Re: [Paddlewise] Survival time

In Saturday's mail I received (probably from the ACA but who knows) a
"Wear It!" brochure produced by the "National Safe Boating Council".  It
contains a tear-off card with "2005 USCG Boating Statistics".  (The
brochure is available at http://SafeBoatingCampaign.net if you want to
see the whole thing).

In it, they state that there were 697 boating fatalities in 2005
(presumably in the US).  Of these, 29 involved kayaks.  Of those 29, it
states that 24 deaths were from drowning (10 no PFD), 3 from
hypothermia, and 2 from 'other'.  The only safety practice discussed in
this brochure is the wearing of a PFD, so the numbers are presented in
such a way as to enhance the conclusion that no PFD = higher risk of
death.  

The stats card goes on to draw the obvious (to them) conclusions for the
reader: "In 2005, approximately 70% of all fatalities drowned (491 out
of 697).  Approximately 87% of the victims who drowned were not wearing
a life jacket.  Overall, fatal accident data show approximately 426
drowned lives could have been saved in 2005 if boaters had worn their
life jackets..."

Their assumption is that every drowning death that occurred without a
PFD would have been avoided by the use of a PFD.  There is no discussion
whatsoever about cold water or any other factors.  Such is the logic of
those who are the public face of 'boating safety' and the 'opinion
makers' of those who look for guidance WRT rules and legislation.

Jennifer

-- 
  Jennifer Pivovar
  jpivovar_at_headwinds.org

----- Original message -----
From: "skimmer" <skimmer_at_enter.net>
It is reported that:

55% of cold water deaths are due to the combination of cold shock 
and subsequent swimming failure.... 
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