A fishing kayaker went missing about a week ago and his body has been found 50 yds. from where he was reported struggling to get back in his boat. Not only was he not wearing a pfd, he was wearing waders. Our winter water temps are in the low 60's this week so he could probably have had held on to his boat long enough for a rescuer to get to him without hypothermia being a factor. I'd say the waders were his second biggest mistake that cost him his life and now a family without a dad. Here's the whole story as reported in a local paper. <http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2009/03/04/bay_area_citizen/news/3kayaker_body5.txt > Chris Kuhlman Seabrook, TX *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
The waders certainly could have contributed to his inability to self-rescue, but they would provide essentially neutral buoyancy while he was in the water. If anything, they could have approximated the effect of a very loose wet suit. But they wouldn't have pulled him under -- just made it difficult to get out of the water. Hypothermia can occur in almost any water immersion situation. Would defer to Chuck Sutherland or someone else more knowledgeable, but a person becomes hypothermic when core body temperature goes below 95 degrees F. And since it starts only about three or four degrees above that, there's not a long way to go. Certainly, water in the 60 degree F range could do it; unconsciousness can occur with a ten degree loss in core temperature, but the disorientation and loss of SA happens much before that. A PFD and a suitable wet or dry suit would have made the situation very different. Joq -----Original Message---- From: Chris Kuhlman A fishing kayaker went missing about a week ago and his body has been found 50 yds. from where he was reported struggling to get back in his boat. Not only was he not wearing a pfd, he was wearing waders. Our winter water temps are in the low 60's this week so he could probably have had held on to his boat long enough for a rescuer to get to him without hypothermia being a factor. I'd say the waders were his second biggest mistake that cost him his life and now a family without a dad. Here's the whole story as reported in a local paper. <http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2009/03/04/bay_area_citizen/news/3kay aker_body5.txt *************************************************************************** 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 Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 7:11 PM, Martin, Jack <martin.jack_at_solute.us> wrote: > The waders certainly could have contributed to his inability to > self-rescue......... But they wouldn't have pulled him > under -- just made it difficult to get out of the water. > > I just read that story a bit more closely and realized a couple of things. 1. He was not actually found with waders on and they don't seem to know for sure that he had them on. But he was an "avid fisherman" and they talk about how he might have shed the waders during his struggle. Certainly waders would have contributed to his inability to get back in the kayak. 2. No mention if he was in a regular kayak or a sit-on-top. Lots of fishermen use SOT kayaks these days but if it was a SOT he might have been wearing waders for wind protection. 3. He was not far from his launch point when he went into the water. The story said that he was found "less than 50 yards" from where he disappeared and the person who discovered the body stated that she was sitting in a trailer at the launch ramp when she saw something near the dock. When she walked down the dock she saw that it was a body. Certainly a PFD would have made a big difference unless he was entrapped or entangled. The guy was only 39 years old and presumably could have simply floated back to the launch ramp. He would have been cold when he got to shore but it would have been in plenty of time to avoid being incapacitated in 60F water. One might think that an MD (he was a psychiatrist) would know better than to not wear a PFD. A good lesson for all of us. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Again, one of the central themes in many of these stories is pre-trip preparation (or lack thereof) that is based upon faulty assumptions, or discounting conditions...."I'm only going a little away from shore and only for a couple of hours," "surface conditions appear calm and protected, so I'll be fine." A lot of men drown while fishing from boats because they drink, get a little drunk, stand up and unzip to piss over the gunwale and, well, ker-plunk. No pfd, cotton clothing, and very cold water. It's common enough that SAR crews find these guys and can identify them by their lowered zippers and an autopsy that confirms a raised BAC. Spring draws a lot of people out on the water. Nature is indifferent to our skills or preparation. People give me really funny looks when I show up to paddle on the local, flat water reservoir/lake.... too much gear...who does he think he is...what a goof. Fine by me. I find the routine of making sure I have certain items with me or on me, regardless of the circumstances, makes it easier to meet what I would consider minimum standards of prudent prep. Always setting up this way was a tip from a very experienced teacher I met in a five day skills class. His point was that every paddle was an opportunity to practice, learn, and extend our capabilities... even the local pond. When these reports come back about casualties from 'the local pond', I'm just reminded about the value of this teacher's advice. *************************************************************************** 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 usually head out of the harbor with my helmet on my back