[Paddlewise] Fw: How long would you wait - (was Kayaks and Visibility)

(this is my second attempt to post this. Hopefully this one will get 
through...Bob)

>    As a member of the local Search and Rescue unit (SAR)here is my 
> suggestions.
>    First before starting out establish a float plan. Since this is night 
> paddling the margins for error are greater. Tell everyone to stay 
> together. The fast paddlers need to ease up a bit and the slow paddler 
> need to pick it up a bit. Make sure everyone has a whistle and some type 
> of reliable light. make sure everyone knows that if someone becomes 
> seperated from the group then the remaining paddlers gather with the 
> leader before searhing. Otherwise you r group is too spread out for a 
> search or, and I have seen this happen, the searchers become lost!
>    Second since this is a night paddle when something goes wrong it often 
> has a domino effect where things get worse quickly. If a member of the 
> group were missing I would gather the remaining paddlers together and 
> return to where the missing person was last seen. PLS (Place Last Seen in 
> SAR jargon.) As you return to the PLS I would fan out the remaining 
> paddlers to cover a lot of the search area. This includes one person 
> traveling as close to shore as possible. One of my concerns would be 
> vertigo brought on by night paddling. In this case the missing person may 
> not be able to respond to hails.
>    If the person was not found I would immediately contact the Coast 
> Guard. If there is a problem, sickness injury ect. then time is critical. 
> If I could not establish radio contact (even if there are no repeater give 
> it a try incase a fishing vessel picks up your message) I would send the 
> two fastest paddlers to paddle together back to the harbor (the reason for 
> two if the first rule of SAR is not to create more victims.) The remaining 
> paddlers would fan out and slowly paddle setting up a search pattern to 
> cover as much ground as possible.
>
> Hope this helps
> Bob
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************