Craig Jungers wrote: > 1. Several people felt that calling Mayday when two swimmers were in the > water only a short distance from shore was unnecessary since the swimmers > were not really at risk with 4 instructors and several experienced kayakers > as students close by. The actual distance wasn't mentioned but I estimate it > at less than 50 feet. Hogwash. Immersion shock and/or rapid onset of hypothermia could quickly make it very difficult to get one of those folks out of the water. In addition, the rescue boats, etc., are equipped to take incapacitated people immediately to a hospital or waiting ambulance. Suppose one of those folks had not made it? Then how would the Coastie have felt at the inquest when asked, "And what was your thinking in not immediately asking for qualified asistance?" Right call. As to launching the "fleet " of students: no biggie; they needed to see it up close and personal. A very teachable moment. No matter if there were too many of them. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** 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 Mon May 12 2008 - 16:46:54 PDT
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