deck. Most of the time, I come back with it on my head, as it's too hard to resecure afterwards. I figure I get a lot of stares from people as I paddle through the harbor wondering why this idiot is wearing a helmet. I'm glad I'm old enough not to care. -----Original Message----- People give me really funny looks when I show up to paddle on the local, flat water reservoir/lake.... too much gear...who does he think he is...what a goof. *************************************************************************** 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 think it is worth taking a look at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1xohI3B4Uc and http://www.coldwaterbootcamp.com/ What they show is hypothermia is not the biggest threat in cold water. Your body starts failing you in a variety of different ways well before real hypothermia comes into full effect. Cold water shock and loss of strength may be enough drown you before you succumb to hypothermia. This does not change the real risks of cold water or the need for dressing for the water temperature, but being better informed on what is actually going on is useful Nick On Mar 4, 2009, at 10:11 PM, Martin, Jack wrote: > Hypothermia can occur in almost any water immersion situation. > Nick Schade Guillemot Kayaks 54 South Rd Groton, CT 06340 USA Ph/Fx: (860) 659-8847 http://www.guillemot-kayaks.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/ ***************************************************************************
Nick says: What they show is hypothermia is not the biggest threat in cold water. Your body starts failing you in a variety of different ways well before real hypothermia comes into full effect. Cold water shock and loss of strength may be enough drown you before you succumb to hypothermia.B B This does not change the real risks of cold water or the need for dressing for the water temperature, but being better informed on what is actually going on is usefulB >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> What's interesting to me is that with all the winter time paddling going on, there are a few blown rolls and swims. Harder to keep your head when the ears are flushed with ice cold water and the air temps are still in the 30's. Lots of folks I know to have a good roll, swim more in the winter. I'm more conservative in the winter and the few rolls necessary this year were quick affairs. I don't like paddling with balaclavas and dive hoods, just a thin neoprene cap under my helmet and ear plugs. I think more than hypothermia, what happens more to people's psyche is hammered with cold water shock combined with whatever else is thrown at them. Cheers, Rob G *************************************************************************** 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 Thu, Mar 5, 2009 at 10:56 AM, Dave Bishop <bishopd_at_jps.net> wrote: > With respect to your last comment, Craig, that ".....an MD.......would > know better than to not wear a life vest." How many well educated, > intellectual, people have you known who were smart in their particular > field, but who seemed to have little or no common sense? More than a > handful, I suspect. > > A long, long time ago I had a motto that went, "one-third of the population are bozos... but we take turns and if you meet me on the day that it's my turn you'll think of me as a bozo forever." This has always seemed to me to be a truism. We all get to make stupid decisions now and then. Of course, some people hog their share but basically no one is a bozo all the time. The trick, of course, is to manage to avoid being a bozo when it really counts. This implies an ability to recognize a situation that really counts. In terms of actually wearing a PFD, how many of us have paddled on a quiet lake with water and air temps both over 80F and either left our PFD on the back deck or behind us in the cockpit? Let me raise a hand here. So I'm not going to be too hard on him...even though the water temps were too cool not to wear a PFD he might have just caught his turn. When I flew airplanes a lot I developed a tactic of consciously thinking that "this flight could kill me... is there anything I've forgotten?" before takeoff. That might be a good tactic for paddlers, too. There's a good lesson in here for all of us. Training, planning, preparation, proper equipment.. all of this can be erased when it's your turn to be a bozo. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
In his own inimitable, long winded manner, I think this is what Craig was trying to say: http://tinyurl.com/596hef -----Original Message----- A long, long time ago I had a motto that went, "one-third of the population are bozos... but we take turns and if you meet me on the day that it's my turn you'll think of me as a bozo forever." *************************************************************************** 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've been a bozo my share of times. Fortunately for my reputation, I was either alone (evidence right there, eh?) or my companions didn't know much better. This is scaring me a lot, right now. The motorcycle crowd has an expression ATGATT: All The Gear, All The Time. That is the opposite of "I'm just running down to the store, so I don't really need my gloves/jacket/leathers/helmet/boots." In the boat, I always wear a PFD--and I'm in Georgia--but I don't always have all my gear with me. Of course, according to the risk homeostasis argument, I'm safer without all of it, right? Steve -- Steve Cramer Athens, GA http://www.savvypaddler.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/ ***************************************************************************
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