In a message dated 8/1/2002 3:33:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time, jackie_at_muddypuppies.com writes: > How about one of these [bright orange banners] on a t-shirt? > Elias brings up a frequently discussed and very important issue --- safety equipment. One important aspect to consider in equipment is leverage: how do you use high energy sources to your advantage, or do you have to carry that energy with you? And how do you stand out to the SAR crew in your normal paddling environment? In the case of a signal mirror, all you need to have with you is a piece of glass or mirrorized plastic to leverage a big energy source, the sun. But the sun has to be out. Leverage is extremely high, and, given the cost, this is probably the highest value device for paddlers. At night, especially in remote, dark locations, strobes are excellent for setting a survivor off from a dark background. While there is some question about their legality as signalling devices, they do work as a survival device. But if you're going to get one, get a small Firefly with AA batts, protect and tether it, and consider it a good, one-time $75 premium on a life insurance policy. The rescue streamer (subject line) looks good, too. It stands out in a marine environment, as the site referenced says, and creates a good, unexpected break in the SAR crew's visual field. Little flares make you legal: BIG flares --- the expensive parachute type --- will catch the attention of anyone who happens to be looking. But they have a finite life, and they assume, obviously, that some *is* watching during the relatively brief life cycle of the flare. The author's points are well made. In my analogy, they carry a lot of visual leverage, but you have to have them with you, you carry the stored energy in the form of pyrotechnics, and they have a brief period of effectiveness. Very much a tactical advantage --- if short lived. And expensive. One additional thought: the site alluded to flourescent colors as having specific value, but (during a quick review) didn't mention retroreflective tape. Flourescent paddle blades can be seen on dark, hazy or rainy days from great distances. They may look a little strange, but for tactical, passive visibility, and especially in an environment that is not specifically dark --- where flares and strobes are effective --- and bright sun --- where the mirror offers the greatest leverage, the passive value of flourescent yellow paddle blades is optimized. As to retroreflective tape? Use it! Again, the energy source is external --- the light of a search aircraft --- but it's highly efficient. Patches of SOLAS grade retroreflective material on your PFD shoulders and high back cost a few dollars, but leverage the available energy in an extremely leveraged manner. Consider it on the sheers of your kayak for routine night paddling, on the deck and --- let's be realistic --- on the bottom of your boat. These comments from a CSAR and SAR helo driver --- Navy and Coast Guard ---, representing one way of looking at survival in a kayaker's environment, leveraging available energy sources, standing out in your environment, and staying safe. Because the best survival equipment is the stuff you never have to use. Jack Martin *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Aug 01 2002 - 04:27:09 PDT
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:30:57 PDT