Dave Kruger wrote: > The chance that a befuddled paddler (even on a WW river) will hurt someone > else with his/her craft is pretty slim -- so the rationale here is similar > to that for helmets for motorcycle riders (or, in Oregon, under-16 bicycle > riders): using the headgear reduces expensive and debillitating head > injuries, reducing the overall cost of health care. Which we all sort of > "share" whether protected by our own health insurance or not. I don't like > being told I have to wear a helmet if I ride a mototcycle, but I do see the > stake we all have in making sure head injuries are minimized. Not at all to defend the types of registration usually attempted, but... WW paddlers at crowded playspots have been known to ram each other, but a real problem is creating a dangerous situation for the friends or guides or paddlers-by who try to rescue the unknowing newbie or the casually clueless. It also helps prevent greiving relatives syndrome. In the Litigous States of America, everyone in any way involved might face liability. A legal entrepreneur might launch a suit naming equipment mfrs, adjacent landowners, landowners allowing access to put-ins, any regulatory or rescue authorities, previous guides or instructors, paddling companions, etc etc. I presume there are precendent excluding some of these, but not all. GaryJ -- Director, Family Canoeing Centre Recreational canoeing courses for the whole family. +--------------------------------+ | /"\ | | \ / | | X ASCII RIBBON CAMPAIGN | | / \ AGAINST HTML MAIL & NEWS | +--------------------------------+ *************************************************************************** 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 Apr 17 2003 - 07:41:26 PDT
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