Re: [Paddlewise] Use of helmets in the surf zone

My practice and opinion:
I never - ever go in the ocean at all without a
helmet.

I have hit my head on the bottom numerous times, and
gradually learned to protect my neck from injury more
or less with my elbows. "Sand" is a relative thing.
All the beaches I paddle on have some rocks of various
sizes visible at low tide. You could get unlucky.
Also, I have hit my head on my own deck several times
in the surf zone.
The worst incident I have seen was when my wife
crashed and burned in some plunging surf at Cabrillo
beach. My recollection is that it wasn't too big,
maybe three+ feet. She exited the boat safely on the
seaward side, so Jack and I relaxed and went back to
surfing. I moment later I turned to to see her boat
get caught by a wave and hit her in the back of the
head. It flattened her.
For a moment, I thought I might have to learn how to
date again, but she struggled back to her feet. She
was shaken and stunned, but largely unharmed
Apparently, the boat got sucked back out on the surge
while she wasn't paying attention. She said she would
never do that again. She hasn't, but if she were not
wearing a helmet, I don't think she would be alive to
do it again.

Steve Brown


> 
> I've often wondered about this.  Clearly, if the
> surf zone is rocky, 
> a helmet will help prevent, or at least lessen,
> injury.  But if the 
> surf zone is entirely sand covered (as it is along
> much of the 
> eastern U.S. coast and Florida), wouldn't a helmet
> be a potential 
> liability?  I would imagine that the helmet would
> result in much more 
> 'friction' with a sandy bottom resulting in a much
> greater risk of 
> neck injury.  What are other's thoughts and
> practices?
> 
> Brian C.


=====
Thanks
Steve Brown
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