Happy New Years fellow paddlers: What opinions exist on how to rescue capsized paddlers who are entrapped in their boats either from panic or some physical obstacle. I'm only aware of two rescues for entrapment, the eskimo bow rescue (giving the bow of your boat to the capsized paddler, who can then use it to right themselves) or a "hands of god" (coming up parallel to the capsized paddler, reaching underneath the capsized boat, grabbing them by the life vest and physically righting them) I have only practiced these rescues and I wonder how well these might work in a real situation. The Eskimo bow rescue requires the cooperation of the capsized paddler to work, and if they were unable to cooperate from either lack of knowledge or simple panic then it would not be effective. The "hands of god" rescue doesn't require cooperation, but it can be a difficult rescue to execute. The only way I have made this rescue work is by physically pulling the capsized paddler on to their back deck and maximizing my leverage by ensuring that their head and torso come out of the water last. While this is possible with an unconscious paddler, or in my case a paddler pretending to be unconscious, I do not think it would work well with a conscious panicked paddler. Their natural instance would be to struggle and pull their heads up. Has anyone dealt with these entrapment situations in real life, if so what has worked best? Dave Southern Cal *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Dublin Dave said: > Happy New Years fellow paddlers: > > What opinions exist on how to rescue capsized paddlers who > are entrapped in > their boats either from panic or some physical obstacle. > I'm only aware of > two rescues for entrapment, the eskimo bow rescue (giving the > bow of your boat > to the capsized paddler, who can then use it to right > themselves) or a "hands > of god" (coming up parallel to the capsized paddler, reaching > underneath the > capsized boat, grabbing them by the life vest and physically > righting them) Dave, Since I know (and also paddle with) most of the same paddlers as you, I know that there are some very nice boats involved. When all else fails, you can simply make certain that the boat stays overturned until all of the panic and thrashing about have ended. Then wait another 5 minutes before performing the H.O.G. rescue. If your timing is right, you can just let the body go and claim salvage rights on the boat. ;-) Steve H. Southern, CA _____ << ella for Spam Control >> has removed 4597 Spam messages and set aside 371 Later for me You can use it too - and it's FREE! www.ellaforspam.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Actually, I did do a hand of god rescue on one of our paddles several months ago. It was much easier than the practice one I did with you. I don't know why he couldn't wet exit but he tried to roll several times and failed and just fatigued after a surf launch. It does work. When upright he was able to rest and catch his breath and no one on the paddle was the wiser except for one other paddler who asked me about it later. Mike Brown From: <DLOCPA_at_aol.com> Subject: CKF: Entrapment > Happy New Years fellow paddlers: > > What opinions exist on how to rescue capsized paddlers who are entrapped in > their boats either from panic or some physical obstacle. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> I have posted challenges on > other lists to those folks who seem to believe that the Eskimo rescues are > real and asked them to capsize, without warning, during a group paddle and see > if they can wait long enough hanging in their boat until someone comes along > and rescues them with an Eskimo rescue. So far I have had no takers. Scott, I quite accidentally took up your challenge a few years ago. I had just finished my first serious training and was touring with the instructor and two other students. The instructor (a BCU coach) was no more that 50 ft away and was watching as two large converging wake waves sent me for a swim. Since we had just finished rescue practice, the image of the bow rescue was fresh in my mind. I had managed to get a good breath before being submerged and felt comfortable "hanging out," with my hands waving in the air in hope of avoiding a wet exit and re-entry. After counting to 30 without any sign of help, I did the wet exit. Even though the instructal had seen me take a dive and was quite a proficient paddler, he was unable to turn his boat around fast enough to present the bow near my hands. He also expressed his surprise at seeing my hands emerge, as most often paddlers exit without even considering this option. In considering my own response to a companion's capsize, there is also the necessity that the would be rescuer make a quick decision to attempt this resue (in addition to having the skill to pull it off). I don't think I would bother waiting the next time I capsize in a combat situation unless there is another boat already in the optimal position. Of course I'll never capsize again... :<} Jeff NYC *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
One good reason for learning and practicing the bow rescue is to become more comfortable being upside down, submerged, and relatively relaxed. The procedural steps become something that allows the submerged paddler to regain their focus, get their bearings, and find a set-up position for action to follow...be it grabbing a bow and hip-flicking up, or executing a roll. None of my instructors have ever suggested the bow rescue to be a particularly effective measure in the field, unless the situation has people in relative proximity and in conditions that allow quick maneuvering. The promise in the practice seems to be greater confidence in one's ability to stay calm, maintain focus, and take deliberate action. With some paddle partners, we know that each of us will try to roll a few times, then wave for a bow, and then bang the hull to indicate we were going to wet exit. We're heading each other's way in any event, because a wet exit will require an assisted recovery if time is of the essence. I'd also argue that the HOG &/or Paddle Reach rescue is likely a move that can be accomplished by a surprising many when the adrenaline flows and conditions cooperate...but that it is best attempted by those who rehearse it with some vigilance. Grabbing the thrashing forearm of a submerged and panicky paddler can just as quickly turn into you being the one who is grabbed and yanked over. -w *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On 5 Jan 2004 at 19:36, Jeff wrote: > Even though the instructal had seen me take a dive and was quite a > proficient paddler, he was unable to turn his boat around fast enough > to present the bow near my hands. I'm surprised he didn't have the presence of mind to paddle backwards and present the stern. Mike *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Hey, I like it! Sitting on an upturned hull, but with a counterweight! Could be a whole new sport!! All in good fun. Dougie Dug Dug Victoria BC > First I would probably not be paddling with poor Scott without his PFD in > the surfzone ( allthough I must admitt that wearing my drysuite here in > winter I realy don4t see the use off my PFD exept for all equipement I carry > in and on it) > Iff ther resly is nothing to grab him with (hair or so) there is only one > option left that I use for fun i warmer conditions:Get out of your boat, sit > on the capsized boat with one legg on either side and throw yourselv over. > You will end up in the water with Scott out of the water! So now we hope you > can apply first aid to Scott while getting yourselv back in to your own boat > before you suffer hypothermia. Good luck > > Lenze *************************************************************************** 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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