-2002, The pattern continues to define itself. Those who die in the cold-water paddling season are generally outside the "paddling community". They are beyond the reach of clubs, paddling magazines, and the many sites on-line that so diligently provide readers with good advice. Coast Guard Aux., Power Squadron, Fish and Game boating courses do not instill in their students a serious respect for the water in which they may find themselves. The language used to describe odds for survival permit students to believe "THEY", unlike "OTHERS", will survive because they will certainly be among the percentage that will make it. As long as the message to the general public is to dress in layers of wool and polypro (dead weight and little thermal protection in the water), and to "HUDDLE" until help (magically) arrives, we will continue to see these cases in an un-ending stream. Frustrating, therefore, when the USCG and other marine patrols then say, upon hauling out another victim, "WHY DON"T YOU PEOPLE WEAR PFDs?" We paddlers take the heat for the stupidity (ignorance, not stupidity) of the masses of the uneducated that were never given the message. Thanks, Chuck Sutherland *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Chuck Sutherland <skimmer_at_mail3.enter.net> said: > We paddlers take the heat for the stupidity (ignorance, not > stupidity) of the masses of the uneducated that were never given the > message. Chuck, it's that bad or worse. When the general public has the sort of attitude displayed by one of the spectators, who said that she would not even think about going out on the water, even though kayakers, small boaters, and boardsailors were out there, it is no wonder we hear demands for the rescued to pay the cost of rescues. In other words, her ignorance about the nature of the risks involved translates into something like "it must be too risky for anybody." That eventually evolves into something like "nobody should do that," which devolves into "I won't pay to have those numskulls rescued!" (Note: none of the above are actual quotes, just my scan on what someone with that attitude might say.) -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
-----Original Message----- Subject: [Paddlewise] Pattern repeats The pattern continues to define itself. Those who die in the cold-water paddling season are generally outside the "paddling community". They are beyond the reach of clubs, paddling magazines, and the many sites on-line that so diligently provide readers with good advice. ----- Well said. Mr. Sutherland has shifted the paradigm, and defined the concept and the challenge. Scott Stephens Cautious warm-water paddler *************************************************************************** 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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